Celebrities and Special Needs Children: Raising Awareness or Child Exploitation?

Having a special needs child is something that no one is immune to. It happens every day, all around the globe. Rich people, poor people and everyone in between. Even celebrities.

Some would call it a Hollywood “trend.” Celebrities shouting from the rooftops about how they are raising a special needs child. Yet, can this really be viewed as a trend? Or is it simply a matter of raising awareness?

Celebrities like Jenny McCarthy have gotten plenty of guff for what some people claim is nothing short of exploitation when it comes to sounding off about her autistic son. Some wonder if she used to him resurrect her stalling career or that her former beau, Jim Carrey.

Though it may be tempting to point fingers and accuse a celebrity of the “any press is good press” mantra, nobody can deny the fact that McCarthy has tirelessly donated her time and resources to raise autism awareness via several charities and events, including the Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey Autism Organization – Generation Rescue.

In another example, celebrity/politician/author, ex-Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, was accused of using her son Trig, who suffers from Down syndrome, as a campaign ploy and a push for her stance on Right to Life issues. While Ms. Palin vehemently denies doing anything other than sharing her “colorful” family with the nation, the rest of the country couldn’t help but take notice of Down syndrome issues, which spawned a resurgence in educating later-in-life mothers about the risks involved in having babies after age 35.

While having a special needs child is no easy road to travel and there is no safe online pharmacy to go to and make it all “go away” there is much to be said for those who are brave enough to share their “normal-to-them” children with the rest of society. Celebrities or otherwise. Because sharing these special, wonderful gifts of God raises awareness on several levels, which often translates into raising money and resources for the cause. And that, any way you slice it, can only be a good thing!

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Liberty Kontranowski is a freelance writer with hundreds of articles published online and in print covering topics like health, sex, celebrities, beauty and more. She is part of the Viamedic writing team, providing top-quality articles to safe and secure online pharmacies like Viamedic.com.

Connect With Other Autism Parents

Have you been over to the AutismLearningFelt Forum? I've made a couple of changes. I moved the Giveaways Around The Blogosphere into the forum. This is so that I don't have to keep up with the ones that have expired and delete them.

I am trying to pull in new members, and to get the current ones more active. Getting a new forum off the ground takes time, I know. I really want it to be a place where we can discuss anything and everything. Connecting with other parents of autistic children can be a big help. You can discuss things that they understand, because they have been there or are still going through that.

Any autism parent will tell you that, unless the other person is raising an autistic child, they can not truly understand what you are going through. Because of that, advice and support is best when they come from someone in a similar position as you.

If you are in need of support or just feel like chatting, come on over to the forum. I'd love to get to know all of my readers better. Feel free to ask me any questions, too.

Inspiring Story Of A Single Mom Raising An Autistic Son

I would like to introduce you to Karen, a single mom, raising an autistic son. Here is my interview with her.

1. What were your concerns about your son that led you to get him evaluated for autism?
Autism wasn’t on my mind. I was concerned with his lack of communicating verbally.

2. How did the diagnosis affect you and your family?
I am a single mom. I was divorced before I found out. First, I was devastated, then angry. After that, I was ready to fight to help him overcome his obstacles.

3. Did you receive Early Intervention Services? If so, how did they help or not help your son?
Basically, no. He just got speech therapy, and I had to fight like you wouldn’t believe to receive it.

4. Now that your son is 14, how has he progressed?
He is very independent, outgoing and willing to try new things. I had to develop my own therapy and intervention for him to get this far. It seems like I did everything for him by myself. I have never felt so alone.

5. What concerns do you have now that he is closer to being an adult?
Will he be able to take care of himself if something happens to me? Will he find the right job, will he be accepted?

6. What are a couple of the hardest things you have had to deal with?
Finding the right education for him (not totally successful) and intervention services.

7. What are a couple of great moments with your child?
Seeing him smile and the confidence he has. Learning the electric guitar, karate, soccer, baseball and the confidence to achieve.

8. How do you handle the financial difficulties associated with raising an autistic child? It’s very hard. I do the best I can.

9. He was diagnosed at age two and didn't receive early intervention(except sp). Is this because of the long waiting lists to receive services? Did he age out of early intervention services before being able to receive them?
I was not told about any programs except the pre k with the school system. I pulled him out of it was useless..

10. What kind of obstacles have you had to face with the public school system?
Getting him in the right programs and getting the services he needed. He is in private school now and getting services he was denied in the public school system.

11. Do you have or have you tried, any special diets or supplements with your son?
Yes, supplements.

12. Do you have a support group or any type of support system to help you?
No I do not. It’s just Jesus and me.