Why tell him not to push over just kids who are struggling to walk? He
shouldn't be pushing anyone. Just my two cents.
Kat
-----Original Message-----
From: Cerebral Palsy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Virginia Perry
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 4:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Explaining the difference
Last Tuesday (May 6), I took my 9yr-old son Daniel to physical therapy
before school. As is my habit, I dropped him off and went for my walk around
the neighborhood. When I returned, about 15 minutes before his therapy was
due to end, I was met at the door by the PT, who said, "Daniel shoved down
this little girl on crutches and won't apologize." I took Daniel over to
apologize to the little girl, but he wouldn't. Then I took him outside,
explained that he WOULD apologize, took him back in, and he did, but he
rushed away immediately afterwards. The PT said, "I've never seen Daniel
behave that way before." I responded, Yeah, if I didn't know better, I'd
think he'd shoved her down because he thought she was cute and is now
embarrassed."
I turned around and the little girl (about a year younger than my son) was
looking at me as if I were insane. I said, "Honey, little boys are just
weird sometimes." Then the female PT who was stretching her out said, "Yeah,
they really are!"
When I got Daniel back to the car and we were heading for school, I asked
him, "Daniel, did you shove that little girl down because you thought she
was cute?" He nodded, blushed, and said, "esss, kooot." (He has difficulty
talking).
First, I tried to explain that you can't push people on crutches. He looked
dubious. After all he's a boy in leg braces; you push him down, and he
bounces right back. I then took the short cut of telling him that little
girls don't like to be pushed down. Instead, he should give her his best
smile.
Since then I've been wondering how to explain to him that in most respects,
people with disabilities shouldn't be treated any differently than other
people. In another sense, some people with disabilities do require a
slightly different code of conduct
(i.e.: don't go around pushing down kids who are struggling to walk). Anyone
know of any good kids' books on this subject?
Incidentally, this morning Daniel rushed over to the little girl (who was
sitting down), smiled hugely, and ran off.
And so it starts.....
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