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Navigate Life Texas: Resources for kids with disabilities and special needs
Navigate Life Texas: Resources for kids with disabilities and special needs
What if your child’s disability isn’t immediately obvious to the world? Here, parents of children with “invisible disabilities” discuss their unique challenges—and how they deal with them.
Related content: Understanding Different Types of Learning Disabilities
A diagnosis is often the first step on your path to the right support for a child with a disability. For Patty, it took years to find the right healthcare experts who could pinpoint the root cause of her daughter Jessica’s health challenges. Patty’s friend insisted that Patty get a genetic test for Jessica. Once Patty had a diagnosis, she gained further clarity on how to navigate life with Jessica and she found a network of parents going through the same challenges.
When Alan turned 19, his mother Rosalba noticed a change in his mental health. With the help of their doctor, Alan was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This diagnosis was a critical step in caring for Alan and helping him reclaim his zest for life. Along the way, Rosalba and her family received support from other parents of children with disabilities that let her know she was not alone.
Emergencies can be even harder to navigate for parents of a child with a disability, especially when their child needs special healthcare equipment. For Maureen and her son George, who is paralyzed from the neck down and requires total care, emergency preparedness entails much more than stocking food and water. Parents of children with disabilities must plan ahead and prepare for worst-case scenarios. Maureen shares her story of how she was able to find backup power sources to keep George’s healthcare equipment working during a power outage.