As a parent raising a child with chronic complex care requirements, one difficulty is looking beyond the “can’ts”. She can’t tie her own shoes, she can’t feed herself, she can’t. The most visible example of employment of the disabled is at the grocery store. Is that all I’m allowed to dream for my child? The question I’m afraid to ask: ”Could she even do that?” and the necessary follow-up question: Would she like it?
Well, my sweet daughter already has 5 careers chosen. Teacher, doctor, horse trainer, and more. I cannot squelch her dreams. I don’t believe in dream killing. Do unattainable dreams have value? Well do you understand algebra? Trigonometry? You may think you’ll never use it, and you might not. But I tell my older kids, whatever you learn helps you understand the process of learning! So does dreaming impossible dreams help us find our best real dreams?
Here is some food for encouragement and inspiration:
One website belongs to Sarah Stup, a truly amazing writer who happens to have autism.http://www.sarahstup.com
The other website belongs to Dylan Kuehl, an artist who has down syndrome. www.dylankarts.com
Dylan and his mother’s story was featured in an article in EP Global Communications. The article is SO inspiring. While you’ll have to sign up, www.eparent.com/index.asp it is free and will give you access to an article you may want to print and keep! http://www.eparent.com/main_channels_family_community/A_Business_to_Call_His_Own_The_Story_Behind_DK_Arts.asp
Dreams can be realized.
To quote Sarah Stup, “When people decide to climb only a few steps They can sit on a wish’s tail.”2-02-2009
