Fostering disabled children
Whether they have a physical or mental disability, disabled children who enter foster care in Cheshire require support from loving families and environments, sometimes even more than their able-bodied counterparts.
You might be considering fostering children who have disabilities, whether on a weekend, short-term or long-term basis. Beacon Fostering strives to help current and potential foster parents with learning about fostering this group, so continue reading to find out what you need to know about fostering disabled children.
Specialist training
Although experience of working in social care and with disabled children is a bonus, this is not a necessity, as you will receive specialist training when you become a foster parent. It gives carers the know-how needed to successfully look after children with different kinds of disabilities, and after, the agency matches the child with the family who will be best suited to look after them.
Adapting your home
Ensuring that your foster child’s needs are met means that your home may have to be adapted to accommodate the child. For instance, a child who uses a wheelchair will require ramps for ease of navigation, and bathroom equipment, such as a shower seat or support railings, that will provide them with independence and mobility.
Research
It helps to read about the disability that your foster child has, namely what life is like for people with their condition, what additional needs and adjustments they require and how to support them as their carer. This will prepare you for when any challenges arise, and can help to challenge preconceived ideas you might have over what their condition entails and what your child is capable of.