Opening the Lines of Communication: Being an Advocate for Your Differently-Abled Child
Most children with disabilities have trouble communicating effectively with their peers, and they are quite incapable of maintaining relationships with others. They feel insecure when they are in the company of people who are not closely related to them because they are aware that they are different from other kids. This can be unhealthy as it can lead to increased isolation from the world, which may, in turn, result in serious mental problems.
Probably, the only people who can influence children with disabilities are their parents or siblings. It is important for parents of disabled children to promote self-confidence in their kids and encourage them to communicate more frequently with other children. Most disabled children fail to develop good relationships with their peers because they do not have the ability to interpret verbal and non-verbal communication accurately. They are more sensitive to jokes and teasing than ordinary kids, and they fail to see from the tone of expression and body language that verbal expression means no harm.
Parents of children with disabilities should teach their kids to identify non-verbal implications so that they will learn to respond to body language in a more positive way. With the ability to read people and situations better, they will be able to resolve conflicts and form lasting relationships with their peers. As disabled children begin to gain positive social experiences, they will become less dependent on their parents, and they can live a normal life as other kids do.
- Helping Children with Special Needs: Advice on how to assist children who are differently-abled.
- Promoting Friendships for Disabled Children: Tips on how to help disabled children make friends with other children.
- Bullying of Disabled Children: (PDF Document) A guide for parents whose disabled children are victims of bullying.
- Raising Deaf Kids: A website dedicated to providing information and support for parents of deaf kids.
- Resources for Advocacy of Differently Abled Children: Lots of helpful information for parents of children with special needs.
- Resource Page for Disabled Children: A list of links to websites that offer tips and support for parents of disabled children.
- Resources on Children with Disabilities: A resource page with links to websites that contain information and support for parents of children with special needs.