Being a parent isn’t an easy thing to do. It comes with many challenges and responsibilities. As a parent, it’s your job to guide your child and help positively shape their lives. However, the job becomes more challenging when you have a child with medical needs.
There are about 20% of households in the U.S that have children with medical needs. Getting the right treatment is something kids usually can’t access on their own. This is why the U.S constitution gives the parents the legal right to make medical and financial decisions for their child’s best interest.
Children with medical needs require special services and treatment, but oftentimes are discriminated against and deprived of their rights. This is why spreading awareness and advocating for their rights is important. This way, you could help make a better world for your child to feel comfortable and accepted in.
Why should you advocate for your child?
As we go through the COVID-19 crisis, it has been more challenging for children with medical needs and their families to cope with the pandemic. The ongoing disruption in terms of their education, healthcare, and social life has lead to delayed development and mental health problems.
Children with medical needs are faced with even more inequalities in accessing the treatments and services they require. The medical and educational guidelines for the pandemic are often biased against children with medical needs. As a result, it has been harder for them to deal with the change.
To ensure that your child’s needs aren’t neglected and is given equal treatment, law firm Janet, Janet & Suggs suggests getting legal advice on how to advocate for their rights. This would then help the state be better equipped in dealing with this matter and make sure children with medical needs aren’t left behind. Furthermore, parents of children with medical needs must educate themselves on this subject to effectively advocate for their children’s rights.
Learn about your child’s needs
Children with medical needs may find it more challenging to participate in daily activities. As a parent, it is important to get to know everything your child needs, so you would be able to provide them with the proper support needed to make life easier for them. The more you learn about their needs, the more you can take care of them, and prepare them for whatever they may face.
Educate yourself on your child’s rights
If you ever get into a situation where your child is being discriminated against because of his or her medical needs, getting legal advice is your best option to fight for your child’s rights.
A lawyer can give you advice on how to properly deal with the situation. Educating yourself on facts backed up by the law can help you face any discrimination your child may encounter. The right information is one of the most powerful weapons you can use to advocate for their rights and spread awareness to avoid discrimination from happening.
Propose solutions
Sending your child to school can be a huge concern to parents of children with medical needs. It can be tougher for their child to adjust and participate in school activities alongside other kids without disabilities. Even though sending their child to special education centers is an option, sending them to regular schools is still their right.
To make the experience easier for both sides, parents should offer solutions that would work best for them, their children, and the school. This applies even to their doctors or anyone that caters to their child’s needs. Avoid starting conflicts, and instead, be open-minded and create solutions.
Speak out
Standing up for your child’s rights, and voicing them out to the world is important if you want to make a positive impact on their lives. Speaking out can influence thousands and even millions of people once they become educated about the matter. This is why it is important to speak out, it gives you the power to help make things right.
Kids’ voices aren’t usually heard and taken seriously, that is why they need your help as their parents to speak up for them and fight for their rights. By proposing solutions and speaking out, you can spread awareness and help to create a better quality of life for your child.
