Tag: disability
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Embracing Acceptance: Beyond Down Syndrome Awareness
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, but what does awareness truly mean?Is it just about sharing facts?Parents like me talking about it for a month?Or is it simply knowing the diagnosis?Is that enough? Awareness isn’t about the facts or a diagnosis. I think awareness is more than just knowing about Down syndrome. Awareness isn’t the…
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Inclusion and the Burden of Advocacy on Parents
Just because I have a child with Down syndrome, people often say things like: I understand the emotions behind these comments but why is this expected from parents like me? Yes, I care about inclusion. But we parents are already doing so much….learning, adapting, dealing with appointments, showing up every day for our kids. I…
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My child doesn’t need to achieve great things or be famous to be valued.
If you have a child with a disability, it’s important for them to participate in various activities that support their development. Encourage them to learn new skills and socialise with others. Keeping them engaged is essential; avoid letting them spend time alone as this can affect their behavior. Regular playdates are beneficial for their growth.…
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Using Reading Books to Understand Big Feelings.
Being a parent to a child with speech issues is hard. At first, it can be overwhelming, but gradually you learn to manage the frustration and start understanding what your child is trying to say. Reading books to V since she was a baby has helped me know her better, make her feel comfortable, and…
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How We Developed Writing Skills in Our Homeschool: Tips and Techniques.
In our homeschooling journey this year, we focused a lot on tracing. This practice resulted in letter formation. It also led to writing words and numbers. I realised that I’m not yet ready to use a pencil and paper for writing. Instead, we used chalk, markers, and our fingers to practice writing and tracing. This…
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How My Child with Down Syndrome Learned Jigsaw Puzzles: Tips and Skills That Helped Her.
Recently we moved to a 108 pieces puzzle. Looking back, it has been a challenging journey. There were lots of tears, failures, surprises, excitement, and learning. Puzzles demand a lot of attention, focus, and thinking skills. So before introducing jigsaw puzzles, offer chunky puzzles as they are easy to grasp. Then, move on to knob…
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Fun DIY Activity to Teach Kids Big and Small Concepts
Planning to make your child learn about big and small concepts in a fun way? Then try this DIY activity I found online and made a few years ago for Veda. My daughter loved pompoms and DIY activities when she was a toddler. I tried to incorporate pompoms into every activity. This made it more…
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Understanding Differences: The Reality of Parenting a Child with Down Syndrome
You must have heard these lines, “I don’t see the difference.” OR “I don’t see the disability.” I want to believe that people who say that mean well or have good intentions for our child. Being a parent to a child with a disability, I find that hearing these lines doesn’t make me happy. It…
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Being Present and Embracing Emotions in Parenting
Every weekend we go to the park for picnic, it’s our family ritual. Last Sunday, we packed our stuff for the picnic, dressed up, and were super excited, especially Veda. She was excited to play ball with her father. Suddenly, her father got a call from work (on Sunday), and our plan got canceled. It…
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Why Is There Pressure on Kids with Disabilities to Prove Their Worth?
As a mom to a child with a disability, I am constantly questioned by people about how my child is going to live independently in the future. Is she going to live with you forever? Well, the answer is I don’t know. I don’t know as my main focus is that my child should be…