Caring For Your Child With Special Needs
When you heard the diagnosis, some things changed at that very moment, but there are some things that are unchanged that are important to hold onto. This child is still your child. This child still needs your parenting and, most of all, your love. Love and enjoy your child. Remember always that the child comes first; the disability comes second. Often as a parent of a child with special needs, there are extra demands on you that can make it easy to lose sight of the gift this child is to your family. Try to carve out special time for your child outside of therapy and appointments to just be together. Here are a few tips from parents who have been there:
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, because asking questions will be your first step in beginning to understand your child. A good method is to write down your questions before entering appointments or meetings. Also, write down additional questions as you think of them during the meeting. When you are introduced to new terminology or acronyms, you should not be hesitant to ask what it means. Whenever someone uses a word that you don’t understand, stop the conversation for a minute and ask the person to explain the word.
You want a positive relationship with your therapists and physicians because they are going to be central to you and your child’s life. Keep the communication open between all of your child’s healthcare providers. Relay information to all healthcare professionals so that they know what each other is doing. Don’t be afraid to share your desires for treatment and therapy for your child. It is a good idea to to buy a three-ring notebook or expandable file folder to save all of the information given to you.
Don’t forget to ask for copies of evaluations, diagnostic reports and progress reports. Record names of people involved in your child’s life, addresses and phone numbers. Some parents find it helpful to create a log that shows the last appointment and next appointment. If you are not naturally organized, you can get a box and throw all of the paperwork in there. At least it will all be in one place.
For parents with children with communication difficulties, learn your child’s manner of communication. It may be different from other children. Focus more on what they can do, instead of what they can’t do. Your child will find ways to communicate with you. Find out about services in your community and state that will benefit your child. Talk to another parent of a child with special needs. They have already done the research and can save you a lot of time and effort.