| Getting a diagnosis | | | | - There is always hope - There are always medical |
| You need to get a diagnosis,for your piece of mind. | | | | break throughs, new therapies and different |
| Your instincts are telling you that something is just not | | | | educational techniques. You may feel that there is no |
| right, you know it in your heart, your head and it niggles | | | | hope now, but keep researching, you will find the |
| in the pit of your stomach. Your child is not developing | | | | answers! |
| like other kids, but you are afraid to give a name to | | | | Always remember: Love performs Miracles. |
| your fears and make things real that you love to be | | | | Accepting the diagnosis |
| Imaginary. | | | | Live for today - Not tomorrow! We now finally know |
| No matter what anyone say's or how much you | | | | what is wrong, and may even have an idea of or a |
| would like for the fears to just go away...Have your | | | | plan where to go from here. But it is easy to get stuck |
| child checked out! Early Intervention,especially, for a | | | | in a mindset that whatever we are doing today is in |
| special needs child, can make a huge difference to the | | | | pursuit of a better future. |
| quality of not only your child, but your life as well. Find | | | | But, since we cannot ever know for certain that what |
| the truth. Putting off the inevitable will be of no benefit | | | | we expect to happen in the future, actually will, there is |
| to anyone, so follow the steps below to get a | | | | something said for focusing on the present...it is, if |
| diagnosis: | | | | nothing else, allot easier to predict! Focusing on finding a |
| - Journal - No one knows your child better than you. | | | | school that our child is comfortable in, therapy that will |
| Keeps a note book of all your concerns ranging from | | | | improve your child's quality of life now, finding |
| actions that worry you, emotional outbursts or | | | | strategies to cope with the stress and keep things |
| developmental delays. | | | | calm, Spending lots of fun time together and |
| - Find a paediatrician - Find a paediatrician that you are | | | | appreciating your child where they are at...These are |
| comfortable with, as he will most likely be the one | | | | the things that are important right now! |
| referring you to the correct specialists, and guide on | | | | All of these things can make a huge difference in your |
| where you have to go next. | | | | family' short terms happiness, and pave the way for a |
| - Do research - Do research on the areas of your | | | | more secure future...ALL ROUND! Now Counts! We all |
| child's development that concern you, so that when | | | | want our children to be successful, but this is very |
| you see the specialist you are well informed. You may | | | | different for a child with special needs. Being at |
| have to wait some time for an appointment - In the | | | | academic or fantastic sportsman are almost |
| meantime, Research! | | | | impossible goals for our children to succeed...but these |
| - Consult with a specialist - He will be doing extensive | | | | are not the only goals that matter. |
| testing and detailed examinations of your child. A | | | | Here are a couple of other ways to think about what |
| diagnosis is not guaranteed, but even with a prognosis, | | | | success means our children: |
| you will get enough answers to give you a starting | | | | - Your child's opinion matter's - When you talk about |
| point. | | | | success, make sure that you are doing it in a way that |
| - Keep looking - Never stop looking for information, | | | | is meaningful to your child. Being successful at |
| with one child and one disability, you will be able to | | | | something you don't care about, means nothing. It is |
| keep up with the current research, allot better than a | | | | allot easier to get motivated about something you care |
| doctor who is treating many patients. | | | | about! |
| Coping with a diagnosis | | | | - Happiness is Success - Is being successful by your |
| You have been to see your pediatrician and Specialist, | | | | term, making your child happy? For me it has always |
| you have gone through numerous examinations and | | | | been important for my children to be happy in their |
| tests, you are exhausted....but, you have it, a diagnosis! | | | | own skins, their happiness is our success! I fully believe |
| Finally, knowing what's wrong with your child should not | | | | that we happiness is a huge success and any parent |
| be the end of the world for you or your family...it is the | | | | who overlooks this, does so that their own peril. If a |
| first steps to getting help! | | | | child appears to be doing so well, but is unhappy most |
| Getting a diagnosis is probably the hardest thing you | | | | of the time, then success in the eye of the beholder! |
| have ever had to do. It means putting aside the | | | | - Create situations for success - If your child is |
| dreams of one kind of life you may have had, and | | | | struggling, create situations in which he can excel. |
| following a completely different path. Denying and | | | | Spend lots of time doing things that he is good at. |
| fearing your different child is not going to help you, your | | | | Teach him new skills in small, easy steps, and lavish |
| child or your family...getting the proper treatment is! | | | | praise when they are accomplished. This can go a |
| The most important thing to remember is that your | | | | long way in improving your child's self esteem and |
| child, is first and foremost, still your child, a little individual | | | | opens a door naturally for more success. |
| human with strengths and abilities! Keep the following in | | | | - The goal is progress, not perfection - Just moving |
| mind, as you set out on your journey: | | | | forward is fantastic...recognise that just doing better |
| - Your child is still the child you knew before the | | | | from one year to the next is a triumph in it's own right! |
| diagnosis. | | | | - You are not responsible for everything - We often |
| - Labels are not the enemy - love your child's abilities. | | | | forget that our child does not have to succeed at |
| - You do not have to be alone, there are many of us | | | | everything he tries. failure is ok, and we don't have to |
| who deal with disabilities on a daily basis and would | | | | push them harder because of it. Give your child a |
| love to share with other parents in our shoes. | | | | chance to figure out what their strengths and |
| - All children are different - they will develop at there | | | | weaknesses are, and as long as they experience |
| own pace and follow there own path...you are there to | | | | some triumphs, failures really are not tragedies. |
| pave the way! | | | | |