CHILD PROTECTION & THE HANDICAPPED PARENT:
( in response to the situation of a friend)
Prejudices against disabled and handicapped people are some of the last upheld societal catastrophes.
There has been some Headway in terms of the acceptance of handicapped and disabled people as productive members of society.
There is still unfortunately an unspoken, subjective, and legal stereotype held against disabled people when it comes to rearing children.
The Department of Human Services and or Child Welfare System on both the Federal and State levels have implemented policies unchecked by any government or public agency for years, when it concerns disabled people and the raising of their children.
The child is automatically presumed to be in danger, and or the parents are automatically assumed to need assistance in raising them.
In some states it is even a law that children of handicapped parents must be monitored by the Child Welfare system.
If any parent chooses not to participate they may have their children removed from them.
Of course the other problem is that if a parent is already disabled or handicapped and receiving services from the state or the federal government at the time they have a child: both the parent and the child are automatically sent to the Child Welfare Services to be investigated and assessed for need.
And let's face it, they are automatically going to find something wrong and the need for services.
Someone has even made the argument that because the parent is in need of some type of services the child must automatically be in need.
One of the major problems is the fact there is no universal specific set of guidelines in assessing or determining the needs of Any Given child or parent when it comes to disability.
Removal of the child or children from the home when a parent gives birth and or becomes disabled is almost an automatic solution before institution of any type of real services to the family.
I have actually heard it said that it is much easier to remove the child, to then assess the situation in the home, and then re-insert the child after Services has been rendered.
Of course nobody seems to think that this is a problem except for the fact the child and or children have now been displaced from their family.
This creates a separation Bond that will affect the child, by creating emotional and mental health problems for the future, including Detachment disorders.
The parents will most likely encounter anxiety and depression disorders on top of whatever health issues they may already have.
The other issue is that it is a practice most people are not aware of. For those who have disabled family members or friends and are aware of it, they are people who believe that it is socially acceptable.
Let's face it we both know there are friends and family members who always believe that you need help as a disabled person.
Because it comes from the kindness of their hearts and with good intentions, we as disabled people just meet their attitudes and demeaning assistance usually with silence and a smile.
That means at some point we have to also take partial responsibility for the predicament we find ourselves in, when it comes to the separation between us and our children, at the hands of a short-sighted and hypocritical Society.
This also means that we have the power to affect change for ourselves.
Read up on all your laws. You might especially want to look up the Disability Law Center, as well as the Federal Child Protection Act.
Remember if you want something different you have to do different and change always starts with you.
#love #I'm just sayin #parentsunite
izzy806
tangentwithtanner
turnnoffyourmind
yousharknotpass