Disabilities
Perspectives on Parenting©
by Nancy Lambert Davenport
Nancy Davenport's Column:
For Richardson News 3-14-99
Copyright Nancy Lambert Davenport 1999
"Internet: A Good Source of Information"
Most people may not realize that there is an underground railroad of correspondence on the subject of disabilities. Of course the internet is the greatest pathway. There, moms can find chat rooms according to the time of day they are available and the type of disability that interests them. Dads have set up web sites about their children's disabilities and have drawn inquiries like a magnet. My son, who has disabilities, corresponds by email with other young people with disabilities as well as some adult friends who just want to get to know him better because of his uniqueness.
I, also, correspond both by mail and email with some families of young children with disabilities. I do not know exactly what all those others discuss, but my correspondents they want me, as an "older" parent, to be their crystal ball; they want to know the future. What's it going to be like for them in ten or fifteen years. I don't blame them. We were the same way.
One woman with whom I correspond in California always has a deluge of questions about my son's social activities. Does he have a girl friend? Where does he go when he goes out? Is he going to drive? How old was he when he did this or that? Her son is four.
I received another letter from a mother in Russia who wants to start a support group there. I was able to run down a woman here who speaks Russian and who also has a child with disabilities. They are going great guns.
Even politics gets in to it. Periodically I receive a broadcast email that someone in Congress is making noises about something related to disabilities. We in turn email everyone we know. Then all of us email our Congressmen to keep them informed of what we think is right. I am sure they love it.
I realize there are other subjects for correspondence flying about, but few seem to have the urgency or the longevity that the subject of disabilities has. I have one correspondent in Mississippi who sent me a stack of stamped, self-addressed business envelopes. She asked me to send to her periodically copies of this column and other pertinent information about disabilities that comes across my desk. Her child is now eight, and I have been in correspondence with her since her child was born.
There is no longer any excuse for people to be uninformed about a disability or to be isolated from information. Even if they do not have a computer at home the internet is available at the library, at businesses, at colleges and other schools, and at homes of friends. Just be sure to double check the sources of information and avoid giving personal details about the family member with a disability that could put him or her in danger of being singled out. Then go for it. There is a world of information out there.
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Nancy LambertDavenport
EMAIL: ndavenport@ticnet.com
URL: http://www.nancyldavenport.com