How to Treat a Person With Disabilities

My middle son Sawyer is at the age where he asks a lot of questions.

The questions are pure and innocent and often make me smile or giggle. Or cringe.

He asks me a lot of questions about other children. He will tell me stories from school and ask me why a child was mean or why they acted a certain way. Or he will loudly ask why the cashier at Target is in a wheelchair or why the man in line next to us has purple hair.

Or why a person looks differently from him or dresses a certain way.

As a parent, I try to navigate my way through and say the right thing.

Today he told me about a peer who was struggling in school. The child wasn’t able to sit still and took a game too far. He said it was just too much.

Sawyer, visibly exasperated by what had happened, shared how frustrated he had been with this boy.

I did my best to explain to him how some kids struggle to sit still. They get the wiggles and have to get them out. And how some kids take games too far. How they get too silly and don’t know when to stop.

It was easy for me to explain this one because my middle son was basically describing his older brother Cooper.

‘It sounds like your friend sees and does things a little differently Sawyer…like Cooper. And it’s important for us to be patient and give grace just like we want others to give Cooper.’

Sawyer stopped and looked at me, completely baffled.

‘Cooper doesn’t act different mom. He’s just…Cooper.’

And he was right. But his older brother does do some things differently. Like speak with a computer or lie on the ground at the store. And while that’s our normal…it’s not everyone’s.

‘To us he’s not different Sawyer, but others might be confused about him…just like the boy you are describing.’

‘He’s my brother mom. That’s all that really matters.’ And that’s how you treat a person with disabilities. Like Sawyer does.

Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.