Disability Awareness: 10 Things Parents Should Teach Their Kids About Disabilities

[EC]

Thought this was worth a read and a share.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/02/disability-awareness-parents-teach-kids_n_3696279.html

Parents are all over the board when it comes to how they teach their kids about disabilities. Some scold their kids when they ask what’s wrong when a person with a disability passes by, and other parents are totally cool with letting their kids run around and approach us at will. No two parenting techniques are alike.

But there are a few things that are repeated. From telling their child to always look away or giving them a generic viewpoint of people with disabilities, mistakes on how to talk about us are abound. Since even the most well-meaning parent can accidentally flub up, here are 10 ways to help give your kid a leg up on how to think differently about disabilities.

1) Answering “Why can’t they walk?”

One of the most common questions kids ask when they see someone who uses a wheelchair is this, “Why can’t they walk?” Kids are naturally curious and have no filter, which are without question one of their best and worst qualities. If your child is younger, saying, “They just have an owie,” can be enough.

If they’re older however, just be honest. “I don’t know, baby, but most likely it’s because their nerves,” is all you need to say. My 6-year-old niece is a great example. She’s still too young to understand the concept of a spinal cord injury, so I just tell her my legs just don’t listen to me anymore, and she understand it completely.

But what’s great is once they fully understand, fear is erased.

2) Don’t get mad when they get curious.

While it’s great so many parents want to make sure their kids don’t offend us, which for some kids is a legitimate concern when it comes to sensitive people with disabilities, getting angry with your child when they ask questions about our disability should be avoided. Fear, shame or embarrassment is not what you want your kids to feel in the presence of disability. I hear kids ask their moms about me all the time. Cutest thing ever.

3) Being different isn’t a negative thing.

Instead of putting a “sad story” spin on disability whenever they inquire about someone, saying something along the lines of, “But it’s ok.” “The world is full of people who are different,” is vital. We all get around in our own ways. As long as we get there is the important part.

4) Always ask before helping.

A lot of well-meaning parents like to teach their kids to help us whenever possible. But it’s just as important to teach them to ask before helping so they can appreciate our autonomy, and respect us as such. Teaching your child to automatically jump to our aid is kind, but it can make it harder for them to see us as a person apart from the chair. Letting them know we can do many things on our own is a huge lesson for kids.

More at link.

My kids and grandkids have been around disabled people all their lives. One of my oldest friends is blind, another lost a leg (careless of him). Great grand dad turns a funny color if he walks up the stairs too fast. Yet when they get to the "why" stage, it gets hard to explain.

[happyg]

I have a disabled nephew because of RSV when he was 2 1/12 months old. When he was a teenager, he was swimming with the grandkids, and had a diaper on. The other kids asked why, and we told them he had a bad illness when he was a baby. That was enough for them. They then began looking out for him, and playing with him. He is 21 now, and in the same shape, but everyone gives him the attention a young child needs.

[EC]

Kids are amazingly loving and accepting, once they understand something.

It just becomes part of their world. When my mate Tom comes around, I tell the kids in advance - just say Uncle Tommy is coming to dinner - and the floor is spotless within 5 minutes. All toys away, no trip hazards and Lord forgive me if I have moved the sofa even slightly while cleaning! They also - except the youngest two - present themselves once he sits down so he can see them. Uncle Tommy sees with his hands. They accept it as totally normal.