ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses coping strategies for the effective management of stress which are useful to consider in relation to the young people. It looks at some of the theoretical issues involved, and in doing so focus on two major questions: first, what is meant by ‘coping’; and second, what ideas have been put forward about the ways in which people do cope? It also looks at some of the formal support systems available for the handicapped teenagers and their families. We have said little directly about the informal resources available from family and friends and it is to these that we turn. As expected the extent to which teenagers discussed their handicaps was related to the severity of their disability. One question which has never been systematically explored is whether it would be helpful for disabled teenagers to meet and/or know about disabled adults who are coping well with their disabilities.
