Positive adaptation in Latino families of children with Developmental Disabilities

The present study examines the development of a specific and contextual theory of family response to the child's disability, including: cultural resistance; reliable alliance and social support; sustainable daily family routines congruent with families cultural expectations; and the development of attachment and reciprocal positive relationships with the child. A qualitative interview guide was used to conduct in person interviews with adult parents of children with moderate to severe developmental disabilities. The interviews were a maximum of 90 minutes and incentives of $10 per interview/per participant defrayed the cost of childcare. Twenty male and female Latino parents were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed using grounded theory analysis with both open and closed codes in order to search for evidence that supports or disconfirms the proposed theory. To maintain integrity, interviews were transcribed in Spanish and excerpts supporting each theoretical component were later translated. Preliminary findings indicate that parents view their child as a positive contributor to the family, adding meaning to their lives, and increasing family cohesion. At this juncture, it is difficult to asses the impact of culture on these outcomes, but it is anticipated to play a role. As a large qualitative study and likely one of the few to contain perceptions from Latino fathers; professionals in the areas of Maternal Child Health, Health Education/Health Promotion, School Health Education, and Rehabilitation can benefit from these findings in terms of their work with the emerging Latino community.