Emphasize Acceptance for All

According to the National Organization on Disability, 54 million Americans have a disability. That’s one in every five people. And a significant number of them are children. Many churches now have special-needs ministries, and more kids with disabilities are being mainstreamed into school classrooms. That means your children likely spend time with kids they may consider “different.” Use these tips to emphasize everyone’s worth:

Build relationships: Show your children that it’s okay to talk to people with disabilities and to treat them as you would treat anyone else. Introduce yourself to parents of special-needs children and discover what types of assistance they could use.

Clarify misconceptions: Children notice differences, so address their already-established stereotypes and oversimplified generalizations about groups of people. Watch and correct judgmental statements and actions. Be a role model by valuing diversity, celebrating individuality, and respecting differences.