Hey Ruth, thanks for this. I’m going to reread your points and respond, but I’m wondering if you read my post before writing. It’s not specifically about including neurodivergent kids, although I do think that is part of having an inclusive mindset.
Please note even in the title it says young kids. I don’t advocate mashing people together in small crowded spaces just because they are all neurodivergent. That sounds like a nightmare to me with my sensory sensitivities.
I definitely have to be ready for the energy certain friends bring to our little Brooklyn apartment, and my son is way more tolerant than I am.
This piece is more about the implicit bias we carry and unconsciously pass on to our kids (ND & NT) and how young it happens. Skin color is recognized by babies, and it takes guidance to interrupt systemic racism, for example. I don’t believe parents of atypical kids can ignore that.
Yes, our kids are being discriminated against in other ways. The solution is a more inclusive world.
That doesn’t mean adults should hang out with anyone, but if they grow up knowing about bias, they will have fewer limits and more opportunities to see people for who they are.
I did invite the whole class to birthday parties when my son was younger, and it was a sensory nightmare that was both a blast and meltdown inducing. I couldn’t leave out half the class, it went against my values.
We chose big, open spaces that were sensory friendly, and provided a variety of activities. I welcomed siblings, and paid for car fare for one family.
My son loved being the center of attention on his birthday, and it meant he was invited to more birthday parties than he would have been otherwise. I got to know the other parents.
Of course we don’t do that anymore, but it was a few years invested in embodying my values in a tangible way.
Tolerance is a muscle I’m always working to grow. I know there are nuances, and I am here for the thoughtful dialogue.
Hey Ruth, thanks for this. I’m going to reread your points and respond, but I’m wondering if you read my post before writing. It’s not specifically about including neurodivergent kids, although I do think that is part of having an inclusive mindset.
Please note even in the title it says young kids. I don’t advocate mashing people together in small crowded spaces just because they are all neurodivergent. That sounds like a nightmare to me with my sensory sensitivities.
I definitely have to be ready for the energy certain friends bring to our little Brooklyn apartment, and my son is way more tolerant than I am.
This piece is more about the implicit bias we carry and unconsciously pass on to our kids (ND & NT) and how young it happens. Skin color is recognized by babies, and it takes guidance to interrupt systemic racism, for example. I don’t believe parents of atypical kids can ignore that.
Yes, our kids are being discriminated against in other ways. The solution is a more inclusive world.
That doesn’t mean adults should hang out with anyone, but if they grow up knowing about bias, they will have fewer limits and more opportunities to see people for who they are.
I did invite the whole class to birthday parties when my son was younger, and it was a sensory nightmare that was both a blast and meltdown inducing. I couldn’t leave out half the class, it went against my values.
We chose big, open spaces that were sensory friendly, and provided a variety of activities. I welcomed siblings, and paid for car fare for one family.
My son loved being the center of attention on his birthday, and it meant he was invited to more birthday parties than he would have been otherwise. I got to know the other parents.
Of course we don’t do that anymore, but it was a few years invested in embodying my values in a tangible way.
Tolerance is a muscle I’m always working to grow. I know there are nuances, and I am here for the thoughtful dialogue.