Disability Culture and Advocacy

There are books that can help with conversations about a child's disability and there are plenty of stories about other people with disabilities that our kids can learn from. But it turns out that the person they may need to learn the most about is themselves.

Our kids need to understand that it’s appropriate and acceptable for them to participate in discussions with their doctors, and it’s encouraged for them to ask their own questions. It’s important from a very early age to create the expectation that they will be talked with instead of about.

Language and terminology around disability is constantly evolving — and as parents, we're often unsure of what words to use when talking about our children’s disabilities. This becomes particularly important when we sit down to talk to our children about advocating for themselves.

We’ve listed a few areas in which we can work to better support both our neurodiverse and neurotypical communities.

Siblings of children with disabilities can feel overlooked or left out. Here are some ways to make sure everyone in the family feels supported.

Try this visualization exercise: think of one word that describes how you want others to view your child. Many parents say they want their child to be seen as capable, independent, and happy, as well as creative, artistic, imaginative, and kind.