Handling Insensitivity: Caregivers

Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, February 3 and March 23, 2008
Show 505

They may not necessarily mean to be unkind, but people around a child with disabilities may make insensitive comments or ask inappropriate questions sometimes. How do you deal with that?  Meet Johanna, whose 4-year-old son Jack has Down's Syndrome and Alopecia. Many people, especially children, ask questions out of curiosity. Sometimes she's happy to educate and enlighten others – other times, it's very trying. She worries that Jack can understand comments people make around him. Through it all, Jack has proved a blessing for her, and his special situation has taught her some things, too.  Leeza and Dr. Jamie discuss the importance and difficulty for caregivers handling and responding to these questions and comments. One of the hardest things to deal with?  Not taking them personally and dealing with them the right way.  Leeza relates her own family's experience with trying to deal with others when you're caregiving.