A child who happens to have a disability
is not "broken," they are first and foremost a child, who needs
to belong, be cherished, embraced and welcomed into our communities.
Having a sense of belonging, being accepted and included, provides
self-esteem, motivation, and happiness and therefore are prerequisites
for learning and for a "quality of life."
A child who happens to have a disability
does not need to be "fixed" before they are allowed by others to
have their needs met in the places where they can be with every other
child. A "quality of life" is not directly related to the number of
skills a child can achieve, or the number of therapies they are provided
but more importantly the way they feel about themselves, the way others
interrelate with them and their interdependence in the community. The
disability is part of who the child is, and should not be thought of as
something that should be, or necessarily needs to be, attempted to be
eradicated. Therapies can help a child gain functional skills, but
should be kept in perspective with acceptance of the child as they are,
and not giving them or others any message that says they are inferior,
but maintaining the message that they are a whole person who is valuable
and worthy as they are.
When both the child's needs for "personal
growth and development" as well as their need to "belong and be
accepted" are met together, instead of one or the other, or one at a
time, the child will be provided a greater "quality of life."
Whether or not a child walks with a
normal gait, or even walks at all; talks or uses sign language; needs
assistance with self-care or can do things themselves, has little
significance if they have no place to go, no friends to go with, or a
community that does not know or care about them.
