Comments on: How you should treat my child with special needs

By: eternalcanadian

eternalcanadian — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:01:54 +0000

Children are born with no prejudices. It is society, medicine, and adults that teach the chldren those prejudices about people that are “different” aka “not normal.” How wonderful would it be if we lived in a society where everything was considered “normal” regarding how a person looked or acted? The spastic movements of someone with cerebral palsy would be normal. The slurred speech of someone that had a stroke be normal. An amputated limb would be normal. A wheelchair would be normal. A mobility walker would be normal. The visual cane for the blind would be normal. Sign language would be normal. I could go on and on.

By: Jaime

Jaime — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:53:54 +0000

Thank you for posting this. I have a 5 month old son who has a brain injury as a result of a lack of oxygen in utero. He has been slow in reaching his milestones, but he’s working on it everyday. I have a feeling we are going to be looking at a diagnosis of CP or something similar. This was a beautiful post about a beautiful boy. It reassures me that my little man may someday be as active and mobile as Max is. Regardless of his ability, he’s a wonderful little boy who will love life and accomplish all that he is capable of while his proud parents cheer him on!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:10:47 +0000

Great post. I really want to guide my children when they meet people who are different than them, but don’t always know what to say myself.

This was really well written

By: Cheryl and KJ Fiebelkorn

Cheryl and KJ Fiebelkorn — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:04:43 +0000

Hi, My name is Cheryl andmy son KJ, who wil be 9 iOn Oct. 30th, has cerebral palsy on his rt. side. He had a blood clot on the left side of his brain when he was 4 days old as a result of lung surgery. He struggled as an infant and did not walk until 2 1/2. He is a small guy, about 5 inches shorter than his just barely 7 year old brother. but now he runs, Heelys, plays soccer, cub scouts, fishing…on and on and on!!! I am always shocked and impressed watching him create a way to do things one handed, We are working on riding a 2 wheeler. Tough, but I know he will do it. academically he is doing great. He receives therapy at school and wears a foot brace-which he hates- Sometimes I feel sorry for him (me?) when he struggles with something, but considering he disassembeled his bike the other day \with a butter knife, I don’t think I need to worry. His speech is a bit slurred and he drools when he tries to do something difficult, but oh well, its just slobber!! Glad my friend bellyboop pregnancy posted you on her page. Nice to meet both of you. KJ says to say Hi to Max and he says he can come stay here anytime because he has a bunkbed : ) Cheryl fiebelkorn, Tucson AZ

By: Ruby in Montreal

Ruby in Montreal — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:02:27 +0000

Thanks so much to Ellen for writing this article! It is not only one of the most frank and inspiring pieces I’ve seen on the subject, but also wonderfully humorous! After I read about Max I was moved to write about my own son, who is autistic. I’d love it if you would read my article, and I hope that it touches you as much as your narrative did me.

You can find the piece, “Telling All Their Stories,” at Associated Content. The URL is http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2169115/telling_all_their_stories.html?cat=25

Cheers!
Ruby

By: DaniGirl

DaniGirl — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:16:16 +0000

I really enjoyed reading this post – thanks to Annie for hosting it and Ellen for contributing it. It’s reassuring to hear that it’s okay to explain special needs and disabilities to our kids. It sounds like Max is a fun kid who’d have a blast with my boys. Terrific post!

By: Loukia

Loukia — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:40:25 +0000

This was such a touching and beautiful post. Your son is beautiful – look at his smile! I appreciate you writing this post.

By: KC

KC — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:05:58 +0000

We have a nephew with cerebral palsy. He’s 16 and still wheelchair bound (and yes, still drools a lot). But exposure to him and discussing what special needs means and what it does not has made my girls have a special heart for their special needs friends.

My oldest daughter often helps a set of twins with special needs, one of whom has CP and in a wheelchair and one of whom has other special needs but walks with difficulties. I’m grateful to say that she goes right up to them and plays with them, talks with them, and even helps them when they need something done. They seem to appreciate the kindnesses my daughter gives them.

My other daughter had her own special need for a while, which placed her for a while in a special needs preschool classroom and she had friends of varying abilities.

She told me a little earlier today that she took some of her leftover birthday treat bags to 4 children in a special needs classroom (with a little bit more challenges than she had in the preschool class), and your advice would help me to discuss some things a little bit more to her, to explain more about what their parents would like other children to know about their wonderful kids!

Thanks for the post.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:49:43 +0000

thanks so much for helping me know what to do. I am one of the heart-on-your-sleeve types and I thrilled to know what to tell my son. thank you for your openness and frankness.
bless you and Max!

By: Melanie Harper

Melanie Harper — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:03:34 +0000

Love this posting! My son has autism and he doesn’t do many things typically. I think it’s great when kids just ask whatever questions they have, so then I can answer them in a very matter-of-fact manner. I’m happy to explain why he’s still in pull-ups or why he doesn’t seem to want to play tag when asked. And it seems that the more upfront and honest we are about his strengths and challenges, the better the community-at-large is at accepting, assisting and accommodating our son. We used to get the ‘your kid must be a brat’ stares, but I just say “We’re having an autistic moment.” and people will give us the space we need during a meltdown.