In the United States, laws exist to protect the handicapped, or those with disabilities, from discrimination and to ensure they have access to facilities, transportation, education, technology and medical care. The laws make a tremendous difference in the lives of the disabled, but there is still a lot you can do to help, especially with children. Children are not too concerned with rights; they just want to fit in with their peers and enjoy life like everyone else.
Step 1
Learn about disabilities and the limitations they cause for children. While it might not be appropriate to ask a child or his parent about his specific disability, it is equally inappropriate to make assumptions. If you have a little information, perform some basic research to help you understand what life is like for handicapped children and their families.
Step 2
Control your feelings. It is normal to feel sad for children with disabilities, but it might embarrass the child if you display pity or engage in fawning attention. It is okay to let children know that you understand their challenges. Let them know that you respect and admire their abilities.
Step 3
Talk to the child about his interests. Get to know more about him than his disability. Ask what kind of books he reads, what he likes on television and his favorite sports or foods. This information will help you treat him like a normal kid whenever possible.
Step 4
Ask children and their families how you can help. Talk to parents about the needs of their child, her personality and coping skills. Ask the child how you can help. She might surprise you by requesting something as simple as leaving the classroom door open so she can get in without help each morning.
Step 5
Perform actions that enable and encourage the child's independence. Remove barriers to his independence. Provide technology to help with tasks, organize rooms and materials to help the child maneuver as much as possible by himself, remove obstructions to wheelchair movement and encourage a disabled child to do things for himself, even when he objects.
Step 6
Help handicapped children make friends and participate in social activities. Provide transportation or accompany the child to after-school activities, community events and social activities such as going to the movies with friends or attending a birthday party.
Step 7
Offer to take child for a day, overnight or a weekend to give the parents a break. This will make a child's life better by relieving parental stress. Sometimes, even children need a break from their caretakers and to spend time in a different environment.
Step 8
Teach your children to respect all people. Encourage them to see people first, before disabilities. Encourage them to refuse to join in when peers make fun of someone with disabilities. Ask them to remember to invite disabled children to social events or to join in at lunch. Remind them that children with disabilities are not really different from other children.
