What is adaptability? How does a family's degree of adaptability shape their response (or ability to cope) when a child with a delay or disability becomes part of the family? How can a practitioner help these families?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Adaptability occurs on a continuum of rigid to chaos. Rigid families (those with potentially strict roles and responsibilities) are often unable to adapt to the demands of the new situation. They risk become isolated and disengaged. On the other end of the continuum is the chaotic family. These families are unpredictable and are often characterized by constant change and instability, where no family leader exists and little to know rules are present in the family. Practitioners can assist these families in learning how to balance the extremes of rigidity and chaos. For families that become isolated, practitioners can open them up to more support services, while more chaotic families can be introduced to some measure of organization and structure in day-to-day.