If you feel your relationship with the parents is very close, you may consider asking the parents if you can go with them to a session with therapists or a medical practitioner. Dealing With Denial One of the most difficult things for parents to deal with is the denial of their child's diagnosis from family and friends. Worrying about how to deal with the reactions of their own relatives and friends creates further pressures for the parents of a child with a disability. There are ways of reacting that can create additional burdens for the parents who are attempting to cope with the day to day reality of having a child with a disability. With parents, denial is part of the normal reaction to the news that a child has a disability.
Denial helps avoid the pain and grief associated with the diagnosis.
However, with time and support a degree of acceptance can be achieved. Even though you may not be the parent of the child, it is normal for you also to have difficulties with denial or grief over the child's disability. You may think about seeking support for your own needs and feelings in order to better support the parents and the child. The opportunity to exchange information and to discuss feelings with relatives of other families will provide you with mutual support in the acceptance of the diagnosis of cerebral palsy. To arrange a meeting or phone contact with another family or to form a small group you may contact a Social Worker at the Cerebral Palsy Association of Western Australia by phoning 443 0211.