Support Children with Disabilities:
Tips for Parents and Teachers
Our family understood what supporting a kid with a disability feels like because I came into the world that way and it wasn’t easy.
Born breach the doctor thought it was my bottom, but it was my shoulders and he crushed them with the forceps.
Support Children with Disabilities and Tips for Parents and Teachers
I not only was in the hospital for over 3 months, but my parents took me to PT 4 days a week till I was 7 when they transplanted muscle out of my shoulder to my lower arm.
So I understand, but some kids don’t understand and can just be curious. Heck I’ve had adults ask me what’s wrong with my arm, therefore in the hospital for over 3 months, but my parents took me to PT 4 days a week till I was 7 when they transplanted muscle out of my shoulder to my lower arm.
Interested in reading so My mom bought me a book 📖 called, “ LITTLE WOMEN .” I was hooked. To this day, over 65 years later it’s still my favorite book. As an adult I now collect any edition of “ Little Women” and my library has grown.
As parents or educators, it can be challenging to navigate the world of disability and to know how best to support children with disabilities.
‘You can educate yourselves by reading about it.
Children with disabilities may face many obstacles, including physical and social barriers, that prevent them from fully participating in school, extracurricular activities, and social events.
However, there are many strategies that parents and teachers can use to support children with disabilities and help them thrive. Children with disabilities have dreams too!
In this blog post, we will explore some practical tips and helpful resources that parents and teachers can use but before that I wonder if you know how many disabilities kids deal with!
Cerebral palsy ,Learning disability, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Autism spectrum disorder, Hearing loss< Deafblindness< Down syndrome, Spina bifida, and so many more.
Have you ever heard of Angelman Syndrome ?
Angelman Syndrome is a disorder that is caused by the loss of function of a specific gene. This gene is located on the chromosome 15, and it is responsible for providing instructions for making a protein called UBE3A. This protein is essential for normal brain development.
You can find out more at:
Angelman Syndrome results in characteristic features, such as severe intellectual disability, developmental delays, speech impairment, and problems with movement and balance.
In addition to these physical symptoms, people with Angelman Syndrome often have a happy demeanor and frequently laugh and smile. They may also be attracted to water and have a fascination with lights and movement.
While there is no cure for Angelman Syndrome, early intervention and support can help improve the quality of life for affected individuals and their families.
I have a friend whose second child has Angelman Syndrome. They have the most loving family, 3 beautiful children, Colti is their middle child who has this syndrome. They are amazing!
Below are several excerpts from her posts on Facebook.
With her permission I’d like to share with you.
“ In our house we read books about Chromosomes. We talk about our bodies & our brains, how they came to be, how different everyone is, & all of the reasons that those differences are wonderful.
Realistically, we have children’s books about chromosomes because we have a child/sibling that is missing a piece of one of them.
Having a son/brother with Angelman Syndrome has opened our eyes to the big world of children with special needs & just how common it actually is! There is a whoooole lotta “Rare” out there!
Wanting her children to know that different is not scary they bought a book about chromosomes.It’s not weird, or stupid, or messed up, or crazy.
Our brains simply work differently. These are our genes & as long as everyone’s doing the best they can, it is good enough & they are valuable.”
Brother Dawson reading about chromosomes which is what cute little Colti has. The love he shows is brother is amazing!
“ EVERYONE is equally valuable to the world. You are not better, or superior, because you are are able to walk, talk, or breathe without assistance.
Those things are blessings & none of them are promised, so remain grateful to whoever it is you are grateful to. 🙏🏼
So I’ll ask all of my Parent friends for a favor…. Buy a children’s book about chromosomes.
Talk to your children about different people with DIFFERENT needs. Teach them that different or “special” is not scary or sad. It’s simply Chromosomes.😊”
Colti is the cutest little boy and smiles all the time!
This dynamic and joyous exploration of difference helps young children learn to respond in a kind and equal way to everyone ,
regardless of shape, size, age, physical and mental ability, gender, race, beliefs, language, culture, national identity, background, and so on.
With topics ranging from clothes, hair, music, and food to homes, festivals, and families, there is plenty for children to talk about as they find out about diversity and see how differences relate to them.
You can find one book at : https://b8486.paperpie.com/p/9022/all-about-diversity-ir
Having a different brain is as normal as having a different face. We’re all made a little different & a little the same.
This is a really cute book:
Sid spends most of his time at home. He is upside down, so it’s easier that way. Until, one day, a basketball lands in his breakfast and changes everything.
A book about accepting our differences and the positive ripple effect of including others.
You can find it here: http://Upside-Down Sid
Education is the key to inclusion for all that are considered rare! Whether your born rare or became rare.
So, please! Educate your babies, so babies like mine don’t need to battle anything more than what the universe has handed them.
Another condition is having Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital heart defect that affects the aortic valve, which is responsible for regulating blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.
BAV occurs when the aortic valve only has two cusps instead of the normal three, which can cause blood to leak backward into the heart.
While some people with BAV live without any symptoms, others may experience a range of heart problems that require careful monitoring and treatment. If you’re a parent or teacher of a child with BAV, here’s what you need to know.
Bicuspid aortic valve is a serious heart condition that requires careful monitoring and management, but with the right treatment and lifestyle choices, many children with BAV can live healthy, fulfilling lives.
As a parent or teacher, it’s important to be informed about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for BAV,
and to provide support and encouragement to children with this condition as they navigate the challenges of growing up with a heart condition.
With the right care and support, children with BAV can thrive and reach their full potential.
His parents do a yearly fundraiser called
TEAM SUPER COOPER
“ Cooper McGee was born on 2/12/21, he was diagnosed at 6 weeks old with a CHD. After a murmur was heard in the doctors office we went and had an echo at Chop Cardiology.
It was then that Cooper was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve with a moderate stenosis. Cooper is seen by cardiology every 4 months since birth, his stenosis numbers have stayed the same, therefore requiring no cardiac intervention at this point.
He will eventually need undergo a cardiac cath and open heart surgery (we hope that is far down the road). “
Jack always hugs Cooper in all these pictures!
“ Our Super Cooper is full of energy and lives everyday to the fullest. You can always count on Cooper to make you smile or give you a hug.
This event is important for us as we walk for Cooper, our heart warrior, in hopes that the funds raised will help in future research to make sure he and all other CHD warriors, gets the best care an outcomes in their care.
“ We participate in the Congenital Heart Walk to support the mission of The Children’s Heart Foundation: to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital heart defects by funding the most promising research.
As you can see his brother adores little Cooper!”
As you can see this isn’t a physical disability because you don’t look at Cooper and know he has disability!
Just look at the way big brother Jack’s looking at Cooper !!!
Education Awareness
The first step in supporting children with disabilities is to educate yourself on the specific disability that the child is facing.
There are many types of disabilities, each with unique challenges and strengths. Understanding the specific diagnosis can help you better understand how to approach and support the child and their family.
Resources like the National Center for Learning Disabilities and the National Institute of Mental Health have comprehensive information on different types of disabilities. https://www.ncld.org/
Create an Inclusive Environment:
One of the most important things that parents and educators can do is to create an inclusive environment that welcomes children with disabilities.
This includes providing physical accommodations like wheelchair ramps and Braille signage, as well as social accommodations like allowing extra time for assignments or providing a quiet space for children who are easily overwhelmed.
Inclusive classrooms and social situations help children with disabilities feel accepted and valued, which can help them thrive both academically and socially.
And most classrooms have an abundance of books to read to kids and some will let parents borrow them.
Promote Self-Advocacy:
Children with disabilities can benefit from learning how to self-advocate for their own needs and accommodations.
Parents and educators can empower children with disabilities by teaching them to ask for help when they need it, to articulate their needs and preferences, and to advocate for themselves in social situations.
Self-advocacy helps children with disabilities build confidence and become more independent.
Offer Emotional Support:
Children with disabilities may face additional emotional and social challenges that can be difficult to manage.
Parents and educators can offer emotional support by actively listening to the child, providing emotional validation, and connecting the child with resources like supportive counseling or peer support groups.
Emotional support can help children with disabilities cope with the unique challenges they face and develop resilience.
Partner with Parents and Caregivers:
Parents and caregivers are essential partners in supporting children with disabilities.
Regular communication and collaboration between parents, caregivers, and educators can help ensure that the child’s needs are being met and that everyone is working towards the same goals.
Working together can also build trust and strengthen relationships between parents and educators, enhancing the child’s experience and outcomes.
Supporting children with disabilities is an ongoing process that requires ongoing effort, communication, and collaboration.
By educating ourselves, creating inclusive environments, promoting self-advocacy, offering emotional support, and partnering with parents and caregivers, we can make a significant difference in the lives of children with disabilities.
With patience, compassion, and persistence, we can help children with disabilities thrive and reach their full potential.
Buy those books above to start educating your child to various disabilities!
https://learnandlaughwithtonie.com/5-reasons-why-reading-to-your-kids-is-important/
Also check out the above post on why it’s so important to read to your kids!
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