Milestones Magazine Fall Issue

For a firsthand account of parenting when you have disabilities; I am pleased
to introduce Ashley Taylor and her husband, with some tips from their blog on
caring for a child when you have a disability. Depending on your disability,
some tips may be more applicable to your situation than others. Some of the
advice, such as child-proofing, also applies to families where the parents don’t
have a disability.
So, without further ado, I present the following tips, excerpted from Ashley’s
article “Disabled parents can prep home and life for their new arrival”.
“Replace stairs with a ramp. Navigating stairs while carrying a baby can pose
a risk of tripping. Steps-free entrances and pathways are especially important
for individuals with mobility disability as they make it easy maneuver within
the home to effectively cater to the baby’s needs.
Expand your corridors and doorways. Wide doorways offer enough clearance
for people using wheelchairs and walkers to safely get through entrances.
Install non-skid flooring. Skid-resistant flooring is vital for both parents with
disabilities as well as their developing children. As your child learns to crawl
and walk, they will need a safe space to practice on. Consider installing vinyl,
linoleum or heavy-duty plastic mats. If you decide to carpet, ensure that the
carpet is fastened on the floor and it has an even texture.
Child-proof your home. For instance, install smoke detectors, carbon
monoxide detectors, corner guards on the sharp corner guards of the furniture,
install outlet covers and keep away hazardous items out of your child’s reach.
Depending on your type of disability, you will need specialized baby care
products and equipment. For instance, if you are a parent with a mobility
disability, the regular baby carrier may not work well for you. If you are using
a wheelchair, you may use a lap baby to hold your infant in front of you.
Similarly, a parent with a hearing disability may need to invest in a babble
band in place of a baby monitor. There are great baby care products for parents
with disabilities. There are also numerous resources both online and offline
that you can leverage for support in your parenting with disability journey.
These include both governmental and non-governmental agencies, websites
and community-based support groups.
While being a parent with disabilities presents unique challenges, with the
right information, resources, planning and preparation, it can be a journey
full of joy and satisfaction. Take time to prepare your home, get baby care
products that are appropriate for your type of disability and identify support
systems and resources. Most importantly, take care of yourself so you can
be able to take care of your child.”
Ashley Taylor and her husband both have disabilities. Ashley blogs, which
provides advice and resources for parents with disabilities. She can be reached
through a contact form at the blog or by email.
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