EMPOWERING FAMILIES OF ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES

Social work interventions with persons with developmental disabilities and their families often take a pathological approach by labeling chi ldren and parents. Although families with a child or young adult with a developmental disability experience many stresses, they also experie nce joys and bring their own strengths and skills to the caregiving si tuation. The authors review the stresses of caregiving and the strengt hs of families and present a case study that highlights a model for so cial work services that addresses these issues.