joanne <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> >
> > With regard to your final paragraph, I feel that the benefits
> > of socialising with non-disabled kids are over-rated. Surely
> > the benefits are the actual act of socialising, not whether
> > the person we socialised with was disabled or not.
>
>
> OHHHH Deri... You sure just hit a sore spot with me. My brother
> who is a nuero-psych in California and makes his living
> advising" parents how to raise and teach their kids with
> disabilities. . I visited him and my folks about 3 years ago
> shortly after Alex turned 2.  Being the "big" brother he
> thought he would give me the benefit of  his *expertise*. The
> advise was that Alex needed to play with *NORMAL* children and
> by doing that ALex could learn how to act normal..Excuse
> me?????? Just what was Alex???? Chopped Liver?????  I came out
> and asked him if he meant to make sure Alex  gets a chance to
> play with kids his own age, abled or disabled. He said no it
> was important for Alex to play with *normal* kids. I couldn't
> quite get it through my brothers head that Alex IS a normal
> little boy who just happens to have CP. Alex is the only non
> walker in his class and has been for 3 years now. Playing with
> kids ( normal) who walked didn't teach Alex to walk. Having
> *normal* kids play with Alex didn't make the other kid develop
> CP either It just made them kids playing together. Not much
> hope with such expert advice out there. Joanne.
>
>
Doesn't really make sense does it? You do.

Cheers

--
Deri James