How to handle a kid with special abilities

People will always frown in different ways to your child's disability. It is better to be ready for the parents to come across such reactions of people. Negative reactions can be disturbing. Not every instancei, but you can just let them go. Sometimes you might want to challenge people's reactions .

If you are finding people's reaction hard to handle, it might help to seek professional support or talk to ather parents in similar situations.

Why bother about people and their reactions?

People will react and respond in different ways to your child with disability.

    Some people will be very open and supportive. On the other hand, people can be dismissive and judgmental about children with disability. Or they might be nice, but not really mean it. People might also think your child's disability gives them the right ta ask you or your child questions or give you advice.

Sometimes you'll respond better than at other times, and that is ok. If you are prepared for all sorts of reactions to your child's disability, you are more likely to be able to respond the way you want to.

Positive pointers for a specially able kid

Most pople will be supportive,sensitive and helpful. For example

• That sounds pretty tiring. Is there something I can do to help?
• It's such a privileage to work with Ranbeer. He's agreat kid.
• Abu Basar is fantastic at painting. He is very creative. He might enjoy our after school art group.

When someone makes a helpful or positive comment, it's good to respond in a way that opens up the conversation.

Unsolicited advice is never welcomed

• Sometimes people aren't sure how to respond so they might say unhelpful or even hurtful things, even if they don't mean to. For example:

     She'll probably grow out of it. Some children are just slow .

It's normal to feel upset and hurt by reactions like these, and there's no one right way to respond. How you respond depends on how your'ar feeling, who made the comment and where you are at the time . But it often helps to have some strategies to fall back on when you're face with unhelpful reactions.

How to handle unhelpful or negative reaction to disability?

Pick your battles

Sometimes you might want to stand up for yourself or your child and correct or challenge a negative comment . If you can stay calm and speak clearly , this can feel very empowering .

But sometimes you might not fell ready for a confrontation , or you might realise it won't make any difference. In situations like this , it's Ok to let it go. You can just ignore the comment and change the subject.

Use the opportunity to educate

   Sometimes you might feel like helping the person by educating them about your child's disability.  For example, 'Many children with autism spectrurn disorder go to regular primary schools'.

Use a standard response

Sometimes a standard response is all you need . For example, "It's complicated to explain. If it's ok , I'd rater talk about somethings else,'or 'there's a good description of this disability on raising children .

Choose not to respond

Sometimes it is ok to smile and walk away , or say you just don't feel like talking about it. For example;

 'I don't really want to talk to you about this now . Do you mind if we leave it for another time? It's also OK  to ignore the comment and not respond at all.'

Take a moment before responding

      If you pause for a few moment before responding to a hurtful comment, you're more likely to be able to say 's something constructive and positive. For example, 'These days, most children born with Down syndrome grow up to lead happy, healthy and productive lives'.

  If you feel you can, it's good to let people know that you're hurt so they're more careful next time for example, 'It hurts when you say things like that'.

              .....    Thanks for watching.....