Il sistema famiglia in presenza di un figlio con autismo
Marilena Marrone
According to the evolutional approach, families with a disabled child begin differentiating themselves from other families on the birth of their child: problems with acceptance, perception of the condition of disability, care duties and reorganisation within the couple (Scabini and Cigoli, 1991). Various studies have revealed a positive association between autistic symptoms and parental stress (Hastings and Johnson, 2001). One of the main reasons of stress is a lack of interaction. These families may therefore suffer distress deriving from a lack of self-awareness and awareness of the child they are bringing up, the failure of intuitive parental behaviour, coming to terms with a diagnosis that has crushed their expectations, the need to find a new family balance and the need to share with other parents. A general analysis of parents’ needs and difficulties should be the point of focus in planning educational support.
Support actions, suggestions and assistance should be designed in relation to the impact that they could have on the family system, which is more complex than a focus placed on the child’s autistic disorder. A feeling of loneliness in the family and the huge burden that they bear are two connected issues which have feasible, concrete solutions.
The issue of loneliness seems to be connected to the need for communication as guidance. Lastly, the question of information: information is one of the tools which, together with mending any fragmentation, enables the family’s loneliness and burdens to be reduced.
