Many times we don’t realize that children with special needs are capable of anything and everything they put their minds to.
Sometimes as a society we tend to treat them differently, or treat them carefully. When in reality we should be supporting them and pushing them to succeed. Just because they are a little different, and have to do things a little differently then us, does not mean they can’t do and accomplish the same things in their own way and their own light.
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month; Behavior Links, a local non-profit is shining the light on just what these children, and adults, are capable of doing. The “I AM” PSA is the first step of the Down Syndrome Movement to change perceptions and spread awareness.
Special needs children strike a personal cord with me. Not many people know this about my family, but my mom lost a baby before I was born due to Spina Bifida. Since I was old enough to understand, I’ve had a special place for any child with special needs because I think about what my brother would’ve faced had he survived and lived longer than just one week. I wouldn’t have wanted society treating him differently or shunning him to the side. We shouldn’t do that to any child or person with a special need. Instead, we should stand behind them and help them figure out how they can do things in their own unique way. We should support them and encourage them
Behavior Links is a charitable, non-profit organization focused on helping individuals with special needs realize their potential by actively involving their family and the community through education and training. Our goal is to empower families of children with special needs and educate the community at large both domestically and internationally. Liliana Dietsch-Vazquez is an Occupational Therapist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who founded Behavior Links on the premise of providing families with much needed family education and training and intensive therapeutic programs for children with disabilities for free, or at most, at a minimal cost. For more information on Behavior Links please visit: www.behaviorlinks.org
and www.facebook.com/behaviorlinks.
