Impact of a retarded child on his family and vice versa

Considering what has been said, it can be clearly understood how important the family is to the retarded child\u27s total development. In this paper the writer has attempted to review the research which has been done concerning the impact of a retarded child on his family and vice versa. Many studies have been done on family adjustment problems, reactions of parents, family acceptance, effect on the family unit, and on counseling the parents of the retarded. However, there is a disturbing lack of empirical underpinnings for past and present practices in the management of the family of the retarded. One reason for this is the newness of the field as there was little family management in mental retardation before the mid 1940\u27s. With change in family management of the retarded, the future will probably see changes in the impact which a retarded child will make on his family. In view of these statements concerning the family problem which retardation presents, the writer has endeavored in her findings to determine its implications for the future