This post is inspired by a poem entitled "Welcome to Holland" by Emily Kingsley.
 
It is about becoming a special needs parent.
 
The poem “Welcome to Holland” likens becoming a special needs parent to planning a trip to a particular destination, say, Paris, and realizing that you have landed somewhere else.
 
When you plan a trip to Paris, you buy guidebooks about Paris, you prepare your itinerary and even learn a few phrases in the French language.

Let’s look at the picture of this child.
​
What comes to mind?  Cute child. ​

.

​Now let’s look at this picture.

What comes to mind? ​

They are both children. 

​One has a typical body and the other has an atypical body or a body that has a disability. 
 
It is easy to be enamored by a cute child and the appearance of perfection. 
 
When we meet a person with disability, we may experience different emotions.

We may feel indifferent, repelled or sometimes even scared.
 
Individuals with disabilities count among the most excluded members of society with very limited participation in activities within the community.
 
Individuals with special needs are no different from you and me. They also want to feel connected, accepted and appreciated.