How to Prepare When You’re Expecting or Adopting a Child With Disabilities

Hi Everyone,

I’m so excited to this this meaningful and thoughtful guest blog post with you. The author, Lillian, is the creator of the website LearningDisabilities.info. For years, Lillian worked as a special education teacher with a focus on teaching children with learning disabilities. She created the website to offer information and understanding to parents of children with learning disabilities, as well as adults who are in need of continued support in order to succeed.

Both of us hope that you find this article helpful and be sure to check out Lillian’s website.

xx MommieMix

The arrival of a new baby or child in your home is an exciting event, but it is always a good idea to be prepared beforehand. And if you’re expecting or adopting a child with disabilities, you may be wondering what extra steps you should take to make your life easier once your baby is born. So here are tips to get you ready: 

Prepare Your House for Your New Arrival

Before your due date, take time to prepare healthy, nutritious meals for yourself and your family and put them in the freezer: when you’re home from the hospital with your new baby, you’ll be glad to have homemade dishes ready to be heated and served! Declutter, clean, and tame the chaos in your houseas much as you can, and stock up on the essentials to avoid running out while you’re caring for your newborn. If your baby has a sensory processing disorder, such as a low tolerance for noisy environments or touch sensitivity, try to provide special accommodations in your home and keep everyone in your household in the loop. Even if some fussiness is to be expected with a newborn, knowing about their condition can help you keep them more comfortable and happier.     

Prepare Your Child’s Siblings and Relatives

Caring for a child with a disability is often more demanding for a parent, and stress, fatigue, and burnoutare common consequences for caretakers. In order to lighten your load, think about asking friends or relatives to pitch in with baby duties once in a while, and take time for yourself to relax and resource for an hour or two. Here again, preparation is important: make sure the person in charge is aware of your baby’s special needs, and plan ahead by having a “trial run” where you stick around while your helper is taking over baby duties to make sure any questions can be answered. And if you have older children, give them “big kid” opportunities to help you as well: task them with reading to their younger sibling or other age-appropriate activity so you can take a little breather.    

Prepare for Your Insurance Needs

Thanks to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014, if your employer has 50 or more employees, they are required by law to provide health insurance for you and your dependents. But what are your coverage options if you work for a smaller company, work only part-time, or if you own your own business? If you have limited income, you can apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) by reaching out to a Social Security representative who will help you through the process, and your child may also be eligible for Medicaid. If your income is too high to qualify yet too low to afford private insurance, look into the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for coverage.

Prepare for Travels and Holidays

Whether you’re driving or flying to your destination, traveling with an infant can be challenging to say the least, so preparation is key. If you’re planning on getting on a plane with your special needs baby, communicate with the airline beforehand and explain your situation and circumstances. If your baby is on a special diet or needs some adaptive equipment, making sure everyone, from the ticketing agents to the flight attendants, is on board (no pun intended) will save you time and aggravation at the airport. A program called TSA Cares can provide additional assistance for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. 

When you’re expecting or adopting a child with a mental or physical disability, plan ahead by considering all your health insurance options and comparing their coverage and affordability. Prepare your home for your new arrival with your child’s specific needs in mind. And enroll your friends and relatives to help once in a while so you can claim some time for yourself as well!       

Your kids are your number one priority, but don’t forget yourself in the process! At mommiemix.com, we help moms to have confidence in themselves and stay true to who they are after having children.

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