Educating my children

[Mikelly1221]

This is a question I've been wondering for a while, and I'm really going to try to word this correctly. My son and I have been in several situations at WDW and other places where he's asked me why people we've seen need wheelchairs, ECV's etc. He's not being consecending, he's just a little boy learning about people. I've told him that these people have trouble walking or maybe can't walk at all and need a little extra help and the wheelchair/ECV helps them. At times, I know the people heard us (once we were in an elevator), but they never looked at me or acknowledged our presence. I've been wondering since then if I was offensive to them. I really wasn't trying to be; I was just trying to answer my son's question kindly and honestly.

I want to educate with compassion and really want him to understand that these are PEOPLE first and have special needs second. Does my answer sound ok, or is there a better way?

 

[BillSears]

I always respond to those type of questions. If I hear a child asking his parent about it I usually turn and say Hi, then explain that I had an accident and can't walk now. But I get along fine using the wheelchair. If the conversation goes further I explain what happened and that I can't feel/move anything from the bottom of my ribcage down, etc. But it depends on the child and how interested they are.

It doesn't embarrass me at all. I've been using a wheelchair for 27 years, it takes alot more then honest curiosity to embarrass me....now that time I was transfering out of the Jungle Cruise and ended up with my pants at about knee level. Luckily the underware stayed put.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think your answer is just fine.
If I overhear a child asking when I am out with my DD who uses a wheelchair, I answer the question. My DD can understand, but not speak in a way that most people can understand, so I will usually tell them that and say that some people's legs don't work well enough for them to run around or walk and they use wheelchairs to get around.

 

[dislvr75]

I thought what you said to your son was just fine. My son has Spina Bifida, walks with braces on his legs, sometimes with crutches and sometimes rides in a stroller/wheelchair. I overhear comments from kids ALL the time. Sadly though, parents try to hush their kids and give them dirty looks for even asking while in my son's presence. That let me tell you is the worst reaction to seeing a child with special needs. These parents send a message to their kids that there's something wrong with this kid, and we shouldn't talk about it. I always reach out to these kids and parents, explain what my son's disability is and why he uses the adaptive equiptment that he does. I would hope that most parents would take the opportunity to educate you and your child rather than just ignore it. That way the next kid you see, with similar equipment and such, you'll already know! Its nice to see that you care enough to even ask others opnions on this subject. It proves that your heart is truly in the right place and that's nice to see!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have realized, and take the attitude, that having glasses is a disability. I have sometimes asked people to take their glasses off and then read a distant sign. They say they can't see without their glasses. Then I will comment to them they they, like me, have disabilities.