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Why should parents advocate for their child with a disability? - Patricia Mucia, RN

Why should parents advocate for their child with a disability?

Patricia Mucia, RN

Nurse Care Coordinator, Shriners Hospital for Children - Chicago

Read Bio More Videos by Patricia Mucia
Transcript
Children need someone to speak for them, they need people to reach out, and explain their disability to others. And so, the more that the parents can learn about their children, the more they can teach other social networking people. They can reach o... Show More

Children need someone to speak for them, they need people to reach out, and explain their disability to others. And so, the more that the parents can learn about their children, the more they can teach other social networking people. They can reach out to the religious community, go to their church, go to their local park district, explain to them what spinal cord injury is about, and what makes them different, and the things that they need to be aware of, but then sign them up for class anyway. Many parents are discouraged from advocating for their child, because they get a negative reaction from people when they push a little bit. And I try to encourage them to go ahead and push, because that, sometimes they're going to be their child's only hope, you know. So, I mean, it isn't always pretty, it isn't what you always want to do. Maybe you're not a pushy person, and now you're stuck in this situation where your kid's not going to get what they deserve, unless you push for it. So, that's what I think advocacy is.

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Why should parents advocate for their child with a disability?

Patricia Mucia, RN

Nurse Care Coordinator, Shriners Hospital for Children - Chicago

More Videos by Patricia Mucia
Transcriptadd

Children need someone to speak for them, they need people to reach out, and explain their disability to others. And so, the more that the parents can learn about their children, the more they can teach other social networking people. They can reach out to the religious community, go to their church, go to their local park district, explain to them what spinal cord injury is about, and what makes them different, and the things that they need to be aware of, but then sign them up for class anyway. Many parents are discouraged from advocating for their child, because they get a negative reaction from people when they push a little bit. And I try to encourage them to go ahead and push, because that, sometimes they're going to be their child's only hope, you know. So, I mean, it isn't always pretty, it isn't what you always want to do. Maybe you're not a pushy person, and now you're stuck in this situation where your kid's not going to get what they deserve, unless you push for it. So, that's what I think advocacy is.

Why should parents advocate for their child with a disability?
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