The child behind the disability |
As an educator for over 26 years, I have worn many different hats. I have worked with children, both with and without disabilities, conducted assessments and served as part of diagnostic teams. Each one had its own challenges and rewards. But my most meaningful responsibility was working with the parents or care givers of children with disabilities. By helping them recognise and understand and navigating them through their emotional turmoil in the years that followed was not an easy task. No textbook had prepared me with the knowledge and expertise for this challenge. Decades ago, many children with disabilities were educated separately, institutionalised, or simply not diagnosed. Fortunately, today we have come a long way in determining, understanding and accepting these disabilities. There are accommodations often provided by schools, work places and public institutions to help support individuals to participate fully in everyday life. Parents........