When you start your journey raising a child with a disability or special health care needs, trust your instincts and don’t forget about the joys of being a family. Two parents share what worked for them when starting their own journeys.
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.
Answering the tough questions now might save you a lot of pain and trauma later. A mother and father talk about why knowing the answers to the tough questions was so important when they lost their own son.