Friday, March 5, 2010

Annotation


I decided instead of focusing my topic on disabilities I thought I would focus it in more about Williams Syndrome. I came across an article that gives a lot of interesting information about this syndrome. It gives different syndromes and compares WS to them. Such as the ages and they IQ a WS would have compared to different syndromes. It also shows the ways WS children perceive things differently. It gives lots of charts explaining and showing the different views of a WS child. It also gives methods on how to help and enhance their understanding. I thought this article was very interesting and informative!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Acceptance


I'd imagine if you were a parent, finding out your child is going to be disabled would be hard to handle. I've never seen or heard anything about this from personal experience so I looked up some webites and I found one that gives you 5 steps for parents to keep in mind and to help them move from denial to determination to help their child.

1. Your child is still your child. The things you love about him or her remain the same. There were still be moments of joy and calm and silliness and general uneventful family life. You may learn to treasure those more. Every kind of special need brings with it its own particular stresses and tragedies and struggles and frustrations, but rarely is it every minute of every day, every bit of your child's being. Your child is still your child. And this is just part of life.

2. Labels are not the enemy. None of us likes to think of our precious child as just another bowl of alphabet soup. Labels can seem scary or limiting, defining our loved one by their dis- and not their ability. But a label can also help you to get services for your child, therapy, insurance coverage, the right school placement, tolerance for behaviors, understanding and support. A label is just another tool for getting your child the help he or she needs.

3.You are not alone. The internet has made it possible to network with parents and organizations across the country and around the world. Online you can find support groups, forums where experts will answer your questions, sites filled with information about your child's diagnosis, announcements of gatherings and conferences, and other resources that can help you become part of a community of people who know just what you're going through.

4.Every child is different. Kids develop at their own pace, they respond uniquely to therapies or medications or treatments, they follow their own path. Don't assume that because you've heard sad stories about children like yours, your family's story will be sad, too. And don't assume that because one thing doesn't work, nothing will. Your child is a unique individual, and although a diagnosis may provide a useful template, it's not the whole picture.

5.There's always hope. Life for people with disabilities has improved enormously over the last century, and there's no reason to believe that progress won't continue. Medical breakthroughs are made every day. New therapies are constantly being developed. Different educational techniques bring undreamed of results. Tests are becoming more sensitive and medications more targeted. And sometimes love and a strong will can perform miracles. Time to get to work.


For more visit this webiste!
http://specialchildren.about.com/od/gettingadiagnosis/a/wrong.htm