- Image by rtcunningham via Flickr
Finding out that your child is disabled, whether you find out while you’re pregnant (or your wife is pregnant) or you find out sometime after the child is born, can feel like the world has been pulled out from under you — like everything you knew is now changed. And it’s true; your life as you know it is completely different. Having a child with a disability will mean many changes. If your child is confined to a wheelchair, you may need to move to a new home or remodel your old home to make sure there are ramps leading in and out and that everything your child needs is on one floor. If your child has digestive problems, you may need to learn how to cook for that special diet whether it’s cooking without gluten or avoiding eggs and dairy.
It’s a scary time for parents when they first find out. It can be hard and stressful, but the best thing to do is take it one day at a time. Doctors, nurses, psychologists, teachers, etc. will be there to help guide you from one step to the next, whether it’s learning how to care for your child; finding behavioral, physical, or occupational therapists to help teach your child the skills he or she needs to learn; or finding the right doctors to assist with any health problems that arise.
Another thing you’ll want to do is get educated. When looking at this new problem, what’s scary about it is the unknown. Once you understand the problem better and you have a plan on how to help your child, the problem won’t seem so scary; it will no longer be “unknown.” Also, by educating yourself on what is known about the condition and studies that have been done, you will more likely be able to get the right help for your child. By knowing different methods, you can analyze your child (after all, who knows your child better than you) and figure out which method will work best for your child. Remember, it’s all going to work out great!
