People often have such negative views about having a special needs child, even if it’s something relatively mild like ADHD or dyslexia.
Disabled individuals have as much if not more potential than regular people to succeed in life and even change the world.
But it’s unfair as well to assume all parents are okay with having a disabled child. They may grapple with feelings of despair, worry and even anxiety, especially if they’ve only recently gotten a diagnosis.
If you are one of these parents who may be struggling to see the upside in raising a special child, perhaps these points may just change your mind.
Giftedness
It doesn’t take much to make a special needs child happy. Many, like those with Down syndrome, are often mild-tempered and very unlikely to be hyperactive.
Owing to their innocence, special needs children are some of the sweetest and gentlest humans you will ever meet. They often get into some pretty adorable and funny antics too.
They also have a deep loyalty and trust for their parents. Often obeying what their parents say even if they don’t like it.
For many parents, their special needs child is their greatest source of joy and pride.
It’s also no secret that many disabled children like autism are known to exhibit certain special gifts and abilities that children their age don’t.
Meet these gifted youngsters who are making their own waves in the country
Financial Aid
If we’re talking tangible benefits then, yes, parents of special needs children are entitled to various government and non-governmental benefits. And we’re not just talking financial aid here.
If you’re supporting a special needs (or OKU) child, then you can claim tax relief, which can help a lot in the long run.
These benefits go hand-in-hand with a government-issued OKU Card which entitles the disabled person or child to various discounts, exemptions and others.
Important note: You need to apply this card for your child(ren) if you want to qualify for OKU-related tax exemptions.
Yes, you may not be able to share all these benefits, but knowing that there are people out there watching out for your child is always a win.
Community and Social Support
Families and parents of special needs children are often forced to seek out help in the form of support groups. Whether it’s for their own emotional needs or for better resources on how to educate and parent their disabled child.
Special needs communities often encourage parents to socialise and exchange experience through various group activities.
These interactions almost always blossom into new friendships, helping you further expand your social circles. Of course, assuming you actually go out and join these communities.
But network doesn’t just end with social calls and birthday parties. The large network of parents can boost your career growth, industry skills and even open up business opportunities.
Here are support groups for autism and Down syndrome.
Mutual Growth
Caring for a special needs child (even if you have a 24-hour caretaker helping out) is no walk in the park. There’s a steep learning curve that you have to climb.
The knowledge you gain is not just to nurture your child, but to help them grow beyond their disability and live up to their fullest potential.
And more often than not, parents of special children end up becoming fierce advocates of special needs rights and education.
They often end up helping to dispel harmful stigma and expanding the ever-growing network of special needs families to better help those in need.
All these result in tremendous personal and emotional growth. Resilience, diligence, empathy, self-sufficiency, creativity, compassion.
These are the traits that every parent with a special needs child develops overtime.
Higher Awareness
In the same vein as the previous point, putting that knowledge to good use means you don’t just educate people about special needs, but also about child health.
Learning about disability also means you end up going through the rabbit hole of general medical information related to parenting and childcare: nutrition, education, developmental milestones, parenting tools; the works.
You end up being a helpful resource to many young parents whether they are relatives or friends.
Your higher level of awareness and trust for science paves the way for more people to learn about diseases and how to prevent them.
Embrace Your Special Child
Special children may often be considered disabled, that they are weak and helpless. But we’ve been proven time and time again that this is not the case.
There are plenty of disabled children who grew up to be sources of inspiration, invention and ingenuity.
As long as parents continue to accept and love their special child unconditionally, new doors will open to other special needs children too. Remember, having a special needs child is a double gift.
A gift to witness with your own two eyes the true strength of the human spirit in the face of insurmountable adversity.
All you need to do is believe and the benefits of raising a special child will be revealed to you in ways that words will never be able to capture.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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