Advocating on kids with special needs

RN, New Poblacion, Buenavista, Guimaras

RAISING children with special needs creates a big challenge for parents. But certain challenges parents face depend on what disability or need their child has.

Awareness on ways to advocate on a child with special needs is a tool or armor parents must have to help their children overcome difficulties in their growing years and outside their homes. A wide range of knowledge can contribute a lot to the better development of a child’s behavior, interest and capability.

Foremost, to address this issue on child development, the following are suggested to be observed especially by parents:

* Learn about your child’s special needs. Parents need to have a fact-based knowledge or information from their child specialist, doctor, experts, or anyone who can provide information.

* Try and keep your emotions. Always avoid the blame game and try the opposite approach.

* Keep calm, know the fact and advocate about meeting your child’s unique needs. Be religious on your advocacy.

* Be a problem-solver. Working hand in hand with a child’s care provider or child’s teacher earns

better results. Create a plan that works best for child-parent-provider or teacher. Be open-minded and always hear solutions from the educational side as well.

* Set goals for the future of the child. Establish goals along with a strategy that which you think may be best. Parents must be master planners.

* Be a keen observer. We don’t only rely on information provided to us but we look carefully with analysis on the child’s responses and displayed behavior. This will give us the initial go signal for seeking alternatives and interventions.

* Provide the love every child wants. Love makes all things possible to establish a positive approach to meet the special needs of a child.

Since our life and future as adults are made completely whole and meaningful with the way the young generations are raised by us, let us seriously take this matter into consideration.

By identifying our children with special needs and finding ways and means to eradicate problems that may hinder their growth and development, we will be giving hope to the generation who will continue what we have begun. (