Shifting the Perspective on Disabilities

by Christie Taylor from The Huffington Post:
If I was asked the question, "Was receiving the news your son had Down syndrome a life changer for you?" my answer would be yes, but that wouldn't be entirely accurate.
It's easy to look at a one big, notable experience and say that event changed my life. Yet, when I take some time to ponder my life changing moments, they are not big and notable, but small and simple.
These small and simple moments have come in the form of a joke, a laugh, or a smile. Though the moment was a brief sliver in time, it served as a pivot point, causing a shift in perspective. An internal shift in perspective has the power to change everything.
When my son, Wil, started kindergarten, he began having certain behavior problems. Kindergarten was overwhelming for him, and when he was tired or didn't want to do something, he responded by crawling under a table or plopping himself unmoving on the floor.
This behavior was affecting his learning, and was starting to disrupt the class. Though his assigned teacher's aide and I tried many different approaches, nothing had a lasting effect.
Over time, I worked myself into a high state of stress over these behaviors. I didn't know what to do and felt at a loss. In desperation, I talked to a friend from our Down syndrome support group about this situation. Her son is a few years older than Wil, and I hoped she would have some ideas on how to help him.
As I described Wil's kindergarten story to her, a big, calm, knowing smile spread across her face. She put her hand gently on my shoulder and said, "My son did that all the time! Don't worry! He'll outgrow it. This is what we did..."
Surprisingly, I found myself laughing with her about all the things I had only moments ago been feeling distressed over. This was a pivot point for me. My friend's knowing smile and shared story completely changed my perspective of the situation.