August is Special Needs Parents Appreciation Month. My friend and fellow dedicated mother, Sandra Peoples, founded this 31 day observance in 2015. And while her intentions were noble, there are sadly some in the adult disability community who roll their eyes at this annual observance. They regard such a celebration as public martyrdom and contend that the parents aren’t the ones who are truly living with the difficulties of disability.
I wouldn’t ordinarily even acknowledge mockers. However, my passion dictates that I respectfully push back against such attitudes. Admittedly, most of us parents will never know what it is like to live with the chronic illnesses, rare diseases, and disabilities that our children experience. Nevertheless, we face a unique set of challenges all our own.
