kids with disabilities

 

For parents of children with an intellectual disability, life can change in a spilt second. Brain damage, developmental delay - words that were never part of their vocabulary are suddenly as much a part of life as breathing.

They are then faced with problems inconceivable to the majority of parents - problems and emotions even their family or friends can't relate to or understand and they feel very alone. Carol Martin has been the mother of twin daughters with special needs for nearly 30 years now and - happily - in that time she has seen a lot more information become available to parents in this situation.

After not being able to find anything to help them when they so desperately needed it, Carol was approached by many mothers in similar situations with the common question - "What do I do now?"  Following many requests Carol decided to write "Just Like Us - Parenting Children With Intellectual Disabilities" in the hope that she could help other parents and they could avoid some of the mistakes she had made simply by knowing that there are options and choices - and there IS plenty of support. Carol's hope is to have resources easily available to parents at doctors surgeries, hospitals, schools (from pre-schools to high schools) and infant welfare centres.

Children with a disability generally get immense pleasure from very simple things and love to please everyone. They don't need our sympathy. They need - and deserve - our encouragement, love and laughter!

As the parent of children with disabilities, Carol has been very involved in trying to raise community awareness of the problems faced by children with intellectual disabilities and have them accepted for just who they are 

                children with a disability - 

                   NOT disabled children

   Melissa & Rebecca - the inspiration for "Just Like Us"