This photo was taken at one of the middle school dances last year when Jay was in 8th grade. His girlfriend was a sweetheart in another class who has CP and uses an electric wheelchair. Shortly before the final dance of the year Jay got a "Dear Jay" letter from her. She was turning down his date plans for the dance and had dictated a letter stating that she was sorry, and she really liked him a lot but she was going to go to the dance with a guy who was more handicapped than Jay. He was hurt for a little while, but not for long.
Just like normal teens, right? And that's the whole thing in raising special needs kids. They are more normal than not. They may have low IQs and not be able to walk or read or write their names, or go to the bathroom themselves, but they have normal emotions.
And, more than that, they can DO just about anything others can do. They go to parties, participate in sports, ride horses and compete, do chores, play computer games, listen to their ipods and generally just run around with their brothers and sisters and friends.
People who have not adopted mentally and physically limited kids don't realize how very normal they really are. Or what a JOY they can be. I'll take 5 kids with Down Syndrome or Spina Bifida before I'd take one more RAD kid. More power to you if you an do RAD. BTDT.
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