Social interactions and relationships/friendships play an important role in everyone's life. When one has no friends, life spans are significantly reduced. Friendship is not a luxury, it is essential to life. Despite this fact, the social networks of friends and intimate relationships for children with disabilities are often smaller than are the social networks of children without disabilities. Probably because we ourselves are not very comfortable with children/people who are different and we try to avoid them.
The thought of a special needs child probably brings vivid pictures to our minds, whether it is of the autistic boy next door, the girl with Down Syndrome or the kid in a wheelchair. The unease we have stays with us even after the interaction is over. Now, the important question that arises is: Why the discomfort? Do we feel sad for the child? Or is it the lack of our ability to…
