I've been really struggling recently. I think that anyone who knows and cares for a person with special needs will totally be able to relate. Being a parent is the most rewarding, sacred calling ever. Being a parent of a child with special needs on top of it is such a gift in so many ways. Every single day, literally everyday, I learn something or I am reminded what life is all about by being Koleman's mom. EVERY child is so special and each brings so much joy. There is something about special needs that the world would just grasp on and run with the lessons they teach, it would be a COMPLETELY different world. They have so much to offer and teach if we just allow ourselves to learn and reap the blessings they offer. As I have the opportunity to be around a special needs child EVERY single day, not only with Koleman but working with children, having friends with special needs children, studying in school about special needs and how to differentiate classroom instruction to fit their needs, I have grown SO passionate about wanting to advocate for them. Not just Koleman, but for all special needs. I want to figure out a way to educate and help the world to not only be accepting (which that has improved immensely over the years), but to truly appreciate differences. We should celebrate all differences not just special needs. But I want to focus specifically on them. When most people think of handicaps or people that have special needs, I think the first thing that pops into our heads is that they look different. It is true that some handicaps cause people to have a different physical appearance, but not all. Autistic people for instance. They don't look different. Sometimes they don't even act very differently depending on the severity. But they still have different needs and limitations that most people don't have. It doesn't just stop at autism. What about ADD (attention deficit disorder), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), ODD (oppositional defiance disorder), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), RAD (reactive attatchment disorder), depression, bipolar, the list goes on and on. It's hard because when it isn't physically apparent that there is some kind of disability, it seems as though more often than not these people or specifically children, are categorized as bratty, weird, annoying, disrespectful, etc. Too often, instead of looking more in depth and being more sensitive people are impatient, mean, and discipline in inappropriate ways that is far from what the child needs to learn or be helped. I have seen it way too often as I have become more sensitive to it having my own son with autism. I have a dear friend who adopted a little girl when she was a brand new baby from a birth mother who was on drugs. As a result of the drugs she has many difficulties such as ODD (oppositional defiance disorder), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), and struggles with learning disabilities. She looks "normal" and it makes it difficult for her to get the proper help often times. Instead she is labeled a bully, or a bratt. She's the child that is talked negatively about when she acts out because of her disabilities. To me it simply isn't fair. Bottom line. It's just like a person that has cancer. Instead of providing the proper care in treating it, they are just looked at as a burden being sick all the time, racking up huge medical bills, and needing help to take care if themselves. That is most likely not going to happen. They'll get the proper care, treatment, and will not be looked at as a burden but as someone who has a sickness they can't help and need to have extra assistance. Well these people with different disabilities didn't ask for their disability. They too, are people who need the proper love, care, and services to help them as well. The bottom line is we are ALL sons and daughters of God. He loves us all despite our abilities or differences. I firmly believe He sent these special spirits to earth for our benefit and instead of looking at it as a gift, too often we look at it as a burden and don't want to take the time to not only help them, but we don't take the time to look at what they have to offer. If we did, you would see the incredible gifts they have to share!!!!!!!
I've been really struggling recently. I think that anyone who knows and cares for a person with special needs will totally be able to relate. Being a parent is the most rewarding, sacred calling ever. Being a parent of a child with special needs on top of it is such a gift in so many ways. Every single day, literally everyday, I learn something or I am reminded what life is all about by being Koleman's mom. EVERY child is so special and each brings so much joy. There is something about special needs that the world would just grasp on and run with the lessons they teach, it would be a COMPLETELY different world. They have so much to offer and teach if we just allow ourselves to learn and reap the blessings they offer. As I have the opportunity to be around a special needs child EVERY single day, not only with Koleman but working with children, having friends with special needs children, studying in school about special needs and how to differentiate classroom instruction to fit their needs, I have grown SO passionate about wanting to advocate for them. Not just Koleman, but for all special needs. I want to figure out a way to educate and help the world to not only be accepting (which that has improved immensely over the years), but to truly appreciate differences. We should celebrate all differences not just special needs. But I want to focus specifically on them. When most people think of handicaps or people that have special needs, I think the first thing that pops into our heads is that they look different. It is true that some handicaps cause people to have a different physical appearance, but not all. Autistic people for instance. They don't look different. Sometimes they don't even act very differently depending on the severity. But they still have different needs and limitations that most people don't have. It doesn't just stop at autism. What about ADD (attention deficit disorder), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), ODD (oppositional defiance disorder), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), RAD (reactive attatchment disorder), depression, bipolar, the list goes on and on. It's hard because when it isn't physically apparent that there is some kind of disability, it seems as though more often than not these people or specifically children, are categorized as bratty, weird, annoying, disrespectful, etc. Too often, instead of looking more in depth and being more sensitive people are impatient, mean, and discipline in inappropriate ways that is far from what the child needs to learn or be helped. I have seen it way too often as I have become more sensitive to it having my own son with autism. I have a dear friend who adopted a little girl when she was a brand new baby from a birth mother who was on drugs. As a result of the drugs she has many difficulties such as ODD (oppositional defiance disorder), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), and struggles with learning disabilities. She looks "normal" and it makes it difficult for her to get the proper help often times. Instead she is labeled a bully, or a bratt. She's the child that is talked negatively about when she acts out because of her disabilities. To me it simply isn't fair. Bottom line. It's just like a person that has cancer. Instead of providing the proper care in treating it, they are just looked at as a burden being sick all the time, racking up huge medical bills, and needing help to take care if themselves. That is most likely not going to happen. They'll get the proper care, treatment, and will not be looked at as a burden but as someone who has a sickness they can't help and need to have extra assistance. Well these people with different disabilities didn't ask for their disability. They too, are people who need the proper love, care, and services to help them as well. The bottom line is we are ALL sons and daughters of God. He loves us all despite our abilities or differences. I firmly believe He sent these special spirits to earth for our benefit and instead of looking at it as a gift, too often we look at it as a burden and don't want to take the time to not only help them, but we don't take the time to look at what they have to offer. If we did, you would see the incredible gifts they have to share!!!!!!!
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