Going to school and making friends when you’re a kid may be one of the biggest social challenges of our entire human lives. Add in having an obvious physical disability and it’s doubly hard. But kids with disabilities are resilient creatures and with the proper bag of tools, they can succeed in making friends.
It isn’t easy, but we have seen many kids with disabilities make genuine friends in their schools and we know yours can succeed in the same too. If you aren’t sure where to start, we are here to help. Your child can be a rock star and make loads of friends. Read on to learn how.
Teach them the Skills
If you have a child with a disability, you will need to teach them some of the social skills necessary to make friends. There are thousands of books and YouTube videos on the subject, and there are therapists/school psychologists that have experience in this too. You will want to make sure to teach them things like:
- how to start a conversation with other kids,
- how to handle bullies,
- how to direct rude comments,
- and more.
Throw a Memorable Party
A party is a great way to encourage friendship and to give your child a social edge among their peers. When you have a disability, anything that helps the able-bodied kids get comfortable around your child helps and a fun environment, like a party, is one of the best ways to make this environment a reality. Some ideas for a party-theme include video games, pizza, and movies or something offbeat like a dunk tank. Anything your child can still partake in with the other kids is a good idea.
Adopt a Fur Baby
A furry animal is one of the best ways to attract people and make people comfortable, and for a kid with a disability, having a service animal or a pet they can take for a walk is a great way to meet other kids. A dog can be a great way to break the ice and to encourage other children to introduce themselves to your child and begin an opportunity to start a new friendship.
Get Them Involved
Try to get your child involved in as many activities as possible, whether they are adaptive activities/sports or mainstream activities/sports. Mainstream sports and activities are more and more making sure to be inclusive to students with disabilities, so do not hesitate to enroll your child in any class they’re interested in. Anything that gets your child out of the house and meeting other kids is a good idea. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts can be especially good experiences.
Join a Church
Many churches have youth groups that have activities that are always going on, and the kids and the adults involved are usually very nice and open-minded to anyone, especially disability. A church can be a great community to be part of as well, and this is a great thing for a child with a disability.
Don’t Forget: Positive Reinforcement
Since many children with disabilities suffer from low self-esteem, it is important that you remind your child they are amazing and deserving of all good things in life, especially friends. Positive reinforcement is something a parent must do on a daily basis for their children, but even more so if they have a disability. You'll want them to believe they are as amazing as you know they are. When they have amazing confidence, friends will follow.
Do not let your child suffer in the background at their school when it comes to friends. It is possible to make good friends even if your child has a disability and on the off-chance that the school is simply not a good fit, you can always consider changing districts or home schooling.
