Another intervention concept closely
related to problem-focused coping is the
parent’s sense of empowerment. Empowerment
has been defined as “a person’s (1) access to
and control over needed resources, (2)
decision-making and problem-solving
abilities, and (3) acquisition of instrumental
behavior needed to interact effectively with
others to procure resources” (Dunst, Trivette,
& Deal, 1988, p. 3). Interventions that involve
empowerment hold promise for helping
families deal with the stress of having a child
with a disability. Yet, little empirical work has
been done to establish the benefits of
empowerment. Dempsey and Dunst (2004)
found that families experience greater
empowerment when they experienced greater
comfort and autonomy in their relationships
with professionals. In considering the
outcomes of empowerment approaches,
Neely-Barnes, Graff, Marcenko, and Weber
(2008) have found that when families make
more decisions, they receive more services
and experience greater satisfaction. More
research is needed to determine if there are
other ways in which empowerment improves
outcomes for families. However, for
practitioners, it is important to note that
preliminary research suggests that giving
families more control over their services and
creating a greater sense of comfort and
autonomy is beneficial.
Future and long-term planning
As discussed in the literature review, an
increasing number of grandparents are caring
for children with disabilities. This increase in
the number of older caregivers creates a need
for information about long-term planning.
Most long-term planning programs address
both financial planning and living
arrangements and provide caregivers with a
step-by-step guide. For example, the Planned
Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) explains
to caregivers how to help the person with a
disability build informal relationships; how to