The pilot parent program: helping handicapped children through their parents

The problems of parents whose child is diagnosed or newly identified as mentally retarded or otherwise developmentally delayed are varied and difficult. As many authors have pointed out, the manner in which parents deal with this initial crisis of acceptance can have long term consequences for the parents, the family, and the handicapped child. In the past, neither psychiatry nor the other helping professions did much to provide parents with the elements they need in this profound emotional crisis: continuing emotional support and role modeling, information about the child's handicap, and information about service programs for handicapped persons. The Omaha Nebraska Pilot Parent Program is a volunteer program of parents of handicapped children whose purpose is to provide these supports to parents in need. After seven years such a program appears to provide satisfaction for its members, help to fellow parents, and an important resource to the human services systems in the community.