ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a variety of conceptual frameworks and relevant findings from existing research for enhancing your role as the helping professional in the lives of these families. One of the early models for understanding family stress and crisis was the ABC-X model. The simplicity of this model has its advantages, but one particular limitation of this model is that families do not function within a single moment in time or in response to a single stressor. The chapter highlights chronic illness models with specific emphasis on the application of those models for families living with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). There are a couple of models that more specifically address the role of the illness and disability factors to understand and support families on their journey. The sub-specialty of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), referred to as Medical Family Therapy, or MedFT, has evolved as a result of the clinical, research, and training contributions of professionals from multiple disciplines.
