Your instincts are telling you that something is just not right, you know it in your heart, your head and it niggles in the pit of your stomach.

Your child is not developing like other kids, but you are afraid to give a name to your fears and make things real that you love to be Imaginary.

No matter what anyone say's or how much you would like for the fears to just go away...Have your child checked out!

Early Intervention,especailly, for a special needs child, can make a huge difference to the quality of not only your child, but your life as well.

Find the truth.

Putting off the inevitable will be of no benefit to anyone, so follow the steps below to get a diagnosis:

• Journal - No one knows your child better than you. Keeps a note book of all your concerns ranging from actions that worry you, emotional outbursts or developmental delays.
• Find a paediatrician - Find a paediatrician that you are comfortable with, as he will most likely be the one referring you to the correct specialists, and guide on where you have to go next.
• Do research - Do research on the areas of your child's development that concern you, so that when you see the specialist you are well informed. You may have to wait some time for an appointment - In the meantime, Research!
• Consult with a specialist - He will be doing extensive testing and detailed examinations of your child. A diagnosis is not guaranteed, but even with a prognosis, you will get enough answers to give you a starting point.
• Keep looking - Never stop looking for information, with one child and one disability, you will be able to keep up with the current research, a lot better than a doctor who is treating many patients.

COPING WITH A DIAGNOSIS

Finally, knowing what's wrong with your child should not be the end of the world for you or your family...it is the first steps to getting help!

Getting a diagnosis is probably the hardest thing you have ever had to do. It means putting aside the dreams of one kind of life you may have had, and following a completely different path.

Denying and fearing your different child is not going to help you, your child or your family...getting the proper treatment is!

The most important thing to remember is that your child, is first and foremost, still your child, a little individual human with strengths and abilities!

Keep the following in mind, as you set out on your journey:

• Your child is still the child you knew before the diagnosis.
• Labels are not the enemy - love your child’s abilities.
• You do not have to be alone, there are many of us who deal with disabilities on a daily basis and would love to share with other parents in our shoes.
• All children are different - they will develop at there own pace and follow there own path...you are there to pave the way!
• There is always hope - There are always medical break throughs, new therapies and different educational techniques. You may feel that there is no hope now, but keep researching, you will find the answers!

There are probably many questions running through your mind and you are not quite sure who to ask, have a look at our FAQ after a diagnosis to see what concerns other parents had.

ACCEPTING A DIAGNOSIS

We now finally know what is wrong, and may even have an idea of or a plan where to go from here. But it is easy to get stuck in a mindset that whatever we are doing today is in pursuit of a better future.

But, since we cannot ever know for certain that what we expect to happen in the future, actually will, there is something said for focusing on the present...it is, if nothing else, allot easier to predict!

Focusing on finding a school that our child is comfortable in, therapy that will improve your child’s quality of life now, finding strategies to cope with the stress and keep things calm, Spending lots of fun time together and appreciating your child where they are at...These are the things that are important right now!

All of these things can make a huge difference in your family’ short terms happiness, and pave the way for a more secure future...ALL ROUND!

Now Counts!

We all want our children to be successful, but this is very different for a child with special needs. Being at academic or fantastic sportsman are almost impossible goals for our children to succeed...but these are not the only goals that matter.

Here are a couple of other ways to think about what success means our children:

• Your child's opinion matter's - When you talk about success, make sure that you are doing it in a way that is meaningful to your child. Being successful at something you don't care about, means nothing. It is allot easier to get motivated about something you care about!
• Happiness is Success - Is being successful by your term, making your child happy? For me it has always been important for my children to be happy in their own skins, their happiness is our success! I fully believe that we happiness is a huge success and any parent who overlooks this, does so that their own peril. If a child appears to be doing so well, but is unhappy most of the time, then success in the eye of the beholder!
• Create situations for success - If your child is struggling, create situations in which he can excel. Spend lots of time doing things that he is good at. Teach him new skills in small, easy steps, and lavish praise when they are accomplished. This can go a long way in improving your child’s self esteem and opens a door naturally for more success.
• The goal is progress, not perfection - Just moving forward is fantastic...recognise that just doing better from one year to the next is a triumph in it's own right!
• You are not responsible for everything - We often forget that our child does not have to succeed at everything he tries. failure is ok, and we don't have to push them harder because of it. Give your child a chance to figure out what their strengths and weaknesses are, and as long as they experience some triumphs, failures really are not tragedies.

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