Tag: disability
-
Disability Awareness
The hashtag #disabilityawareness is a curious one. I mean, if you have a disability or love someone who does, you are well aware. But alas, making others aware is the point of such social campaigns. You might think you understand what it’s like living with an intellectual or physical disability. But, unless it’s your reality,…
-
When Your Child’s Speech Delay Gets Worse
We started learning American Sign Language as soon as we found out about our daughter’s genetic disorder—one that is almost always associated with severe speech issues. We relied on a variety of ASL resources, but a favourite (and the most fun) was a PBS show called Signing Time. A friend gave us the DVD set…
-
When People Stare At My Child Who Has Special Needs
When strangers stare at my daughter I feel embarrassed, angry, defensive, indignant. I feel all the feelings in no particular order. Sometimes I make direct eye contact with the starer. Sometimes I call them on it. Sometimes I don’t. It’s emotional for us when people turn to look at our kids. And when their stares…
-
When Your Child With A Disability Is Told, “You Can’t Play With Us!”
My daughter loves playing at the park at the end of our street. She’d stay for hours if she could. But since she’s a child with a disability, she can’t go to the park by herself like her peers do—they can come and go as they please, but my kiddo has to drag her…