Raising Inclusive Kids: Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy Awareness

By
Brittany Aquart
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5
Raising Inclusive Kids -Image Description: several diverse children sit together at a school table for lunch
Image Description: several diverse children sit together at a school table for lunch wearing school uniforms.

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day. Down Syndrome is a chromosomal condition that usually causes developmental disabilities.

March is also National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, and CP Awareness Day falls on March 25th. Cerebral Palsy describes a group of conditions where altered brain development causes lifelong movement difficulties. 

Disability Affects Us All

“Welcome to Holland” is a beautiful essay written by Emily Perl Kingsley about her experience raising her son with Down Syndrome. She compares receiving her child’s diagnosis to arriving in Holland after expecting to fly to Italy. Finding out your child has a disability is usually unexpected, like ending up in a new country that you didn’t prepare to visit. Of course, this story does not reflect the experience of every parent whose child has a disability. But it can be a helpful reminder to relish in the wonderful child you have. In the story, almost everyone they know is still visiting, talking about, and even “bragging” about Italy. Which makes me wonder: “What if we all just went to Holland, too?” People living with a disability can easily feel excluded by a world that doesn’t consider their needs. We can include them by meeting them where they are. 

Raising Inclusive Kids -Image Description: A boy and a girl are in front of a playground. The girl is able-bodied and the boy is sitting in a wheelchair.
Image Description: A boy and a girl are in front of a playground. The girl is able-bodied and the boy is sitting in a wheelchair.

Let’s Meet in Holland

Raising a child with a disability can be extremely isolating. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 improved access to public services for people with disabilities, there are still many hurdles left to overcome. Physical barriers aside, parents worry if their disabled child will make friends, feel welcomed in the classroom, be invited to birthday parties, or be included in play dates. We can meet up in Holland; disabled or able-bodied, neurodivergent or neurotypical, and no one has to be left out. 

Raising Inclusive Kids -Image Description: Two girls are sitting together in a brightly colored room. One girl is wearing adaptive shoes and appears to have a physical disability.
Image Description: Two girls are sitting together in a brightly colored room. One girl is wearing adaptive shoes and appears to have a physical disability.

Inclusion Starts at Home

Raising inclusive children means teaching our kids to value people for who they are. Disability is a very individualized experience. That’s why we can’t paint with broad brushstrokes when talking about living with disability. We can, however, remove the stigma that often surrounds disability. This work starts at home. Here are some simple ways to begin normalizing disability with your kids:

  1. Give your children books and toys starring disabled characters. Sesame Street and Little People are good places to start. 
  2. Talk about disability organically and without judgment. For example, if your child asks, “Why does that person use a wheelchair?” you could answer, “Well, everyone has their own reason for using a wheelchair. They are great tools that help people get around if walking is hard.” 
  3. Follow disabled influencers on social media. Listen to their perspective. It will help you shift your own ideas about disability and work towards a more inclusive future.
  4. Support local organizations that work with and for individuals with disabilities. Check out Gigi’s Playhouse Miami and United Cerebral Palsy. 

Start off here, and I’m sure you’ll find even more great resources! Let’s build a future that feels like home for everyone. 

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Brittany Aquart
Brittany Aquart
Brittany is a pediatric physical therapist and owner of Lemon City Therapy. She has worked as a physical therapist in a variety of settings, from the NICU to outpatient clinics to in-home therapy. She and her high school sweetheart-turned-husband, Andrew, are both Miami natives and proud UM alumni. They currently live in Little Haiti with their two young boys. Brittany loves all things culture, art, music, and food-related, and is always down for a good cup of coffee. Pre-pandemic days, there was nothing she loved more than going to a new restaurant with good friends, but backyard hangs are a satisfying trade-off. At home, you can catch her experimenting with gluten-free recipes in the kitchen, or taking a walk to the park down the street with her boys. Connect with Brittany @lemoncitytherapy on Instagram and Facebook.
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5 COMMENTS

  1. This is so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this. It truly is so important to teach our kids kindness and inclusivity. Our children should be able to be part of a world that makes everyone feel accepted always. “We can meet up in Holland; disabled or able-bodied, neurodivergent or neurotypical, and no one has to be left out.” ❤️

    Thank you for the organizations to look into and the tips to help us support inclusivity ❤️

  4. Thank you so much for sharing this. I have had trouble with my son being bullied for his disabilities, mostly his central palsy. Even though thankfully he can run he can’t keep up with kids his age. The first time he was bullied for this he was 3 turning 4.

  5. Beautifully written, Brittany! I appreciate this post so much as a special needs momma, myself. ❤️

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