INCLUSIVE FAMILY
Adjusting to a
New Physical
Impairment as a
Family BY HEATHER M. ROSS
“The most important
piece when a kid is
adjusting to a new
impairment is that
parents need to let
their child take
the lead.”
—Lindsay Cirincione,
Kennedy Krieger
26 Washington FAMILY JULY 2022
What to keep in mind
of parents who also need support in coping
with this change,” Cirincione says.

Talk to your child about
physical differences
At the beginning of your child’s journey,
your child may want to hear very little
about why his or her body is different from
yours or that of one’s peers. As kids get
older, it’s OK to give more information as
they develop more questions.

It’s OK if you don’t know all the answers
to your child’s questions. In this case, Via
Strong, a clinical and rehabilitation psycholo-
gist who works with the National Center for
Children’s Rehabilitation through Children’s
National Hospital, recommends saying to
your child, “‘I want to make sure I’m giv-
ing you the right information. Let’s make an
appointment with your pediatrician and ask
that question there.’”
When you’re explaining additional help
your child might need, reassure them that
you feel lucky to be their parent and that
while there may be some hard things, you’ll
get through them together.

How your child copes with a physical impair-
ment will depend heavily on the child’s age
and maturity. The older your child is, the
stronger the senses of loss and grief will be.

According to Lindsay Cirincione, a
licensed clinical psychologist who works
with children with disabilities at the nation-
ally recognized Kennedy Krieger Institute,
it’s common for children to be frustrated at
the beginning as they’re learning to use their
bodies in a new way. These adjustments take
time and practice, and that’s OK.

“The most important piece when a kid is
adjusting to a new impairment is that par-
ents need to let their child take the lead,” Nurture confidence building in
Cirincione says.

your child
One source of anxiety for children dealing
Let your child lead
with a new physical impairment is wondering
There is no wrong or abnormal way to react how they’ll answer questions from friends,
to this type of change in ability. The best step classmates and teachers at school. The best
parents can take is talk to their child. Ask way to deal with this situation is to practice
how they’re doing, how things are going with answering some of the more common ques-
their friends at school, and how things are tions at home.

going with family members.

Cirincione recommends daily family
“Kids are remarkably resilient, and some- check-ins where parents can express their
times adults have a harder time adjusting. feelings to model healthy expression.

Kids often bounce back quickly. We see a lot
Another important way parents can
JOHNNYGREIG/E+ C
hildren who are adjusting to a new
physical limitation may have trouble
understanding how this new circum-
stance will affect their day-to-day lives. As a
parent, you may also wonder how things are
going to work differently for them and what
their daily living will be like.

Your child may be adjusting to a new
mobility device such as a cane or walker,
or a prosthetic that will take time to learn
how to use.