We are the parents you don’t notice. The ones who carry an invisible weight on their shoulders every single day.
Not because we want pity. Not because we’re looking for praise. But because we love our children, we must fight for everything they need in the world.
We are the parents of children with disabilities.
And we are tired, but we are still fighting.
This Is Why We Beg for Services
We fight for speech therapy not so our child can win a debate, but so they can tell us when they're in pain or say "I love you" for the very first time.
We fight for occupational therapy, not because it’s cute to see them finger paint, but because brushing their teeth, holding a spoon, tolerating a tag on a shirt… those are milestones, not moments.
We fight for physical therapy—not for medals or marathons—but so our child can walk down the hall without falling.
So, they can play on the playground, climb stairs, or sit upright long enough to learn.
These therapies aren’t extras. They aren’t luxuries.
They are the tools our children need to live.
To connect.To belong.
And yet, we are constantly made to feel like we are asking for too much.
You Don’t See the Rest of Our Day
You don’t see the hours we spend making picture schedules, calming meltdowns, prepping sensory-friendly meals, attending appointments, begging insurance companies to reconsider a denial, emailing IEP teams, or researching specialists late at night while the rest of the world sleeps.
You don’t see the way we watch other families live in a world that fits their child, while we try to bend ours to accommodate ours.
You don’t see the grief we carry when milestones don’t come, when friends fade away, when playgrounds become places of isolation instead of joy.
And still, we show up. We love. We fight. We keep going.
We Are Overlooked, Undermined, and Dismissed
We are told we’re “Too emotional.”
That we’re “Overreacting.”
That our children will “Grow out of it.”
That we should “Stop being so negative” and “Just be grateful.
”But the truth is: We are grateful. And we’re tired of having to prove our child’s worth repeatedly to people who don’t live this life.
We’re tired of being left off the invitation list. Tired of being judged at the grocery store.Tired of the whispers, the stares, the silence from friends who used to call. Most of all, we’re tired of a system that denies our children what they need to thrive… and then blames us when they struggle.
Why Our Children Need These Services:
Because communication is survival.
Because regulation is freedom.Because movement is independence.
Because inclusion should not be conditional. Speech, OT, PT, and behavioral therapy aren’t just supports. They help our children navigate every part of their lives:
• At school, they help them learn and participate.
• At home, they reduce chaos and bring peace.
• In their bodies, they provide comfort and control.
• In their minds, they foster confidence, expression, and hope.
When services are cut, progress halts. When support is denied, children suffer. And when parents are silent, injustice wins.
We Shouldn’t Beg to Be Seen
Being a parent is my first job, not a side task. I don’t fight for services because I’m looking for favors. I fight because my child’s future depends on it. Because without them, we lose ground. We lose hope. And I will not let my child disappear into a system that was never built for them in the first place.
To every parent and guardian out there:
I see you.
I know the tears you cry in your car after a meeting that didn’t go your way.
I know the relief of a “yes” after months of “no.”I know what it feels like to be your child’s everything because no one else is showing up.
This Is the Real Story
This is the part people don’t talk about at dinner parties.
This is the story behind the brave smiles, trying to hide the tears. This is what it means to raise a child with disabilities in a world where many people still do not see them.
So, if you’ve ever been told your child doesn’t need services anymore, FIGHT.
If you’ve ever been denied services, FIGHT.
Because your child is WORTH every single moment of this battle.
Your time is WORTH every single moment of the FIGHT.
Individuals with disabilities were NOT born to be silenced, sidelined, or second-class.
And neither were you!