Category: disability

  • Disabilities Are Not “Special Needs”

    Disabilities Are Not “Special Needs”

    It’s taken a decade of research into genetics and specific diseases and disabilities for me to gain even a fraction of understanding of my daughter’s syndrome. I still have no idea what I’m doing half the time. And I make plenty of mistakes.  Case in point—until recently I didn’t even realize that the label “special needs”…

  • Small Kids, Big Worries

    Small Kids, Big Worries

    Anxiety is a pain. Whether we come by it genetically or situationally, it hits all of us at various times in our lives. I’ve written about my struggle with worry—as a parent of a child with a variety of medical issues, I worried about our girl a lot. I looked too far ahead and fretted…

  • Pets Are Family

    Pets Are Family

      People say we’re nuts for having so many pets. Three isn’t “so many” if you ask me, but I’m not one to split hairs—even the ones stuck to my black pants. Is life easier without a small herd of animals to take care of? Sure. Is it as rewarding? Not for us. When our…

  • All Dressed

    All Dressed

    She is perfectly able to dress herself in the morning. Well, pretty much. Buttons and zippers can still be a challenge. Yet I can’t seem to stop myself from “helping.”  Since I realize she needs to learn to do things on her own, I’ve been laying out her clothes and allowing her to get dressed…

  • Clinodactyly

    Clinodactyly

    Our son is fully aware that his little sister is different. He knows about her chromosomal disorder and her cognitive and medical challenges. He understands the implications of the R-Word and he’s aware of the range of physical disabilities that exist for so many people. He has been aptly schooled. We’ve shared Avery’s diagnosis and prognosis…