We, at LGS, would like to invite you, the parents of children with special needs, to please consider  sharing with us and others. Give an issue, a correlating example, what you wish people would know, how someone could have helped you, or could help you now.  Jan would like to share her own experience and has submitted this short note that is intended to help tolerance and offer a new perspective to parents of "typical" children, we'd love to hear from you.

     "When your one week-old baby is toting a pair of casts from toes to mid-thigh (congenital clubfeet), the world doesn't understand.  When your three year-old doesn't talk clearly enough that anyone can understand her, the world doesn't understand.  When you spend more time at the doctor's, occupational therapist's, physical therapist's and speech therapist's offices than at home, the world doesn't have a clue.  When your adult daughter hugs someone unexpectedly from behind, interrupting a conversation, the world thinks she is rude.  One of the hardest things about raising a developmentally delayed child is that the world judges and doesn't understand!  My greatest joys and deepest heartaches are wrapped up in my sweet, funny, clumsy, first to pray, on the lookout for how she can help, hard to understand, gift of a lifetime. 

     Since my gift arrived in 1977, I have spent my life looking for help and trying to understand people like my daughter.  The answer is definitely found in the brain. What is it in their brains that cause such unusual behaviors?  It's in the "wiring" and my findings indicate that much can be done about the faulty wiring.  Changing the wiring is a topic for another day but there is something you can do today. When your "typical" developing child encounters a child who doesn't have that same advantage, encourage them to be involved with that child.  Help them to see how they might help and that reaching out to a special child is a gift they can give. You will be surprised by the gift they receive in return! Blog with us about the special needs of the developmentally delayed population and their families at www.littlegiantsteps.com."