“Seeing your child included is all you want as a parent”
Five-year-old Jacob was born with Down’s Syndrome. His mum, Tracy, tells us about how inclusive experiences have positively impacted Jacob’s social life.
“Whenever Jacob goes on playdates, I’m always there to support him. He can’t be left alone, especially in someone else’s house since he has no sense of danger. I wouldn’t want to put someone else in a position to look after him either as Jacob can be quite a handful with the amount of energy that he has.
“Everyone is so lovely towards Jacob. The other parents are supportive, and Jacob receives a wonderful reception every time he goes to school. The other children always shout his name and come and give him hugs. You can just tell that they’re excited to see him and that they enjoy each other’s company.
“Jacob took part in a school play of the caterpillar turning into the butterfly. The school made him the butterfly. All the other children had one liners to do but Jacob walked around on the stage as the main character, the butterfly with big wings. They totally included him. It’s things like that which mean a lot. They could have just put him to the side and not done anything.
“Jacob is pre-verbal, so he says some words but not many. But that doesn’t stop him from communicating in his own way. Wherever we go, Jacob is always making friends and starting conversations. It helps that Jacob is a sociable character.”
According to a recent Family Fund survey, 63% of families raising a disabled child said that asking about needs and preferences in advance alleviates concerns ahead of a social occasion.
“I would encourage other children and parents to just ask questions if you’re unsure and to still include all children in your play time. Don’t be scared and shy away. I would hate to be in a place where people would walk away or usher their child away because they didn’t want them to be near Jacob. Seeing your child being included is all you want as a parent.”
