Being the Parent of a Child With Developmental Disabilities - Part 2

This article is a follow-up to the article "Being thealarmed, this will actually provide you with access
Parent of a Child with Developmental Disabilities".to more services).
The articles discuss some of the things a parent10. To see your child's therapists more often than
of a child born with Down syndrome canyou see the majority of your family members
reasonably expect but are not normally told(you might have 3-4 therapy sessions scheduled
about. Although the articles discuss children withwith different providers per week; some will be
Down syndrome, many of the points outlined intwice a week).
these articles, also apply to parents of most11. To become somewhat attached to your child's
children born with special needs.therapists (they are great people and genuinely
As a parent of a child born with Down syndrome,care about the children they provide services to -
you can expect:take the time to thank them and show them
your appreciation).
1. To lose a few friends, since a lot of people who12. To make some career decisions that people
do not have a child with special needs do notdo not understand (quality time with your child is
understand, or fit into your life anymore (theirimportant and money is not everything).
loss, true friends will be there for you).13. To pick up the pace in your life and then
2. Your life and your spouse's life to changerealize you have to slow it down (don't burn
drastically (there can be some tension but it canyourself out - this can happen very quickly).
also and most likely will bring you closer together).14. To have fun with your child (kids are such a
3. To get ticked off once in a while with yourjoy and they do some things that just make you
child's service providers (can be with a doctor orlaugh).
therapist).15. To start to look at life very differently (view
4. To change one or more of your child's servicelife through the eyes of your child, it is so
providers (if a provider does not click well withdifferent).
you, change them since you need to feel16. When you tell somebody your child was born
comfortable with the person who has a majorwith Down syndrome, they will tell you they
stake in your child's overall well being).know someone who also has Down syndrome or
5. Your child's healthcare providers to gethas a relative born with Down syndrome (not too
information wrong or misdiagnose something (thissurprising since approximately every 1 in 900
is where your instincts and gut feelings come intobabies are born with Down syndrome).
play).17. If you have insurance to pay a lot of
6. To hear someone say, "I have good news andco-payments for services (if you have a flexible
I have bad news" (for example, "the bad news isspending healthcare account, make sure you utilize
your child has cataracts and the good news isit).
that they are in both eyes" -- believe it or not,18. None of the books about baby's first years of
better to have them in both eyes than one eye).growing will be of very much use to you, even
7. Everyone to volunteer to babysit but not besome of the Down syndrome ones (each child
qualified to babysit a child with special needs (yes,with Down syndrome develops at their own
special needs require 'special handling' -- find niceindividual pace).
ways to say thank you but no thank you).19. Some people to act a little strangely when
8. To join a local support group in your areayour child approaches them (some people just do
(expect to make some great friends -- you willnot know how to respond).
meet some great people and realize that you are20. To silently scream once in a while (ok, if no
not alone).one is around you can do it out loud).
9. Someone to mention the word "autism" if you21. The unexpected.
child's development delay is significant (do not be