Helping Children and Teens Cope with Disabilities

Coping with a disability is never easy, but for a child born into a world focused on beauty and appearance it can feel like a lonely world, particularly with a media focused on showing us ‘perfection’ and very few images of people with disabilities. These children with disabilities will see that they are visibly different to other children and draw their own, often wrong conclusion that they should hide.

This page will give some resources where children and teenagers can connect, with other people going through the same things as them, so they know they are not alone. Also included are some resources to help children and teenagers understand their disability, and a couple of places where parents can turn when they need advice too.

Site to learn from and join Communities

Firstly, a good site for younger children is the Able Crew Site (presented by The National Coalition for Students with Disabilities http://www.ncsd.org), which helps children and the general public understand disabilities. Plenty of fun activities and reading http://www.theablecrew.org/

The Kid’s Hospital Network (TKHN) is a site for children that are ill, are disabled or have challenges. Its aim is to connect children in a supportive and safe environment. This site also gives children access to resources and information to help them get on with their lives and build a better future for themselves by breaking down barriers and stereotypes. http://www.bearabletimes.org/

There are a few sites that recognize that children and young adults (able or disabled) are curious about the world. At Ablelink young people with disabilities and illness can meet, ask their questions, and connect with other people. Friends will be made, mentors will give tips, and support will be given. http://www.ablelink.org/public/new/about_us.html

As the transition from teenager to adult happens, there are several things like healthcare and benefits, which will need to be taken into consideration. The follow links provide assistance in making this transaction

Managing Healthcare Choices

Below is a link for a great article that explains in plain English how to get the right healthcare. It is an article excerpted from "Be a savvy Healthcare Consumer, Your Life may Depend on It" by June Isaacson. http://www.mainstream-mag.com/health.html

This link below helps teenagers prepare for the events in their lives including choosing their own healthcare and medical home http://www.medicalhomeinfo.org/tools/youthindex.html

SSI Benefits Beyond the age of 18

There are almost 1 million people under the age of 18, who receive SSI and approximately 70% of these people will get a Ticket to Work upon turning 18, and come up for a Continuing Disability review. This section of the TheWork Site explains more. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/youth.html

Parents need support too

NICHY (National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities is a central source of information about disabilities in children and teenager and on how to teach them. Essential reading for parents and teachers. http://www.nichcy.org/

This First Network Online is a site that offers parents and carers of children with disabilities information, support and learning opportunities. http://1stnetwork.tripod.com/firstnetworkonline/

Providing a supportive environment where people accept you and understand you is very important for young people, especially if they feel they are not like everyone else they know. So these resources could prove really helpful to find other people like them to connect with.