What to Do After a Disability is Found
After the testing comes back and the professionals say that yes, the child does have a disability, what next? It is important that the parents learn and understand all that they can regarding the disability.
Processing the Disability
When a child has been diagnosed with a learning disability, parents often experience a wide range of emotions. Some parents are relieved because the search for an answer to the differences in their child has come to an end, some parents grieve the fact that their child has a disability and some parents are so upset they refuse to accept the results of the testing.
It is important that the parent processes the diagnosis. When a child is diagnosed with a disability, it can be shocking or upsetting or confusing. Parents should make an appointment to sit down with a special education teacher at the child’s school and discuss the impact that the disability will have on the child.
Next Steps After a Disability Diagnosis
What do you do when your child has been diagnosed with a disability? Typically the diagnosis process is relatively long and may have started at the beginning of the school year to just now conclude with a diagnosis at the end of the school year. Now that the school year is coming to a close, parents need to know what to do next.
Parents need to take time to learn everything they can about the disability, treatments and support programs. It is important that they do not give up on any of their hopes and dreams for their child, but it is just as important that they understand what is reasonable for the child to be able to accomplish. Parents should also keep in mind that many children surpass the expectations placed upon them, but expecting the impossible will only serve to frustrate everyone.
The most important thing to do is to ask questions. Parents need to gather information from several sources and learn all they can about the strengths and weaknesses that their child may have as a result of the disability.
