At the end of this section, there is a question for all parents that can be answered in the comment section. Not only will we respond to all questions, but we hope that other parents will as well so that we can gather all manner of guidance and experience on the best ways to overcome challenges you may face in raising your child with a disability.
- Take notes on how you refer to your child. Listen to how your child hears you describe them to others. Then, listen to how they talk about themselves. After a week or two, ask them what they think about their disability. Do they currently view it as a positive or negative? If your child isn’t old enough to answer that question, think of other ways you could ask, or things you could do to show them that their disability isn’t a negative.
- Start to really look at other kids your child’s age. The way they dress, the things they do on their own, and what quirks or characteristics define them. Then, take a look at your own child. Are they similar? If not, are there some things you could do to help?
- Finally, look at your child’s mobility device (if they use one). Does it look age-appropriate, whatever that may mean for your child? If not, are there easy, low-cost things you could do to help?
Be sure to check back next month for our second step on promoting self-determination.
QUESTION FOR ALL PARENTS:
What are the biggest challenges you face when it comes to your child’s self- image? Please comment below in the comments section to get the dialogue flowing!
