I am a firm believer that children should be exposed to those with special needs. Whether it's a child with Down Syndrome, ADD/ADHD or an adult who is quadriplegic, there are a wealth of advantages to children being exposed to individuals with special needs.

Children need to learn to accept others as they are and see past their disability. The great thing about children is they don't have a prejudice until they learn it by observing that prejudice displayed by their parents or other adults around them.

By being exposed to people with disabilities, there is a wonderful opportunity to dispel the fear of the unknown. Many years ago if a person was different from the rest of us, they were hidden from society by the family or sent to institutions. Not so long ago someone figured out those with disabilities we're able to function with guidance and sometimes the help of technology.

Children learn that we are all special in our own way. Just because a person is in a wheelchair doesn't mean they can't do something it just means they do it a different way. By observing a person confined to a wheelchair perform everyday tasks, a child learns they can surmount any barrier.

Given the opportunity to meet people with various disabilities opens the line of conversation and understanding of the differences in people. Why these individual are how they are or why they have to use a walker or wheelchair? Children learn about multiple medical conditions and treatments for these conditions. It also dispels the fear that just because you have contact with someone that has a disability doesn't mean you also will end up disabled.

Once when my daughter was very young, I took her to the airport to meet a friend returning from a trip. While waiting we saw a man with a neck injury which resulted in him wearing a halo brace. My daughter, quite loudly I might add, asked, "Mommy, why is that man wearing all that metal on his head?" Thankfully the man only turned to us and smiled but it gave me the opportunity that he had broken his neck and needed the halo to keep his neck straight.

The greatest advantage for children to being exposed to others with a disability is they learn to respect others. By opening doors for a person in a wheelchair, a child learns the art of helping others.

My daughter volunteered for Special Olympics during her final year in high school. Although she had not been around many children with disbilities, she was able to experience the joy they felt by doing their best and winning their medals. She and many of the children ended up in a water fight as it was a super hot day. They found a common bond by them just being children.

Anytime I ever heard my daughter say she couldn't overcome an obstacle, I would remind her of the man we saw riding a water ride at Six Flags who maneuvered himself in and out of the boat ride while having only 1 arm and no legs. That didn't stop him from enjoying the day at an amusement park.

Learn more about this author, Dee Cain.
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