DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 252 013 EC 171 169

AUTHOR Utley Cheryl A Marion Robert 0TITLE Working with Black Families Having Mentally Retarded

Members PUB DATE May 84 NOTE lip Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the

American Association on Mental Deficiency (108th Minneapolis MN May 27-31 1984)

PUB TYPE SpeechesConference Papers (150) mdash Information Analyses (070)

EDRS PRICE MF01PC01 Plus Postage DESCRIPTORS Black Family Cultural Influences Faiuly

Relationship Mental Retardation Social Influences Social Support Groups Values

ABSTRACT The paper examines culture as an influential variable

in the shaping of the value system within the sturcture of black families specifically those with mentally retarded members Typical negative views of the black culture included such characteristics as matriarchal unstable and pathological More recent views have focused on strengths including strong kinship bonds strong work orientation and adaptability of family roles Two strengths the extended family or kinship network and the religious orientation are examined in an analysis of how Black families cope with-retardation Ethnographic studies focusing on child-rearing practices associated with black families of mentally retarded persons are reviewed and results point to identifiable structural characteristics including the role of the mother and support of the grandparents as essential elements of the social support network and the importance of the church as a source of respite care and mainstreamed experiences (CD

Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made

from the original document

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CENTER (EWC1

3 TIM Oucmmni lot been ow ftw (MI ion ot

originating it Minor changei haw bmn marja to impra reproduction quality

bull Points of vinv or optmomstatmjnthia doc men do not rwcwsanrv repmantotfiolaquoIME poiinon or pokey

| bull

3

C5 CMirgt rgCD LU

WORKING Wllil BITK fAViLlLb HA MfM-MLY KiJARDED McMBERS

Cheryl A Utloy -M

Cecrgt jhudy Uile-jc of VarvJi-r-tii 1 L John r Kennedy Cenl-r

University

Robei t Marion Jhl

University of TOXJS at Austin oi Ldijcatii

per presented at the Annual Met-tiny of tho A^ierican Association on Mental Deficiency Minneapolis Minnesota May 27-31 1984

P o o t o u o t e v i t h ou t igt e rm 1 s si on f com t he au tho r s

Introduction

The quality of the lives of Ulack Mentally retarded children

is a new area of research Dupiricdl knowledge concerning how the

Black family provides child care handle financial matters and

conducts the ordinary daily responsibilities of a home with u mentally

retarded child is virtually non-existent There is evidence however

ttiat the structure of the Black family in general does riot differ

from the Black family havin-j mentally retarded members (Mitchel-Kernan amp

Tucker 1984)

The purpose cf tins paner is to examine culture as jn influential

variable in the shaping of tho value system within tho iilack family

structure Emphasis will be placed upon the cultural foundations of

the Black family that have determined the cohesive interactional patterns

and adaptation skills necessary for survival in the mainstream society

Lastly the family structure of the Black family having mentally retarded

members will be discussed

Cultural Foundations of tho Black Family

Culture is defined as the rules used by members of a particular

group to govern the interaction wHh each other aid the environment

Berry (1976) sees culture as a way of life or a learned pattern of

behavior which 1s unique to a group of people On an Individual level

some scholars have argued that cuire intertwined with language

the mind so that bull bull bullbullbullbull

each person iji - bullbullbull as

bull a

bull learner

bullbullbull bull bullbullbullbull is

bullgtraquo both ^V 1 - bullbullbullbullbull-

bounded and^ifiii^Ss^jR^JlWs

r bullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbull bullbullbullbull--bull-bullbull bull- bullbullbull-bull bull bullbull ~ [~~ ~^ -mdash -bullgt-ltbull bullbullbullbullbull^bullbullbull- y^Jamp^^^t^^SiiiifaiiS^sSsiaSSiSS

bull bullbull- bull bull -as

according to the wor 1 J-^id-1 ife view and the irentoi process styles

Of his culture (UjrJ 1 J3)

The genera view bull gt the GLu-k cuUijre v depicted Ly early

investigatory in th-gt 1 deg-10 s ha^ CLMsisi-d of nf-itive stereotypes

(Myrdal 1941) Soin uf these rvjttiV (I iracti ri t ic-i JScribed to

the Black familv were (1) matrix ttia ( ) unstable (3j lacking in

productivity (4) uu)ti-djoncy iwiilies (SJ ( ow value of nducation

and (6) pathological Since tlust tine Minority researchers such as

Billingsley (1968) jnd riiil (1972) uve presented a different view

of Black families which focu-s en their strengths According to Hill

these strengths are (1) strono kinship bonds ( strong work orientashy

tion (3) adaptability of family roles ^) high achievement orientation

and (b) strong religious orientation The basis for thii -hift 1n

Geology may be attributed to a changing social order and the need of

professionals and educators alike to develop j constructive understanding

of how to increase iiinority parent involvement in the schools

Two of these strengths (1) the extended dvvily or Hnship network

und (2) the religious orientation of -he Black family provides the subshy

stantive knowledge needed to understand how they cope with the handicap

of mental retardation The former strength the expended family is a

primary source of familial support (McAdoo 1978) The latter strength

of religious orientation is an important contributor in the socialization

process The church represents an educational institutionthat adheres

to social norms and provides- the opportunity to develop non-kinship

relationships This is an important^source for nurturing friendships

between Black mentally retarded persons and their non-handicapped

The Role of t he _E x tendk d_ F jinLijjy

The kinship niraquotwov in the Biaei fiiiy i-gt a mult ijeneratTonal

social network of relatives friends ard m-iahbirs (Martin amp MaKfin 1978)

Although there are no definite bcund^rii - tr-it characterize each family

member the extended fjriily system is a gtupnort iiit-chanisro that functions

in similar ways to the nuviejr family Through the network of cooperative

kinship Black fairil^ merbers arf ltitne o receive emotional psychological r

physical and financial support [ht raquobullbullbull i-idoc faniil lttlso server to

reinforce career aspirations of ts wsn -rs and to offer encouragement

during on -conomic crisis uneiiuloyiicnt illness and other undesirable

circumstances

Another important feature of the extended Black family is the role

of the mother Inis type of family is referred to as tiutriarchal or

[internal Past studies hivo associated a female headed household as a

source of family disorganisation (Fra^icr )39) However the current

literature provides evidence that trie presence of a strong maternal

figure constitutes a significant soura- fcr establishing personal and

professional goals encouraging scholastic achievement and transmitting

educational aiibitions to their l^ack children (Hale 1982)

The Religious On en tat 1 on of the BJack raiiily

The degree of participation of tho o

Black family in the church culture

is extensive As a social institution the church provides the opportunity

for Black children to develop social competencies and friendships with

their peers and Black adults to develop leadership skills and expertise ||

voluntary organizations Thus the church is a formal community bull bull bullbull bull

ittsraquoJj^i^u^^

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CENTER (EWC1

3 TIM Oucmmni lot been ow ftw (MI ion ot

originating it Minor changei haw bmn marja to impra reproduction quality

bull Points of vinv or optmomstatmjnthia doc men do not rwcwsanrv repmantotfiolaquoIME poiinon or pokey

| bull

3

C5 CMirgt rgCD LU

WORKING Wllil BITK fAViLlLb HA MfM-MLY KiJARDED McMBERS

Cheryl A Utloy -M

Cecrgt jhudy Uile-jc of VarvJi-r-tii 1 L John r Kennedy Cenl-r

University

Robei t Marion Jhl

University of TOXJS at Austin oi Ldijcatii

per presented at the Annual Met-tiny of tho A^ierican Association on Mental Deficiency Minneapolis Minnesota May 27-31 1984

P o o t o u o t e v i t h ou t igt e rm 1 s si on f com t he au tho r s

Introduction

The quality of the lives of Ulack Mentally retarded children

is a new area of research Dupiricdl knowledge concerning how the

Black family provides child care handle financial matters and

conducts the ordinary daily responsibilities of a home with u mentally

retarded child is virtually non-existent There is evidence however

ttiat the structure of the Black family in general does riot differ

from the Black family havin-j mentally retarded members (Mitchel-Kernan amp

Tucker 1984)

The purpose cf tins paner is to examine culture as jn influential

variable in the shaping of tho value system within tho iilack family

structure Emphasis will be placed upon the cultural foundations of

the Black family that have determined the cohesive interactional patterns

and adaptation skills necessary for survival in the mainstream society

Lastly the family structure of the Black family having mentally retarded

members will be discussed

Cultural Foundations of tho Black Family

Culture is defined as the rules used by members of a particular

group to govern the interaction wHh each other aid the environment

Berry (1976) sees culture as a way of life or a learned pattern of

behavior which 1s unique to a group of people On an Individual level

some scholars have argued that cuire intertwined with language

the mind so that bull bull bullbullbullbull

each person iji - bullbullbull as

bull a

bull learner

bullbullbull bull bullbullbullbull is

bullgtraquo both ^V 1 - bullbullbullbullbull-

bounded and^ifiii^Ss^jR^JlWs

r bullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbull bullbullbullbull--bull-bullbull bull- bullbullbull-bull bull bullbull ~ [~~ ~^ -mdash -bullgt-ltbull bullbullbullbullbull^bullbullbull- y^Jamp^^^t^^SiiiifaiiS^sSsiaSSiSS

bull bullbull- bull bull -as

according to the wor 1 J-^id-1 ife view and the irentoi process styles

Of his culture (UjrJ 1 J3)

The genera view bull gt the GLu-k cuUijre v depicted Ly early

investigatory in th-gt 1 deg-10 s ha^ CLMsisi-d of nf-itive stereotypes

(Myrdal 1941) Soin uf these rvjttiV (I iracti ri t ic-i JScribed to

the Black familv were (1) matrix ttia ( ) unstable (3j lacking in

productivity (4) uu)ti-djoncy iwiilies (SJ ( ow value of nducation

and (6) pathological Since tlust tine Minority researchers such as

Billingsley (1968) jnd riiil (1972) uve presented a different view

of Black families which focu-s en their strengths According to Hill

these strengths are (1) strono kinship bonds ( strong work orientashy

tion (3) adaptability of family roles ^) high achievement orientation

and (b) strong religious orientation The basis for thii -hift 1n

Geology may be attributed to a changing social order and the need of

professionals and educators alike to develop j constructive understanding

of how to increase iiinority parent involvement in the schools

Two of these strengths (1) the extended dvvily or Hnship network

und (2) the religious orientation of -he Black family provides the subshy

stantive knowledge needed to understand how they cope with the handicap

of mental retardation The former strength the expended family is a

primary source of familial support (McAdoo 1978) The latter strength

of religious orientation is an important contributor in the socialization

process The church represents an educational institutionthat adheres

to social norms and provides- the opportunity to develop non-kinship

relationships This is an important^source for nurturing friendships

between Black mentally retarded persons and their non-handicapped

The Role of t he _E x tendk d_ F jinLijjy

The kinship niraquotwov in the Biaei fiiiy i-gt a mult ijeneratTonal

social network of relatives friends ard m-iahbirs (Martin amp MaKfin 1978)

Although there are no definite bcund^rii - tr-it characterize each family

member the extended fjriily system is a gtupnort iiit-chanisro that functions

in similar ways to the nuviejr family Through the network of cooperative

kinship Black fairil^ merbers arf ltitne o receive emotional psychological r

physical and financial support [ht raquobullbullbull i-idoc faniil lttlso server to

reinforce career aspirations of ts wsn -rs and to offer encouragement

during on -conomic crisis uneiiuloyiicnt illness and other undesirable

circumstances

Another important feature of the extended Black family is the role

of the mother Inis type of family is referred to as tiutriarchal or

[internal Past studies hivo associated a female headed household as a

source of family disorganisation (Fra^icr )39) However the current

literature provides evidence that trie presence of a strong maternal

figure constitutes a significant soura- fcr establishing personal and

professional goals encouraging scholastic achievement and transmitting

educational aiibitions to their l^ack children (Hale 1982)

The Religious On en tat 1 on of the BJack raiiily

The degree of participation of tho o

Black family in the church culture

is extensive As a social institution the church provides the opportunity

for Black children to develop social competencies and friendships with

their peers and Black adults to develop leadership skills and expertise ||

voluntary organizations Thus the church is a formal community bull bull bullbull bull

ittsraquoJj^i^u^^

Introduction

The quality of the lives of Ulack Mentally retarded children

is a new area of research Dupiricdl knowledge concerning how the

Black family provides child care handle financial matters and

conducts the ordinary daily responsibilities of a home with u mentally

retarded child is virtually non-existent There is evidence however

ttiat the structure of the Black family in general does riot differ

from the Black family havin-j mentally retarded members (Mitchel-Kernan amp

Tucker 1984)

The purpose cf tins paner is to examine culture as jn influential

variable in the shaping of tho value system within tho iilack family

structure Emphasis will be placed upon the cultural foundations of

the Black family that have determined the cohesive interactional patterns

and adaptation skills necessary for survival in the mainstream society

Lastly the family structure of the Black family having mentally retarded

members will be discussed

Cultural Foundations of tho Black Family

Culture is defined as the rules used by members of a particular

group to govern the interaction wHh each other aid the environment

Berry (1976) sees culture as a way of life or a learned pattern of

behavior which 1s unique to a group of people On an Individual level

some scholars have argued that cuire intertwined with language

the mind so that bull bull bullbullbullbull

each person iji - bullbullbull as

bull a

bull learner

bullbullbull bull bullbullbullbull is

bullgtraquo both ^V 1 - bullbullbullbullbull-

bounded and^ifiii^Ss^jR^JlWs

r bullbullbullbullbullbullbullbullbull bullbullbullbull--bull-bullbull bull- bullbullbull-bull bull bullbull ~ [~~ ~^ -mdash -bullgt-ltbull bullbullbullbullbull^bullbullbull- y^Jamp^^^t^^SiiiifaiiS^sSsiaSSiSS

bull bullbull- bull bull -as

according to the wor 1 J-^id-1 ife view and the irentoi process styles

Of his culture (UjrJ 1 J3)

The genera view bull gt the GLu-k cuUijre v depicted Ly early

investigatory in th-gt 1 deg-10 s ha^ CLMsisi-d of nf-itive stereotypes

(Myrdal 1941) Soin uf these rvjttiV (I iracti ri t ic-i JScribed to

the Black familv were (1) matrix ttia ( ) unstable (3j lacking in

productivity (4) uu)ti-djoncy iwiilies (SJ ( ow value of nducation

and (6) pathological Since tlust tine Minority researchers such as

Billingsley (1968) jnd riiil (1972) uve presented a different view

of Black families which focu-s en their strengths According to Hill

these strengths are (1) strono kinship bonds ( strong work orientashy

tion (3) adaptability of family roles ^) high achievement orientation

and (b) strong religious orientation The basis for thii -hift 1n

Geology may be attributed to a changing social order and the need of

professionals and educators alike to develop j constructive understanding

of how to increase iiinority parent involvement in the schools

Two of these strengths (1) the extended dvvily or Hnship network

und (2) the religious orientation of -he Black family provides the subshy

stantive knowledge needed to understand how they cope with the handicap

of mental retardation The former strength the expended family is a

primary source of familial support (McAdoo 1978) The latter strength

of religious orientation is an important contributor in the socialization

process The church represents an educational institutionthat adheres

to social norms and provides- the opportunity to develop non-kinship

relationships This is an important^source for nurturing friendships

between Black mentally retarded persons and their non-handicapped

The Role of t he _E x tendk d_ F jinLijjy

The kinship niraquotwov in the Biaei fiiiy i-gt a mult ijeneratTonal

social network of relatives friends ard m-iahbirs (Martin amp MaKfin 1978)

Although there are no definite bcund^rii - tr-it characterize each family

member the extended fjriily system is a gtupnort iiit-chanisro that functions

in similar ways to the nuviejr family Through the network of cooperative

kinship Black fairil^ merbers arf ltitne o receive emotional psychological r

physical and financial support [ht raquobullbullbull i-idoc faniil lttlso server to

reinforce career aspirations of ts wsn -rs and to offer encouragement

during on -conomic crisis uneiiuloyiicnt illness and other undesirable

circumstances

Another important feature of the extended Black family is the role

of the mother Inis type of family is referred to as tiutriarchal or

[internal Past studies hivo associated a female headed household as a

source of family disorganisation (Fra^icr )39) However the current

literature provides evidence that trie presence of a strong maternal

figure constitutes a significant soura- fcr establishing personal and

professional goals encouraging scholastic achievement and transmitting

educational aiibitions to their l^ack children (Hale 1982)

The Religious On en tat 1 on of the BJack raiiily

The degree of participation of tho o

Black family in the church culture

is extensive As a social institution the church provides the opportunity

for Black children to develop social competencies and friendships with

their peers and Black adults to develop leadership skills and expertise ||

voluntary organizations Thus the church is a formal community bull bull bullbull bull

ittsraquoJj^i^u^^

bull bullbull- bull bull -as

according to the wor 1 J-^id-1 ife view and the irentoi process styles

Of his culture (UjrJ 1 J3)

The genera view bull gt the GLu-k cuUijre v depicted Ly early

investigatory in th-gt 1 deg-10 s ha^ CLMsisi-d of nf-itive stereotypes

(Myrdal 1941) Soin uf these rvjttiV (I iracti ri t ic-i JScribed to

the Black familv were (1) matrix ttia ( ) unstable (3j lacking in

productivity (4) uu)ti-djoncy iwiilies (SJ ( ow value of nducation

and (6) pathological Since tlust tine Minority researchers such as

Billingsley (1968) jnd riiil (1972) uve presented a different view

of Black families which focu-s en their strengths According to Hill

these strengths are (1) strono kinship bonds ( strong work orientashy

tion (3) adaptability of family roles ^) high achievement orientation

and (b) strong religious orientation The basis for thii -hift 1n

Geology may be attributed to a changing social order and the need of

professionals and educators alike to develop j constructive understanding

of how to increase iiinority parent involvement in the schools

Two of these strengths (1) the extended dvvily or Hnship network

und (2) the religious orientation of -he Black family provides the subshy

stantive knowledge needed to understand how they cope with the handicap

of mental retardation The former strength the expended family is a

primary source of familial support (McAdoo 1978) The latter strength

of religious orientation is an important contributor in the socialization

process The church represents an educational institutionthat adheres

to social norms and provides- the opportunity to develop non-kinship

relationships This is an important^source for nurturing friendships

between Black mentally retarded persons and their non-handicapped

The Role of t he _E x tendk d_ F jinLijjy

The kinship niraquotwov in the Biaei fiiiy i-gt a mult ijeneratTonal

social network of relatives friends ard m-iahbirs (Martin amp MaKfin 1978)

Although there are no definite bcund^rii - tr-it characterize each family

member the extended fjriily system is a gtupnort iiit-chanisro that functions

in similar ways to the nuviejr family Through the network of cooperative

kinship Black fairil^ merbers arf ltitne o receive emotional psychological r

physical and financial support [ht raquobullbullbull i-idoc faniil lttlso server to

reinforce career aspirations of ts wsn -rs and to offer encouragement

during on -conomic crisis uneiiuloyiicnt illness and other undesirable

circumstances

Another important feature of the extended Black family is the role

of the mother Inis type of family is referred to as tiutriarchal or

[internal Past studies hivo associated a female headed household as a

source of family disorganisation (Fra^icr )39) However the current

literature provides evidence that trie presence of a strong maternal

figure constitutes a significant soura- fcr establishing personal and

professional goals encouraging scholastic achievement and transmitting

educational aiibitions to their l^ack children (Hale 1982)

The Religious On en tat 1 on of the BJack raiiily

The degree of participation of tho o

Black family in the church culture

is extensive As a social institution the church provides the opportunity

for Black children to develop social competencies and friendships with

their peers and Black adults to develop leadership skills and expertise ||

voluntary organizations Thus the church is a formal community bull bull bullbull bull

ittsraquoJj^i^u^^

The Role of t he _E x tendk d_ F jinLijjy

The kinship niraquotwov in the Biaei fiiiy i-gt a mult ijeneratTonal

social network of relatives friends ard m-iahbirs (Martin amp MaKfin 1978)

Although there are no definite bcund^rii - tr-it characterize each family

member the extended fjriily system is a gtupnort iiit-chanisro that functions

in similar ways to the nuviejr family Through the network of cooperative

kinship Black fairil^ merbers arf ltitne o receive emotional psychological r

physical and financial support [ht raquobullbullbull i-idoc faniil lttlso server to

reinforce career aspirations of ts wsn -rs and to offer encouragement

during on -conomic crisis uneiiuloyiicnt illness and other undesirable

circumstances

Another important feature of the extended Black family is the role

of the mother Inis type of family is referred to as tiutriarchal or

[internal Past studies hivo associated a female headed household as a

source of family disorganisation (Fra^icr )39) However the current

literature provides evidence that trie presence of a strong maternal

figure constitutes a significant soura- fcr establishing personal and

professional goals encouraging scholastic achievement and transmitting

educational aiibitions to their l^ack children (Hale 1982)

The Religious On en tat 1 on of the BJack raiiily

The degree of participation of tho o

Black family in the church culture

is extensive As a social institution the church provides the opportunity

for Black children to develop social competencies and friendships with

their peers and Black adults to develop leadership skills and expertise ||

voluntary organizations Thus the church is a formal community bull bull bullbull bull

ittsraquoJj^i^u^^

Tne chur) i r ilso d viluahlc bullbullbullnj for Jelninq talents

in drama s ( -eltikincj musk djnetr eilaquo bullbullbullbull oxtri-curricular activities

offered by the church in aj-v casts supi)leiienl the schools academic

curriculum Trie -social structure of the church tan I 1 1 viewed a^ an

educatioiivil institution through whuli Click children i jfi achieve re-

gt0jnition and ^utiosi outside of tho school (ftjrkiti 1 195)

deg V

To determine the structural variables eg hi Id-rearing practices

associated with the Black family ethnographic studies employing naturalshy

istic observations and interviews have been conducted with Black mentally

retarded adults As children these mentally retarded adults were

labelled educable mentally retarded (FMR) and diagnosed as having learning c

and behavioral problems similar to the six-hour retarded child This

label implies that the condition of mental retardation occurs during the

school hours of 9 am to 3 pm and results solely from poor academic achieveshy

ment in the classroom In the community the six-hour retarded child has

adequate adaptive behavior skills and loses any distinctive characteristics

assigned by teachers and administrators in the public school system

(Mercer 1973)

Tucker and Kitchell-Kernan (1983) studied the social support and

social network of 24 Black mentally retarded adults 12 females whose

mean age was 265 and 12 males whose mean age was 268 The IQ scores of

the study sample ranged from b5 tc 70 living arrangements of the sample

consisted of (a) the family of origin (b) a care facility and (c) an

independent living situation

fill

As previously noted the procedure 1 used in ddt3 cjl lection

bull ia 1 i t a t i v o methods raquo i^ 1 bullbull lt e J in ( u i t u bull 1 i n t h rono 1 oi v ud social

bull)s vcho 1 Co v I n addition the bullgt ubri t s were ltbull 1 n i tr f ed structured

Huestionaires and s tend jrlaquoi i zed instruments From the oues ti ona i re

ronses the f o 1 1 ow i i ] catenaries emer-jed (1) the structural

characteristics ot the uir lc s -ociai networks (e-i dominant

curce Mid intimate -iu critical t i gtv ) (2) coning mechanisms

ir oroblen solving situations (3) t k c- underiving reasons for the

transactions a mono fjjiib and kinshin tics and (4) the qualitative

a s n e c t s o f s p e c i f i c bull o c i 11 relationships

Overall the results t-evegtilei thltgt the Hlick mentally retarded a |

adults conducted their lives in the same way as their non-handicapped ||1

-leers andor role models These jiiults were involved in romantic |

-elationships had children developed close relationships and |bullS3

identified the farcilv as 1 dominant source in their social network

The role of the family ercerqed as an important source of

emotional psychological and financial support The composition

of the extended family network was a t r i archal with a cluster of

adult females plus lineal relatives such as aunts uncles in-laws t

and cousins This outcome confirmed the hypothesis that the

structural variables in the Black family fire not distinguishable

in nature from the Black family^haviin mentally retardedmembers

The data revealed that familial involvement consisted of a

range of services under the foilwing categories (1) life manageraquo||i

ment (2) housekeeping (3) child care and (4) guidance and

$poundygtamp$t$ Under the first category of life ^

bdquo- bull--bullbull bullbullbull 5il| -bdquo laquo bull i--^

tion of igtb ^ nn 1 i c a t i T s tne r -M bull- t i o n of food in a restaurant

the writinq of letters iscl thlaquo- bull bull bull - i ngt or bull bulllt-raquobull- e lt

drivers licence and c i v serur- t-gt raquo- In these circumstances

relatives ana kirshii bullH-mbers rather tnon friends wer-laquo instrushy

mental in fulfilling thi-ir dailv IM-I-- In pr i or i t i i i ru the

needs of P1acl cental lv re t t bull -ltKd ivlul fin a racial a y si stance

was a najor concern In soverraquol trraquo c LS ^1 out of 4 sample subshy

jects a awily member w^s n-lt nons i b 1 raquobull for maintaining the fiscal

nt of iconic- 1- r^L- ved from the r0( ial service agencies

P-ir example

bulleiffi lived in d Lcuiril jrid rire facility in which she had no cortro over her fininciai iffiirs Her I^ot her is the navee for Helens Sn 1 omenta 1 Security Income (SSI) and make c oavnents directly to the board and care operator The remaining amount is used bv Helens mother to purchase articles that she Relieves thit Helun needs Although Helen is quite discontent with this arrangement her history of psychiatric prubl cms and epileptic seirurer causes her mother to doubt Helens itnlit to iMan-VK- her ovn affairs independent lv (Kernan and Tucker D 17S)

The second cateqory nf housekeop i n-] wa-j an important function

o f family members Altliough Black mentil lv retarded females

were more skilled in performing household chores such as cleaning

cooking and washing the family of oriqin provided regular assis--

tance to oversee the completion of these activities

The third category child care was another significant

area of family responsibility Grandparents provided a range of t

chi Id-rearino services from parenting to babysitting to feeding

to educating young children The degree of participation or raquo

family suooort involved the total removal of the cliild from the

B _ _ Jl$^^^^^^^^H^i^^^^i^sa^^iM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

V raquo f -raquoraquo

In us inn se 1 f - rer or t a c 1 bull s bullbullbull ifii data collection procedure

t n e following bull 0 r v 1 1 r n - o r bull bull r 1 1 ( o

farolvn WM-gt bull lt -I 1 voraquoi lt-i t-c ieves COT i dr rah I f sun port fron her r other bull i1 he care a vejrinq of nor three children throjih trgtc- r o i rgt i on of home money discipline and a nu-iber of ot^r-r daily child care needs Indeed her mothers I i jh level of i nvo 1 v-gtin t ippear-^ to Le a central factor in her trothraquo-rs decision to move back to their home state when it necoiies fir-araquouii feasible It is therlt- that Carolvns -iOthtr expects to find uf~iciett support fron her -gtwn kin i]rji to ma 1 1gt Cnvolvn 1 uenenderice less

of a bu rdcri ( Kerna n ^ Tucker n I MO)

v i t r i a rch i a 1 su port i f i -x tended family lu-work is also

illustrated through the

Althrjoh bull i tcraquo-o 1 1 a -i-vplusmnr o 1 J male had relatively little involvenK-nt witn li i bull fraquoiil this situation changed radically after n i s -iarrialt)e ari iubseoueigtt uirth of h i child- Beshycause Mitchells nothnr d i sa jure ves of his wife who is also retarded this increased reo Jeri( v of kin interaction tends to take okice between Mitchell n ci his in-laws rather than his own relative His niothtrs d i sengaqemen t however is more than compensated for by he nother- i n- 1 aw s involvement in his lif bull She invited the new couple to live with her iin cd orovids a wid- variety of unnort for them jrd their 1-abv (laquo(bullgt- nan laquolt Tuclfr n 130)

These findings surjest that the role of the grandmother is exshy

tremely imoortants iin i f i car t This extended family arrangement

has been identified as an informal adoption procedure whereby the

qranduarents assumed the child care resoonsi bi 1 i ties due to the

iiit-ntallv retarlt-d s narenta incaiMcity marital uroblems imshy

maturity and the Qrandnaren t s own su f - f u 1 f i 1 1 i nq need of

companion shin In addition these conclusions concur with the

previous writings of Hill and Shacklefcrd (1975) and Nobles (1974)

to suggest that laquo

this type of extended family structure is a

iss distinctive feature of Black f ami 1 ies

In the Vastcateltiorv of guidance and direction the i^^^^1^1 ^^^^^^ H bull(bullbullbullbullbull bull bullbull raquo ii

8

feelings Ion lines- anrt soc i a 1 -af t n i vr needs was an obvious

characteristic TK- sanK sub jet bull t bull gtrgtbullbullbull] to their parents

ii-laws and stliii as friends - e in mod noint was

nade by this c-L]ect

According f o S tevo a g bull ^ 2 h-- vu u 1 lt1 run to his mother in traquo linute lie tgtited that hlt vuuld drop like that T o run to her WP talk We dont have that kind of communication i 5- far js haiqirn around toqether But we talk shunever 1 need sninei^cy to talk to (Kernan laquo T u c k L- r t) 1 81 )

In -um-narv th--re vcre several idenufiaMe structural

characteristic^ of the I lack fan i 1 v havirvj mentally retarded

bull(nbers The vlt t erdi-d fai ilv in uirt iculjr the rple of the

bullOther and support of the q ran Joaron is jro essential elements

in the social sunport network The extent of thf involvement

line Jenree of interaction is determined bv two factors the

iiscal PKinaqenient of income and tho socialization of young

children Althounh housekc-ep i tu) ltmd j-ndtinct from the extended

family are not as IM port ant 81 act gt-^n t a 1 1 y retarded adults are

highly dependent upon their extended family to assist in these

areas

Earlier i ii this mi per the religious orientation of the

Black familv was discussed as an important formal support

service in developing friendships The research findings of

this study indicate that the church is the most central agency

among voluntary organizations where friendships can be nurtured

The church has been instrumental in their attempts to (1) assi

late the Black mentally retarded individual into the mainstrea

of society 2 teach occupational skills and (3) provide

laquo^^^ - sss^iiiiampfsA i

mishy

m

bdquo- bull--bullbull bullbullbull 5il| -bdquo laquo bull i--^

tion of igtb ^ nn 1 i c a t i T s tne r -M bull- t i o n of food in a restaurant

the writinq of letters iscl thlaquo- bull bull bull - i ngt or bull bulllt-raquobull- e lt

drivers licence and c i v serur- t-gt raquo- In these circumstances

relatives ana kirshii bullH-mbers rather tnon friends wer-laquo instrushy

mental in fulfilling thi-ir dailv IM-I-- In pr i or i t i i i ru the

needs of P1acl cental lv re t t bull -ltKd ivlul fin a racial a y si stance

was a najor concern In soverraquol trraquo c LS ^1 out of 4 sample subshy

jects a awily member w^s n-lt nons i b 1 raquobull for maintaining the fiscal

nt of iconic- 1- r^L- ved from the r0( ial service agencies

P-ir example

bulleiffi lived in d Lcuiril jrid rire facility in which she had no cortro over her fininciai iffiirs Her I^ot her is the navee for Helens Sn 1 omenta 1 Security Income (SSI) and make c oavnents directly to the board and care operator The remaining amount is used bv Helens mother to purchase articles that she Relieves thit Helun needs Although Helen is quite discontent with this arrangement her history of psychiatric prubl cms and epileptic seirurer causes her mother to doubt Helens itnlit to iMan-VK- her ovn affairs independent lv (Kernan and Tucker D 17S)

The second cateqory nf housekeop i n-] wa-j an important function

o f family members Altliough Black mentil lv retarded females

were more skilled in performing household chores such as cleaning

cooking and washing the family of oriqin provided regular assis--

tance to oversee the completion of these activities

The third category child care was another significant

area of family responsibility Grandparents provided a range of t

chi Id-rearino services from parenting to babysitting to feeding

to educating young children The degree of participation or raquo

family suooort involved the total removal of the cliild from the

B _ _ Jl$^^^^^^^^H^i^^^^i^sa^^iM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

V raquo f -raquoraquo

In us inn se 1 f - rer or t a c 1 bull s bullbullbull ifii data collection procedure

t n e following bull 0 r v 1 1 r n - o r bull bull r 1 1 ( o

farolvn WM-gt bull lt -I 1 voraquoi lt-i t-c ieves COT i dr rah I f sun port fron her r other bull i1 he care a vejrinq of nor three children throjih trgtc- r o i rgt i on of home money discipline and a nu-iber of ot^r-r daily child care needs Indeed her mothers I i jh level of i nvo 1 v-gtin t ippear-^ to Le a central factor in her trothraquo-rs decision to move back to their home state when it necoiies fir-araquouii feasible It is therlt- that Carolvns -iOthtr expects to find uf~iciett support fron her -gtwn kin i]rji to ma 1 1gt Cnvolvn 1 uenenderice less

of a bu rdcri ( Kerna n ^ Tucker n I MO)

v i t r i a rch i a 1 su port i f i -x tended family lu-work is also

illustrated through the

Althrjoh bull i tcraquo-o 1 1 a -i-vplusmnr o 1 J male had relatively little involvenK-nt witn li i bull fraquoiil this situation changed radically after n i s -iarrialt)e ari iubseoueigtt uirth of h i child- Beshycause Mitchells nothnr d i sa jure ves of his wife who is also retarded this increased reo Jeri( v of kin interaction tends to take okice between Mitchell n ci his in-laws rather than his own relative His niothtrs d i sengaqemen t however is more than compensated for by he nother- i n- 1 aw s involvement in his lif bull She invited the new couple to live with her iin cd orovids a wid- variety of unnort for them jrd their 1-abv (laquo(bullgt- nan laquolt Tuclfr n 130)

These findings surjest that the role of the grandmother is exshy

tremely imoortants iin i f i car t This extended family arrangement

has been identified as an informal adoption procedure whereby the

qranduarents assumed the child care resoonsi bi 1 i ties due to the

iiit-ntallv retarlt-d s narenta incaiMcity marital uroblems imshy

maturity and the Qrandnaren t s own su f - f u 1 f i 1 1 i nq need of

companion shin In addition these conclusions concur with the

previous writings of Hill and Shacklefcrd (1975) and Nobles (1974)

to suggest that laquo

this type of extended family structure is a

iss distinctive feature of Black f ami 1 ies

In the Vastcateltiorv of guidance and direction the i^^^^1^1 ^^^^^^ H bull(bullbullbullbullbull bull bullbull raquo ii

8

feelings Ion lines- anrt soc i a 1 -af t n i vr needs was an obvious

characteristic TK- sanK sub jet bull t bull gtrgtbullbullbull] to their parents

ii-laws and stliii as friends - e in mod noint was

nade by this c-L]ect

According f o S tevo a g bull ^ 2 h-- vu u 1 lt1 run to his mother in traquo linute lie tgtited that hlt vuuld drop like that T o run to her WP talk We dont have that kind of communication i 5- far js haiqirn around toqether But we talk shunever 1 need sninei^cy to talk to (Kernan laquo T u c k L- r t) 1 81 )

In -um-narv th--re vcre several idenufiaMe structural

characteristic^ of the I lack fan i 1 v havirvj mentally retarded

bull(nbers The vlt t erdi-d fai ilv in uirt iculjr the rple of the

bullOther and support of the q ran Joaron is jro essential elements

in the social sunport network The extent of thf involvement

line Jenree of interaction is determined bv two factors the

iiscal PKinaqenient of income and tho socialization of young

children Althounh housekc-ep i tu) ltmd j-ndtinct from the extended

family are not as IM port ant 81 act gt-^n t a 1 1 y retarded adults are

highly dependent upon their extended family to assist in these

areas

Earlier i ii this mi per the religious orientation of the

Black familv was discussed as an important formal support

service in developing friendships The research findings of

this study indicate that the church is the most central agency

among voluntary organizations where friendships can be nurtured

The church has been instrumental in their attempts to (1) assi

late the Black mentally retarded individual into the mainstrea

of society 2 teach occupational skills and (3) provide

laquo^^^ - sss^iiiiampfsA i

mishy

m

V raquo f -raquoraquo

In us inn se 1 f - rer or t a c 1 bull s bullbullbull ifii data collection procedure

t n e following bull 0 r v 1 1 r n - o r bull bull r 1 1 ( o

farolvn WM-gt bull lt -I 1 voraquoi lt-i t-c ieves COT i dr rah I f sun port fron her r other bull i1 he care a vejrinq of nor three children throjih trgtc- r o i rgt i on of home money discipline and a nu-iber of ot^r-r daily child care needs Indeed her mothers I i jh level of i nvo 1 v-gtin t ippear-^ to Le a central factor in her trothraquo-rs decision to move back to their home state when it necoiies fir-araquouii feasible It is therlt- that Carolvns -iOthtr expects to find uf~iciett support fron her -gtwn kin i]rji to ma 1 1gt Cnvolvn 1 uenenderice less

of a bu rdcri ( Kerna n ^ Tucker n I MO)

v i t r i a rch i a 1 su port i f i -x tended family lu-work is also

illustrated through the

Althrjoh bull i tcraquo-o 1 1 a -i-vplusmnr o 1 J male had relatively little involvenK-nt witn li i bull fraquoiil this situation changed radically after n i s -iarrialt)e ari iubseoueigtt uirth of h i child- Beshycause Mitchells nothnr d i sa jure ves of his wife who is also retarded this increased reo Jeri( v of kin interaction tends to take okice between Mitchell n ci his in-laws rather than his own relative His niothtrs d i sengaqemen t however is more than compensated for by he nother- i n- 1 aw s involvement in his lif bull She invited the new couple to live with her iin cd orovids a wid- variety of unnort for them jrd their 1-abv (laquo(bullgt- nan laquolt Tuclfr n 130)

These findings surjest that the role of the grandmother is exshy

tremely imoortants iin i f i car t This extended family arrangement

has been identified as an informal adoption procedure whereby the

qranduarents assumed the child care resoonsi bi 1 i ties due to the

iiit-ntallv retarlt-d s narenta incaiMcity marital uroblems imshy

maturity and the Qrandnaren t s own su f - f u 1 f i 1 1 i nq need of

companion shin In addition these conclusions concur with the

previous writings of Hill and Shacklefcrd (1975) and Nobles (1974)

to suggest that laquo

this type of extended family structure is a

iss distinctive feature of Black f ami 1 ies

In the Vastcateltiorv of guidance and direction the i^^^^1^1 ^^^^^^ H bull(bullbullbullbullbull bull bullbull raquo ii

8

feelings Ion lines- anrt soc i a 1 -af t n i vr needs was an obvious

characteristic TK- sanK sub jet bull t bull gtrgtbullbullbull] to their parents

ii-laws and stliii as friends - e in mod noint was

nade by this c-L]ect

According f o S tevo a g bull ^ 2 h-- vu u 1 lt1 run to his mother in traquo linute lie tgtited that hlt vuuld drop like that T o run to her WP talk We dont have that kind of communication i 5- far js haiqirn around toqether But we talk shunever 1 need sninei^cy to talk to (Kernan laquo T u c k L- r t) 1 81 )

In -um-narv th--re vcre several idenufiaMe structural

characteristic^ of the I lack fan i 1 v havirvj mentally retarded

bull(nbers The vlt t erdi-d fai ilv in uirt iculjr the rple of the

bullOther and support of the q ran Joaron is jro essential elements

in the social sunport network The extent of thf involvement

line Jenree of interaction is determined bv two factors the

iiscal PKinaqenient of income and tho socialization of young

children Althounh housekc-ep i tu) ltmd j-ndtinct from the extended

family are not as IM port ant 81 act gt-^n t a 1 1 y retarded adults are

highly dependent upon their extended family to assist in these

areas

Earlier i ii this mi per the religious orientation of the

Black familv was discussed as an important formal support

service in developing friendships The research findings of

this study indicate that the church is the most central agency

among voluntary organizations where friendships can be nurtured

The church has been instrumental in their attempts to (1) assi

late the Black mentally retarded individual into the mainstrea

of society 2 teach occupational skills and (3) provide

laquo^^^ - sss^iiiiampfsA i

mishy

m

8

feelings Ion lines- anrt soc i a 1 -af t n i vr needs was an obvious

characteristic TK- sanK sub jet bull t bull gtrgtbullbullbull] to their parents

ii-laws and stliii as friends - e in mod noint was

nade by this c-L]ect

According f o S tevo a g bull ^ 2 h-- vu u 1 lt1 run to his mother in traquo linute lie tgtited that hlt vuuld drop like that T o run to her WP talk We dont have that kind of communication i 5- far js haiqirn around toqether But we talk shunever 1 need sninei^cy to talk to (Kernan laquo T u c k L- r t) 1 81 )

In -um-narv th--re vcre several idenufiaMe structural

characteristic^ of the I lack fan i 1 v havirvj mentally retarded

bull(nbers The vlt t erdi-d fai ilv in uirt iculjr the rple of the

bullOther and support of the q ran Joaron is jro essential elements

in the social sunport network The extent of thf involvement

line Jenree of interaction is determined bv two factors the

iiscal PKinaqenient of income and tho socialization of young

children Althounh housekc-ep i tu) ltmd j-ndtinct from the extended

family are not as IM port ant 81 act gt-^n t a 1 1 y retarded adults are

highly dependent upon their extended family to assist in these

areas

Earlier i ii this mi per the religious orientation of the

Black familv was discussed as an important formal support

service in developing friendships The research findings of

this study indicate that the church is the most central agency

among voluntary organizations where friendships can be nurtured

The church has been instrumental in their attempts to (1) assi

late the Black mentally retarded individual into the mainstrea

of society 2 teach occupational skills and (3) provide

laquo^^^ - sss^iiiiampfsA i

mishy

m

services ma- bgt attained There -rit--is to he more substantive

empirical -violence o document tMf tv-raquo ct services provided bull

who is entitled to toese services the frequency of participation

bv mentally retarded individuals anj the effectiveness (cost

and treatment) of these ceraquo-vices