5 Tips for Preparing Your Home and Life for a Child With a Disability
5 Tips for Preparing Your Home and Life for a Child With a Disability
When you decided to have a baby, you
may have envisioned buying a crib, setting up a play area, and sorting through
mountains of advice on the internet about how to sleep
train your child. Preparing for
anything out of the norm likely didn't cross your mind.
Now that you've learned that your
child will be born with a physical or mental disability, it's time to educate
yourself about making your home a safe place for your baby and getting him or
her the medical care necessary for a happy, healthy life.
If you have a disability, you can
increase your opportunities for employment by visiting the disABLEDperson job
board.
1. Learn About Your Child's Disability
The term disability can be applied
to hundreds of diagnoses, but your child will be unique — and the way the
disability affects his or her life should be considered. Learn as much as you
can before your child is born, ask questions of your doctor or perinatologist,
and consider getting in touch with others in your area to gain wisdom from
parents who have been down this road before.
2. Determine Any Home Modifications You Can Make Now
While an infant may not need
anything except medical treatment, your older child may have
trouble navigating a conventional
home. If your current home doesn't fit the bill, consider moving. Look for
homes in neighborhoods you like with good school systems that will be
accommodating of your child (if necessary). Check online listings to find the
right number of bathrooms, bedrooms, and more before you tour the places in
person.
3. Look for Answers to Insurance Questions
According to the Affordable Care
Act, if your employer has 50 or more full-time employees, they're legally
required to offer you a health insurance plan. Your plan may include paid
parental leave, days that you can use to care for
family members, and several in-network benefits that you could use to help your
child with his or her disability care.
4. Keep Up With Your Own Physical and Mental Health
You may feel worried, scared, or
emotionally exhausted when preparing for your child. Make sure to take care of
yourself in this process as well. It's normal to feel guilty or even angry when
parenting a child with
special needs. This doesn't mean that you don't
love your child. Engage in self-care that you enjoy every day, don't neglect
your basic needs like healthy food and sleep, and seek out professional mental
health counseling if your feelings overwhelm you.
5. Budget for Additional Expenses
Depending on what your child's
disability is, there may be hefty expenses coming up in the future. You may
need to think about renovating your home, installing or building accessibility
measures such as ramps and
grab bars, or planning for physical or occupational therapy sessions. If you're
not sure what to include in your budget, consider meeting with a parent of a
child with a similar disability to ask what you may need to think ahead for.
And whenever purchasing products for your family, read in-depth reviews to determine their safety and quality.
Having a child with a mental or
physical disability can be a major source of stress for new parents, and it's
often easy to forget to enjoy the small
moments with your little one when there are
so many big, anxiety-provoking unknowns to take into account. Learn as much as
you can now to support your decisions after your child's birth and throughout
his or her life.