what are the main issues disabled children and their families face?

Answer 1

Prejudice, access, support, stress.

Answer 2

Healthcare coverage and childcare/daycare. Most health insurance doesn't cover squat for healthy normal people. Even with health insurance coverage, many things, such as medications, wheelchairs and other mobility aids, hearing and visual aids, breathing apparatus, and other equipment, can be extremely expensive. If repeated surgeries or physical therapy are necessary, these can also be expensive and insurance often doesn't cover these costs.

The other reality is that most families have households where both parents work. This is often necessary just to make ends meet. Two working parents, even if one of them works part time, requires some sort of daycare or child care that can handle special needs children, if you can find a provider. When and if the child is able to attend school, then a program must be found that can accomodate children with special needs. Not all public school districts have these services available, which means private school ($$$).

Otherwise, having a child in the family with special needs is no big deal. The most important thing is for the family to remember that this child is their child and their sibling, and that child mostly need love and care and understanding just like everyone else in the family.

Answer 3

I think it depends on what country you live in because some are a bit more advanced than others - but universally, underpinning everything are attitudinal barriers. If the attitudes of government, society, friends, family and everyone else were more understanding then many barriers would be either removed, or if not possible, lessened. People too often see the disability first before they see the person. I know many people with disabilities who are much more 'able' than they are 'unable' and there is a wealth of skills, talents, knowledge and human experience not utilised because there are just so many barriers to access, education, employment, family life, social life etc etc. Any one of us could become a person with disabilities any time....but are we any different inside? No.

The other barrier, I think, can be one the person internalises themselves...we are vulnerable, when we are feeling 'less able' - even if I have a spot on my nose, I feel less confident - so what would I be like in a wheelchair, or if I lost my hearing or sight....disability can be draining and wearying for those who have one, and it takes a fighting spirit at times to overcome the physical and emotional exhaustion AND the internal critic who keeps saying things like ' oh you can't...do...that...or that....you have a disability'

It's difficult to change attitudes, but if we do that...everything else will change. While it can depend on the degree of disability - a child growing up with a disability will benefit greatly, I think, from having positive role models, people who have made a success of their lives despite having impairments or disabilities....and their family will have hope for them too, and be able to see that they often CAN do much more than they CAN'T.

Answer 4

Prejudice in many ways (whether it's the general public 'which is mostly' biggoted, or PC do gooders who actually make the issues bigger and worse by the crap they say). And really prejudice is the main reason disabled people have to deal with any of the good and bad crap they deal with. It's prejudice that has fueled the need for special employment and educational facilities, and special instutions. If people weren't so prejudice in the first place, I say most disabled could do more normal stuff and live better lives.

It's also prejudice that has fueled any special treatment that is given to them, such as disability checks, insurance, etc. All these "special" perks they get is actually making the disabled community more excluded than they are by nature.

Answer 5

I think that the main issues faced by disabled kids and their families are financial, dealing with the government and other agencies, and the stigma of being labeled. Plus in my family's case there is the added stress of not knowing when and if my son's will get worse. There is also the stress of dealing with doctors and therapy-especially when the doctors can't tell you very much. Daycare is alot more expensive when you have children with special needs. There are some days when I think that it is not fair that my life has to be so complicated and hard and I think that I can't do it anymore. Then I see one of my boys smile at me and that makes all of the issues and stresses and complications worth it.

Answer 6

When I was a disabled child (I'm a disabled adult now) the main issues I faced were access to buildings, lack of educational opportunities, a lack of knowledge/understanding of my specific needs and my disability (which led to my parents being accused of child abuse), and patronising attitudes from people (especially Christians) who think "it's a shame" or that my parents sinned against God.

Today things are considerably better in the UK: the Disability Discrimination Act has made most public places accessible, staff in large-chains and public services undergo disability awareness training, financial support is there (though there could be fewer forms to complete), education is more integrated, and people's attitudes in general are largely more enlightened.

This does not take away the feelings from some disabled people of isolation, of not being able to play the same games as your siblings/friends.

Families can face extra financial pressures, extra pressures because of the amount of care they have to provide (for example many disabled children need attention through the night so a full-night's sleep is impossible), and not being able to live as full a social life as they may have done with a non-disabled child. More importantly than any of this though, is the worry - is my disabled child going to be OK when I'm not here? Is my disabled child going to survive the latest infection/operation?

Through this it is vitally important as well that non-disabled siblings are not forgotten or made to feel inferior or left-out.

Answer 7

Problems with Government, Local Government, do gooders who are PC (rather than those who actually have to deal with the problems), Social Work(ers), Educationalists, Bigots, Places of Entertainment, Transport, Shops and shop staff, neighbours, kids! etc. etc. etc.

You have a problem and there will be people out there who will make the problem 10 times bigger.

Of all these the worst situations we have had to face was the constant battle to get appropriate education for my son and now to get him something to do rather than sit in his room all day. This has come about due to the politically correct lot who say that inclusion is everything - believe me it is not!! My son has a Peer group with whom he has an affinity. Under Inclusion that Peer group is split up and does not meet and enjoy the company of like individuals. Ordinary children can go out and make friends - Special Needs people cannot and do not except in a controlled and helped environment and inclusion excludes them from their friends.

Answer 8

There a good and bad days and sometimes when there's a bad day, no one is around to help. That's the time the family really needs someone to at least be there to listen. It's especially hard if the child doesn't "look" sick. People tend to overlook why the family isn't doing all the things everyone else does, whether it's participating in a bake sale or showing up for a PTA meeting. And siblings sometimes feel left out because so much attention is needed by the disabled child. They see what their parents go through and it's hard for them to ask for their parents to do more, even if they really need the time and attention.

Answer 9

I feel that the main issues are of two perspectives. One is the ignorance and lack of understanding of the general public in regards to "how or what type of disability a person is challenged with", and the other is the shallow limitations that are only manifistations of those with no confidence in their own abilities to grow.

Answer 10

Lack of insurance
Lack of respite care

If we could get help with either of those, we'd be doing better.
As it is our disabled children get no therapy
And my husband and I don't get a break. There was a nonprofit organization that provided trained respite care for our autistic kids, but United Way cancelled their funding so that they could fund the boy scouts Christmas parade. So, now that group is defunct. There are no other trained people who are comfortable with my kids, and family is no help at all.

So there you have it.

Answer 11

for minor disabilities I think its community acceptance. If a kid is physically disabled you cant tease them but if it is mental, language based or intellectual then it is almost encouraged and we are told to lighten up.

I get a little sick of people who don't even have kids telling me how to raise mine because one of them has a learning disorder and a low IQ.

In Western Australia, now, today, Forrest Gump would not be in a special school or get a teachers aid (even pat time)

Sorry. Venting a little there I think