Step 4: Secure Your Child's Future
If you have not written a will or set up a legal
and financial framework for your child's future, it's not too late. Talk with
an attorney who specializes in special needs law and a financial advisor to find the
best way to manage your assets and prepare financially for your child's adulthood.
If you have already written a will, it's a good idea to review it from time to
time to make sure that the custodial plan you made when your
child was younger is still the best option.
Step 5: Find Support
Dealing with the day-to-day challenges of parenting a child with CP can be overwhelming.
Having a strong support
network can help you power through even the most challenging days. To connect with
other parents who understand your situation, find a local support group or get involved
with your area United Cerebral Palsy
affiliate. If a local group isn't available, look for online support.
Respite care
can be a saving grace for you and the rest of your family. Just a few hours a week
can give you the time you need to recharge. ARCH National Respite Network maintains
a database of respite services.
Step 6: Address Emotional Needs
At times your child may feel left out, left behind, or bullied. Kids with disabilities
sometimes feel very different from other children, and this can make them feel angry
or sad.
Be on the lookout for signs that your child is being bullied,
including a reluctance to go to school, decreased appetite, trouble sleeping, or unexplained
crying. If your child is being bullied, speak with school administrators as soon as
possible. At home, talk with your child about the experience and use role play to
teach him or her how to ignore bullies and report problems to trusted friends and
teachers.
As puberty approaches, your child will be dealing with new emotions that are part
of normal development.
Step 7: Prepare for Puberty
Talk with your doctor about what to expect as your child matures, and how to handle
it. Reassure your child that the changes that come with puberty are normal. Girls
who get their periods will need to learn new hygiene habits, while boys might need
reassurance that wet dreams are normal.
Talk to your child about appropriate
versus inappropriate touching, explaining that he or she should immediately tell
you if someone crosses the line.
The move into the teen years brings the reality that your child will soon become
an adult. Your child's IEP team and therapists will help you create a plan for your
child's future — including where he or she will live and whether higher education
or the workforce are options. Learn more about the transition IEP, which sometimes
starts as early as age 14, in our Cerebral
Palsy Checklist: Teens & Young Adults.
Date reviewed: September 2015