Resources for kids with physical disabilities?

[Anonymous]

I have seen a lot of excellent resources for kids with intellectual/social challenges listed on the board, but can anyone recommend books, films, speakers etc., to help a child with a purely physical disability understand their unique challenges and help them thrive in life? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

It is late so while I have no specific name, I Woukld look for same sex for stories of young people who are in sports who have been injured and lost mobility and had to adapt. you coukd easily look up role models under para-Olympics and go from there. The actor who became paralyzed neck down and did so much for spinal cord research? Also by using sports of interest to son or daughter you can let them know of adaptations.

[Anonymous]

I have a child with a physical disability. There are many resources for kids with physical disabilities, but it's less about books and speakers and more about adapted dance classes, adapted horseback riding, and adapted swimming. Kids need actual kid role models, not adults. You need to learn from other parents about best schools in the community, the best physical therapists, the best camps, best colleges.

Kids don't learn from being "inspired" by Christopher Reeve. That's way too pie in the sky.

Adaptive dance -- Music and Motion, Maryland Youth Ballet
Horse Back Riding -- many, many stables locally. Great and Small, Circle of Hope
Swimming, Gudelsky Swim Program at Bender JCC
Keen Athletics
Adapted Basketball
Adapted Soccer
Adapted Hockey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child with a physical disability. There are many resources for kids with physical disabilities, but it's less about books and speakers and more about adapted dance classes, adapted horseback riding, and adapted swimming. Kids need actual kid role models, not adults. You need to learn from other parents about best schools in the community, the best physical therapists, the best camps, best colleges.

Kids don't learn from being "inspired" by Christopher Reeve. That's way too pie in the sky.

Adaptive dance -- Music and Motion, Maryland Youth Ballet
Horse Back Riding -- many, many stables locally. Great and Small, Circle of Hope
Swimming, Gudelsky Swim Program at Bender JCC
Keen Athletics
Adapted Basketball
Adapted Soccer
Adapted Hockey

OP here. Thank you, and that makes excellent sense. My child is still so young (18 months) and I’m just so concerned about their future...there just seem to be fewer resources/help available for kids whose disability is “solely” physical. I’ve tried reaching out in my community to various therapists, etc., but most seem just as clueless as I am about where to get help for a child like mine. My baby is so smart, sweet, playful, and all-around awesome, and I’m sooooo worried about how their physical disability will impact their life. It just plain sucks.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live and without getting too personal, what is the nature of the disability?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child with a physical disability. There are many resources for kids with physical disabilities, but it's less about books and speakers and more about adapted dance classes, adapted horseback riding, and adapted swimming. Kids need actual kid role models, not adults. You need to learn from other parents about best schools in the community, the best physical therapists, the best camps, best colleges.

Kids don't learn from being "inspired" by Christopher Reeve. That's way too pie in the sky.

Adaptive dance -- Music and Motion, Maryland Youth Ballet
Horse Back Riding -- many, many stables locally. Great and Small, Circle of Hope
Swimming, Gudelsky Swim Program at Bender JCC
Keen Athletics
Adapted Basketball
Adapted Soccer
Adapted Hockey

OP here. Thank you, and that makes excellent sense. My child is still so young (18 months) and I’m just so concerned about their future...there just seem to be fewer resources/help available for kids whose disability is “solely” physical. I’ve tried reaching out in my community to various therapists, etc., but most seem just as clueless as I am about where to get help for a child like mine. My baby is so smart, sweet, playful, and all-around awesome, and I’m sooooo worried about how their physical disability will impact their life. It just plain sucks.

There are a lot of support groups based around your child's condition / disability. Please search these out at they are really supportive to help navigate the programs available.

My child was born with a birth defect and has had multiple surgeries to correct it. If you were to look at him now with his friends in middle school, you would not be able to point and say - "that's the one with ....." and I have no idea what challenges his friends have overcome.

What I do know is that - my child will never run a marathon - but he sure loves to do other things sports related including bicycle riding and ice skating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live and without getting too personal, what is the nature of the disability?

Cerebral palsy...which for my child means tight muscles and abnormal posturing. Still can’t sit at 18 months, and will likely never walk. Bright as can be and full of life and love, but very physically impacted. It breaks my heart. We live in the Fairfax area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live and without getting too personal, what is the nature of the disability?

Cerebral palsy...which for my child means tight muscles and abnormal posturing. Still can’t sit at 18 months, and will likely never walk. Bright as can be and full of life and love, but very physically impacted. It breaks my heart. We live in the Fairfax area.

I have a child family member with cerebral palsy. There are a TON of support groups that I found just by googling..,