How has a special needs kid inspired/taught you?

We hear so much about what a challenge these kids are, but I believe that we have a lot to learn from them. How have you been inspired by a "labeled" kid in your life? What have you learned from them?

RE: How has a special needs kid inspired/taught you?

I have learned that the qualities that are in a child are for good and if I am not seeing them as good, then I must change my attitude and begin to try to understand where he/she is coming from - instead of being negative about that quality. It has made an amazing difference.

RE: How has a special needs kid inspired/taught you?

I am a pediatric nurse in the home health setting. I have the most inspiring patient that I want and hope everyone has the chance to read about as he has and continues to help inspire me daily. Without getting too specific, I will share with you his story.Its a simple story, one that is becoming told more and more often. My patient was born early and both parents were given the bad news that this precious little person would never be "normal". He would never walk or run, talk or laugh, would never hear well or be able to see. Yet despite this depressing load of information:no one ever told my patient that he was limited.And so, in the way that is so natural to kids, he tries and tries again. Because he doesn't Know that he can't walk or crawl,he doesn't know not to try. And I am proud to tell everyone that he is now crawling,walking in a walker,and verbalizing! Oh, its not been easy, many falls and trials and errors, but he Is doing it! And when I think that something can't be done, I just think about how far my patient has come,all because he didn't know that he wasn't supposed to be able to do the things he is doing now! And oh by the way, he laughs daily!

RE: How has a special needs kid inspired/taught you?

My son has been diagnosed with ADD. He is 10 years old and every year becomes more challenging. He is very intelligent, but lacks the resources to put what's in his head down on paper. Those 2 parts of his braing just don't connect. Unfortunately much of society including teachers and doctors we've seen don't seem too educated on it and how each child affected by this disorder is different. What has been good for me is that I have done so much research and become quite educated on it that I am becoming an advocate for my child and will hopefully be able to help other parents and their children with ADD or ADHD who are traveling the same road. I believe that God put me on this path to so that. I am no longer frustrated with my son, but lovingly encourage and listen to him. God is helping me to develop my patience and my parenting skills through this process. And Unity helps me to center myself every morning with it's prayers and meditations so I am "recharged" on a daily basis to face what ever may come our way. My son is so special and full of love and I focus on that everyday which gives me the ability to parent more positively as well as live my life more optimistically. God does everything for a reason and that helps me through everyday.

RE: How has a special needs kid inspired/taught you?

My middle child was born with a rare virus & we felt blessed that God would allow us to raise him instead of taking him back at birth. We never knew exactly what special needs he would have as he grew up but we were given insight into the fact that he might have some. He never wanted to watch cartoons like his older brother. Instead he craved educational videos that taught reading, writing, music, art, etc. Our special needs son taught himself to read before he could walk...he walked at age 2-1/2, read at about age 2. He didn't want me or daddy reading to him as he would rather read to us. Our special needs son has taught us patience & opened up our hearts even more than we thought possible. Our older son was also touched by his little brother who was born when he was just 6 and in Kindergarten. Older brother was given the virtue of sensitivity of special needs, especially in school, a social setting. This makes me even more happy now, thinking back, because our special needs son is today in 3rd grade and almost 9 years old. He has social issues and doesn't know what friendship relationships are. He loves to play with his cousins but has yet to make a friend, close friend. He craves friends but yet only allows peers into his personal space for a short time (15 minutes) and then retreats to his quiet time. Ultimately, special needs kids are awesome. They don't know how much they teach others nor how much they are loved and accepted.

RE: How has a special needs kid inspired/taught you?

My grand daughter has sensory motor integration and Persuasive Developemental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified. She show signs of autism and Aspergers (high functioning autism). I will be the first tosay that at times it can be exasperating; however, she shows real unconditional love. She reminds me that This is the love that everyone should show. She is 7 and in the 1st grade. She is progressing very well, but still has a ways to go. She loves the outdoors, playing games on the computer, playing games, and watchng videos. She is very smart even if it takes a while for her to comprehend everything. I am now showing her to play solitair on the computer and is doing wery well.

RE: How has a special needs kid inspired/taught you?

I am the mother of four children, three daughters ages 16, 25, 27 and a son who is 14. My son was diagnosed with severe Autism at two years old. At four months old he had developed strange seizures and was diagnosed with "infantile spasms" and put on high doses of a powerful drug called klonopine. He stopped cooing, stopped sitting up and started sleeping all the time. By two years old the seizures were gone but he was not sitting up, standing up or crawling and we were told he was severely retarded and may need to be institutionalized. An angel of a little doctor said it was nonsense and helped us get started on a wonderful early intervention program. In addition to that I kept my son interactive socially and constantly involved him in sensory stimulative activities. He does everything a normal 14 year old boy can do but is still learning how to communicate. He really has no need for school and does not like it. He loves music, swimming and gymnastics. He is a joy and a daily adventure. In our spiritual journey over the years that led us to Unity, we have come to understand that this is Jason's own journey. He is experiencing Autism for a reason and we are experiencing it with him for a reason. I can look back over the 14 years since his birth and even prior to his conception and see exactly how and why he came into my life. I can understand how I prepared for it without even knowing it. Life is such a wonder and though we find some points difficult, in the end we can see the treasure that the difficulty was as a means to get us where we need to be. My son is a gift and though I don't know what the future holds for us, he is certainly a part of the preparation.

RE: How has a special needs kid inspired/taught you?

i appreciate reading these....we have a son diagnosed with ADHD, PDD, ODD (oppositional defiant disorder), and shows signs of Asperger's Syndrome ... and others that I am missing. to say the least, it gets frustrating. starting back to school each year is so emotionally draining for me...even though the summer is incredibly difficult, b/c he can be so difficult. reading other people's encouraging statements has really encouraged me in a very difficult time for us. :)

RE: How has a special needs kid inspired/taught you?

Out of curiosity, do you homeschool him? I ask because your mentioned his dislike and non need for school. I think homeschooling/unschooling is a great way to educate children that have been labeled by "the system"