How Can Parents Help Their Children Have Disability Pride?
by Sydney
Every couple of months here at Easterseals, we host Twitter chats centered around issues relevant to people with disabilities and their families. Past topics have included financial wellness, fearlessness, media representation, and inclusion.
On July 20, 2017, we were joined by an incredible group of folks who tuned in using the hashtag #DisabilityInFocus to discuss disability pride and unity. The conversation was insightful, with a diverse array of perspectives represented.
A few weeks ago, we featured tweets from the chat on self-advocacy, and today we’re talking tips on how parents can help children with disabilities have pride in themselves. Stay tuned for more featured tweets from this chat, and if you’d like to read our full conversation, be sure to check out our recap!
1.
Having a parent who loves and accepts and is proud of their disabled child/children is so needed #DisabilityInFocus
— Easterseals Thrive (@ability2thrive) July 20, 2017
2.
Raising a child with #disabilitypride to me means he is proud of everything he is—and confident about his future. #disabilityinfocus
— Ellen Seidman (@LoveThatMax) July 20, 2017
3.
A2. My parents (both LPs) taught me disability pride from day 1 and we try to do the same with our kids. #DisabilityInFocus
— Rebecca Cokley (@RebeccaCokley) July 20, 2017
4.
Connect disabled kids w/ disabled adults. Non-disabled parents & professionals can’t be the only voices they learn from. #DisabilityInFocus https://t.co/YoZSEc8Zzo
— Vilissa Thompson (@VilissaThompson) July 20, 2017
5.
#DisabilityInFocus
Yes, and connect peers, adult peers to adults. My community helps one another. We understand one another. https://t.co/wDFumKBrNj— Samantha Craft (@aspergersgirls) July 20, 2017
6.
A5: Parents should reject limitations & negative expectations from medical field. We learn our own way & thrive #DisabilityInFocus
— Easterseals Thrive (@ability2thrive) July 20, 2017
7.
A5 Seek out mentoring programs like Easterseals Thrive, or Youth Leadership Forum, and other disabled-led youth programs! #DisabilityInFocus
— Sandy Ho (@IntersectedCrip) July 20, 2017
8.
A5: My parents helped me by making sure I had what I needed while stepping back so I could be independent #DisabilityInFocus
— Bridget Hayman (@Wheelygrl) July 20, 2017
9.
A5 1/3
Parents support child w disability by loving unconditionally
Questioning ‘normalcy’
Questioning societal norms#DisabilityInFocus— Samantha Craft (@aspergersgirls) July 20, 2017
10.
Q5: A key way parents can help their disabled children have pride: encourage independence. Nothing’s more empowering! #DisabilityInFocus
— Ellen Seidman (@LoveThatMax) July 20, 2017
11.
A5. Exposing children to disabled role models (real and fictional) helps them start to develop a positive sense of self. #DisabilityInFocus
— Mike Mort (@MikeeMort) July 20, 2017
12.
A5 Finding books, movies, t.v. shows with positive representations of disabled people is also helpful! #DisabilityInFocus
— Sandy Ho (@IntersectedCrip) July 20, 2017
13.
A5a. Check their ableism. So many of us endure abuse & mistreatment that affects us more than our actual disabilities. #DisabilityInFocus https://t.co/QOVjWVivun
— Vilissa Thompson (@VilissaThompson) July 20, 2017
14.
A5 #Parents can help children find the things they’re good at, have realistic expectations, +plan for the future. And <3 #DisabilityInFocus
— Ingrid Tischer (@IngridTischer) July 21, 2017
15.
Parents who acknowledge & deal with their own ableism can better help children resist internalizing ableist messages. #DisabilityInFocus https://t.co/ZhYRye2bsT
— Willow B. (@Willow_B_Well) July 20, 2017
16.
A5. Introduce them to #disabled adults. Let them get to know their grown-up counterparts. Live a life like @RebeccaCokley #DisabilityInFocus https://t.co/p4ZwHLccdc
— Lawrence Carter-Long (@LCarterLong) July 20, 2017
17.
My parents are my biggest cheerleaders. They’ve always told me, “Try another way””. #DisabilityinFocus
— Erin M. Kelly (@WriterWheels) July 20, 2017
18.
A5 Allow your child to learn, explore, and try new things. Encourage them to find their own way of doing things. #DisabilityinFocus
— Alicia Jarvis 🇨🇦 (@AJarvis728) July 20, 2017
19.
A5. Also teaching kids about the culture and history surrounding disability shows them they’re part of something bigger. #DisabilityInFocus
— Mike Mort (@MikeeMort) July 20, 2017