It wasn’t long after my daughter was born that I began noticing people around with special needs, particularly Down Syndrome. Prior to her birth I don’t think I recognised those with special needs around me. Suddenly I was aware of so many people with Down Syndrome — my sister-in-law’s nephew, a friend we worked with her nephew, a couple at church with a grandson with Down Syndrome, a former pastor at a supporting church with a brother with Down Syndrome….
Who are Special Needs parents? These are parents that have know medical terms even through they have never gone to medical school. These are parents who know how to use just about anything for therapy. Special Needs parents do things longer than other parents. (We had one child in diapers/nappies until that child was about 6.) Special Needs Parents Push to get the children to do things, try things, achieve, Don’t want their child discriminated Want opportunities for their child…
I am continuing to think about Special Needs. I shared some of the basis for understanding Special Needs here. How did Jesus interact and relate to those with special needs? Jesus gives us a model for how we are to interact. I decided to begin by looking at Jesus interactions with disabled or special needs in Luke. Knowing that Luke was a doctor made me think that he would have just a bit of that reflected in his writing. I…
I have been reading and thinking about Special Needs, parenting and the church. Friday is chats over coffee, which is a time that I write on a more personal note. So I share my thoughts or what is happening. I want it to be a time when you get to know me a bit more. I joined the special needs parents club 14 years ago. It wasn’t a club that I planned to join but I have to say that the…
Yesterday we celebrated Miss K’s 14th birthday. She looks forward to that day each year with excitement. About six months ago she began saying, “it is almost my birthday.” Her birthday means that I now have 14 years of special needs parenting experience. Next year I get my 15 year award. Oh, it is not like that in parenting is it. Special needs is a general term that expresses itself in so many ways. Some children can look “normal” but have…