INCLUSIVE FAMILY
reduce anxiety is by giving children permission to say they don’t
want to talk about it.

For example, “‘That’s something I’m not comfortable talking about
right now. Can you call (name of parent or relative) to get more infor-
mation?’” says Cirincione.

Another way parents can help their child adjust is getting them
involved in social activities with other children who have similar dif-
ferences. Many activities, camps and types of wheelchair sports exist
for children.

“Find what’s in your area and connect with these things,”
advises Strong.

Prepare for school
If your child’s first time back to school after a physical impairment has
occurred is approaching, you as a parent can help your child prepare
for this transition.

First, set up a meeting with school administration and your child’s
teachers to explain your child’s ability difference. Discuss the type of
support your child will need and the signs that your child may be expe-
riencing difficulty. Make a plan for when teachers should contact a
parent or guardian for help.

Make sure you learn about the school’s approach with disabilities. If
the school overly focuses on liability, administrators may keep kids out
of activities that would benefit them.

Misconceptions about raising a child with a
physical impairment
One common myth about children and physical impairments is that
kids will be limited in what they can do. That may not be true. Children
are remarkably resilient and often surprise caregivers and doctors with
how well they cope and adapt to their new circumstances.

“Each parent goes through a grieving process. Guilt, sadness and
anger are all OK to experience. Those emotions don’t make you less of
a parent. Normalize all the emotions,” says Cirincione.

“Despite the immense challenges that can come with having a physi-
cal impairment, kids who deal with these circumstances are constantly
surprising us,” Cirincione says. “While it may be a very difficult cir-
cumstance to adjust to, we need to give kids room to be successful
because they can surprise us with all the things they can do that we
never would have dreamed of.” n
FAQs for Parents
How do I find a support group?
“Online support groups can be very helpful, but it’s
important to be cautious. Every child is unique, and just
because one person had a really good or really bad
outcome doesn’t mean that will happen for your child.

(Remember to) double-check information with medical
providers,” says Cirincione.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many support groups
now have a Zoom meeting option. Parents of children
with more rare differences can access a global network
of parents. Strong also recommends that parents look
into conferences for their child’s disability. Conferences
not only give parents access to other parents, but also
to new research and the best emerging practices for
coping and thriving with the condition.

How do I know if my child is coping well with an
injury or impairment?
“Let your child take the lead. As adults, we anticipate
challenges ahead of us. Children are better at living
in the moment,” says Cirincione. “If you see your child
doing well, it’s OK to assume they’re coping well.”
If your child stops doing what he or she enjoys,
withdraws to spend more time alone and isolates from
family and friends, these signs may signal that a child is
having trouble coping.

What’s different between children born with a
physical difference and kids who acquire one later?
When children are born with an impairment, they won’t
know that any differences exist between them and
their peers at first. Eventually, they will start to notice
differences and ask questions about why and how they
are different from their peers. During this time, parents
may notice some social withdrawal and reluctance to
engage with their peers.

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