Educational Resources for Visible Differences
A variety of birth defects, injury, disease or illness can lead to minor or extensive changes in the appearance of an individual. Some of these conditions are permanent and others can change over time. Dealing with changed appearance or visible differences is a challange.
Research over the years has found no consistent evidence of psychiatric problems for individual with significant visible difference, but considerable evidence of psychosocial problems including negative self-image, anxiety, stress and social isolation. It has also been found that that those with apparently minor difference may be seriously affected by their condition and others with a more marked difference are only mildly affected.
More recently research has been directed towards identifying those skills and coping methods individuals have used that has helped those individuals deal with the psychosocial problems created by their changed appearance. Programs are now being implemented and tested for their efficacy in teaching skills to individuals which will help them to deal with a changed appearance, Skills are also being taught to siblings, parents, peers, teachers and medical care professionals.
In speaking with parents, family members and friends about assisting another person to deal with being visibly difference, I encourage them to review the material provided by Changing Faces and the Phoenix Society
STEPS - Review of the brief steps to deal with people staring
The brochure "Bringing up a child whose face looks different: information for families" is available online for downloading from the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust in England and has helpful suggestions for parents of children with a visible difference.
I have compiled a reference list of books and articles on issues related to body image and visible differences that you might want to review.
Listing of some organizations with web sites that have information on issues related to visible differences.
Still under construction. Last updated07/15/09