Stelter, Żaneta2013-03-062013-03-062006Roczniki Socjologii Rodziny, 2006, tom 17, s. 255-275.0867-2059http://hdl.handle.net/10593/4977The birth of a handicapped child is an event, which has an influence on the quality of life of the family. A special relation between parents and child causes that upbringing of a mentally handicapped child is a traumatic experience for the parents. Disability of a child causes that parents are under stress, which often generates deep crisis. Therefore, the acceptance of the child's disability by its family is of great importance to its living situation. In the article is shown the way in which a handicapped child determines the living situation of other members of the family. The issue of motherhood and fatherhood is described in the aspect of the handicap. It is assumed that in the process of raising a mentally handicapped child the father plays as important role as mother. Because a mentally handicapped child has an influence on all members of the family, the influence of such a child on his siblings is also analysed in the article.plArtykuł