Organization of a Family Training Service Pertaining to Intellectual Disabilities

The authors present the outcomes of three parent training experiences carried out at the Research Institute "OASI MARIA SS" in Troina, Italy, which were designed to facilitate the acquisition of specific competencies and to promote educational effectiveness within the family. Some 30 families (all with a member with autistic disorder or with severe and profound intellectual disability) were followed for a four-week period. Treatments were carried out according to a multidisciplinary approach (a social worker, physician, psychologist, pedagogist, and educator were involved). The main objectives of the training were to promote families' willingness to collaborate, to improve educational abilities, to foster problem solving, and to create a local support network. To assess change, a pre- and post-questionnaire was administered to families. In the three different training models, relevant improvements in coping abilities as well as development of educational self-confidence were noted.