“After a week away in the sun with our beautiful girl, it hit me hard: so many people still don’t know how to interact with kids with disabilities and their families. So let me say this loud and clear:
1️⃣ They’re just kids. They want to play. They might think you’re funny. They just want a chance to interact — it’s really that simple.
2️⃣ We notice when you pull your kids away. “Time for a snack,” “We’re done swimming”— we see it. You’re nervous your child might be rude, so you avoid it altogether. My family can clear a pool in 5 minutes.
3️⃣ If your child stares, lead with kindness. Say hello. Model it. Lucy might respond, she might not — but you’ve shown your kid the right way. Out of hundreds of kids at the resort, maybe five said hello to her. Those five? They made my week.
4️⃣ If your child is rude, intervene. Laughing, pointing, ugly faces — stop it gently and explain. You’d do it if it were aimed at a neurotypical kid. This is how the world changes.
5️⃣ We see and hear everything. My poker face is strong, but my heart breaks every time Lucy is ignored or mocked.
6️⃣ Don’t be afraid to talk to us. One mom came up and said she grew up with a young man with CP. She asked about Lucy. After two days of being invisible, that conversation felt like a lifeline.
7️⃣ We’re exhausted. We don’t get the luxury of sitting back with a drink at the pool. Lucy had a seizure in the water this week — so yes, we watch like hawks, 24/7. For 12 years. The toll is real.
8️⃣ Offer help. Even just asking means the world. I once struggled to lift her out of the pool while 15 people just sat and stared. Do you know what it would’ve meant for someone to simply say, “Need a hand?” Or even grab me a coffee?
Parents — I know it’s uncomfortable sometimes. I know you’re trying. But please, imagine if it were your child being avoided and laughed at over and over again. Wouldn’t you want better for them?
It starts with us. With teaching kids kindness, respect, and inclusion. With not looking away. With saying hello.
This is how we make the world better for Lucy — and every other child like her.”
*** Jen Kyriacou ***