Are Individuals With Disabilities and Their Families “Resilient”? Deconstructing and Recasting a Well-Intended Concept

Abstract

This article contributes to existing scholarship related to resilience in families with members with disabilities by first using a disability studies orientation to "unbound" existing definitions of resilience, then by providing empirical illustration of this unbounding. Using family as our unit of analysis, we present data from 3 families who navigate successes and challenges related to disability. Three themes of honoring relationships, family member expertise, and standing in one's power emerged. We suggest that more nuanced understandings of resilience, which account for fluid, localized perspectives and encompass contradictory meanings and processes (e.g., stress and joy), have implications for policy and practice.

Assessing resiliency in paediatric rehabilitation: A critical review of assessment tools and applications

“…Additionally, a more critical discussion on antecedents (adversities) and consequences (positive adaptation) of resiliency unique to paediatric rehabilitation clients is of value to researchers and practitioners. In line with critical scholarship (Gibson, 2016;Hutcheon & Lashewicz, 2015), we argue for an alternative definition of resiliency beyond the normative notion of competency, ability and skills, which accounts for clients' capacity to navigate through disabling environments. Such a definition, when adequately operationalized, should allow rehabilitation researchers and practitioners to capture clients' rich and fluid strengths and resourcefulness.…”

Understanding carer resilience in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A systematic narrative review

“…Qualitative studies provide a way of discovering construction of positive meaning and novel resources contributing to resilience. 16,19…”

“…14 Qualitative research suggests that resilience can be understood as the family’s attempt to generate positive meaning of the caring experience. 19 For the purpose of this review the research question was defined as “What is the current understanding of resilience in those who care for someone with DMD?”.…”

Préface

“…Les recherches s'intéressant à la résilience des familles de personnes en situation de handicap abordent souvent celle-ci dans une perspective normative, postulant qu'il existe des familles « résilientes » et des familles « non résilientes » sur la base de compétences et de situations prédéfinies (Breitkreuz et al, 2014 ;Hutcheon & Lashewicz, 2015 ;McConnell & Savage, 2015). Or, comme le souligne , il est nécessaire de se départir de tout cadre normatif, en particulier lorsque l'on s'intéresse à des familles issues de milieux socio-culturels diversifiés.…”