Most parents are normally devastated whenever they receive the diagnosis of autism for their children. They are normally overwhelmed by grief and fear for the loss of the future they had anticipated for their young ones. This is the same case for Jason because he is in denial, which is a very common thing in such situations. He believes that if his child does not have autism, then she will be fine in future and as such, he regards to this condition as a stage that she will outgrow. Since Jenny has already started exhibiting signs of developmental disability including impairment of social skills and behavior with a limited speech in a state of loneliness, then the conclusion is that she already has the condition. Based on the case study, it is evident that this family is divided in opinions for their daughter’s condition and as such, intervention needs to be done.
The Parent Role Development Theory (PRDT) can be used when working with the family because one parent is in denial. Under this theory, one examines the role of a parent as a caregiver and decision maker during development. These roles change over time depending on the age of their children and as such, they are required to respond differently whenever they are encountered by changing situations ( Wing, 2013 ). The feelings and thoughts of being a parent normally influence the decisions they will make for their decisions, and in this case, both parents have decided to take on a different path for the welfare of their child. It is imperative to note that both of them love her, but express it in different ways. Using this theory, a counselor should explain to them that all the decisions they make for their child now will have life-long implications in her life. This means that if they fail to respond appropriately, then any suffering that Jenny will experience will be in their hands. As much as Jason is in denial, he needs to understand that there condition successfully.
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The first step to engage the family would be to ensure that Jason gets to understand the implication of his denial on his daughter’s life. His grief and fear will only delay the inevitable and as such, he should start accepting the fact that she has the condition. Being scared is normal for everyone because they know it brings an uncertain future, but not doing anything may be very detrimental, especially if you have the chance to make a difference ( Smith & Miller, 2014 ). He should join aren’t support groups and talk to other parents so that he can better understand the condition and how others got through it successfully. This will open doors to the help that his daughter needs including the possible treatments that have benefited other children.
References
Smith, T., & Miller, A. (2014). 101 Tips for Parents of Children with Autism: Effective Solutions for Everyday Challenges . London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Wing, L. (2013). Autistic Children: A Guide for Parents & Professionals . Abingdon-on-Thames : Routledge.
