This guest blog post was written by Ashley Taylor from disabledparents.org. She is mother of two wonderful, amazing, energetic children and husband to Tom, who she met while doing physical therapy. Despite both living with disabilities, they knew they wanted children, but would have to adapt their lives to bring this dream to reality.
We hope this article can help any of our couples who live with disabilities prepare and plan for parenthood. We were certainly inspired by Ashley's story ourselves!
We hope this article can help any of our couples who live with disabilities prepare and plan for parenthood. We were certainly inspired by Ashley's story ourselves!
Parenthood is one of the most rewarding things a person can do with their life. Having a disability. Watching children grow into smart, compassionate, and capable young adults is a wonderful thing. As a parent, you get to teach them the lessons you’ve learned, celebrate their successes, and learn about them as they become individuals. Plus, all the affection and fun they bring isn’t bad either.
Being a parent when you have a disability doesn’t diminish these rewards. In fact, the only real differences between parenting with and without a disability are some of the preparations you should make in order to simplify life. Here are just a few ways a future parent with a disability can prepare so they can enjoy the good things about having kids and worry less about the obstacles.
Image via Pixabay
Money & Finances
Not being financially prepared adds significant challenges to raising a family. Child-related expenses cost on average $12,000 annually just for the first year of a baby’s life. As they grow and become involved in extracurricular activities, those expenses increase drastically.
A three-year study conducted by the Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research (NIDRR) found that families with a parent with a disability are more likely to live below the poverty line in the United States. Living with a disability can make it difficult to work while medical expenses, home renovations, and other costs related to a disability have a huge impact on a family’s overall finances.
If you are worried about being financially prepared to raise a family, consider the following:
- If you plan on taking maternity or paternity leave, make sure all living costs (rent, bills, food budget) are covered before you begin.
- Cut out large, unnecessary expenses.
- When you have a disability, adequate health insurance is not enough. Spending more on a better plan ensures your conditions will be covered and future out-of-pocket costs will be lower.
- Start budgeting today. It’s more work, but it becomes easier with practice and stops you from overspending.
- Create an emergency fund that you can access at any time.
- See if you qualify for government disability financial assistance.
Renovations for a Safer Home
Nesting is the process of preparing one’s home for the arrival of a baby or child. As a parent with a disability, your nesting period may be a little more intensive than others. Not only should you go through with basic childproofing measures, but you may want to invest in some renovations or modifications that will make your house an accessible space.
Here are some tips to keep in mind along the way:
- Create step-free entrances by replacing steps with ramps that make navigating elevation changes in the house a breeze.
- Make doorways wider with expandable hinges.
- Skid-resistant flooring prevents dangerous slip-and-fall injuries
- Install safety rails in the bathroom to make it easier to get up and down during bathtime.
- Revamp your storage to make necessities easier to access.
- Anchor furniture throughout the house.
- Create a stable outdoor play area with a do-it-yourself patio.
- Attach sling belts to counters for added stability when you are standing at them.
- Replace shower heads with handheld sprayers.
- Use risers to adjust your child’s crib or bed to the perfect height.
A final word
Parenthood is incredibly rewarding, but it is a lot of work. When you have a disability, the amount of work intensifies. It’s important to be financially prepared for the costs of parenting. Start budgeting, cut out unnecessary expenses, and consider looking into financial assistance if you need it. Preparing your home as a parent with a disability requires more than your average nesting and childproofing tactics. Renovations help make your home safer and more accessible as you navigate your new life as a parent.
