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?s care. employers may perceive parents as being checked out at the office when really they are doing their best to manage the stress and demands in their personal life. on the other hand, teachers, doctors, and therapists may believe parents are not committed if they have to reschedule appointments or show up late when in reality, they may just be trying to keep their jobs. finally, there are costs
that are impossible to measure at all. many parents raising a child with a disability
develop significant health issues of their own as a result of the stress. the time and energy spent fighting insurance denials or driving to appointments is time and energy that can?t be spent on other things? like hobbies, relationships, or self- care. the experience of raising a child with a disability can feel very isolating and overwhelming, leaving many parents feeling disconnected from their friends and loved ones. in my own experience, the emotional and physical costs o?en feel more overwhelming than the financial ones. despite these many costs, several families raising a child with a disability also become engaged advocates, heroically fighting to ensure that what little safety net our government provides for people who have a disability is not ripped out from under them too. the good news is, while these costs can seem insurmountable, there are many ways you can help provide some relief even if you can?t make a significant financial contribution. here are a few ways that you can help?offer to drop off dinner, provide childcare, clean their house, do a load of laundry (or 12), offer to run their errands, give them an amazon or meal delivery gi? card, treat them to a ?friend date? and talk about anything other than their child?s disability, get involved in disability rights advocacy work, send them a note of encouragement, and most of all...love them and their child fiercely. ? j u l y 2 0 1 8 | b r p a r e n t s . c o m 5 5
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