Psychology & Brain Sciences 491D - S-Impact of Disabilities/Fam.

Families of children with disabilities have a broad range of experiences. This seminar will address the positive and negative impacts of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities on the well-being of various family members across the lifespan, through discussion of empirical research and family stories. We will focus on consequences for parents (e.g., diagnosis, family organization, stress and coping, resilience), siblings (e.g., sibling relationships, future caregivers), as well as grandparents and other extended family members. These topics will be explored through the lens of family theories with an emphasis on application to public policy and intervention.

Pre Req: PSYCH 100 Registration is open only to students in the Developmental Disabilities and Human Services Program for the first month of
registration. Other students may seek permission of the instructor after that time. Prerequisites may be waived for non-Psychology majors. Those students seeking permission can email awoodman@umass.edu.