Most parents agree that physical handicaps are the easiest to deal with because they're visible. When you go to the grocery store with a child who rides in a specially equipped wheelchair, and whose problem is obvious, you may get stares, but most reactions will be sympathetic.

Emotional and behavioral disabilities are more difficult for people to understand. They may see your child and wrongly assume you are a bad parent or that you allow your child to behave in an inappropriate way. You must remember that you understand your child's abilities and challenges and others cannot. Hold your head high and ignore the opinions of those who do not understand.

People are curious, so the middle-aged lady behind you in line at the grocery store may ask what happened to wither your child's legs or take his eyesight. If you are in a check-out line or waiting for a seat at a restaurant, you have no obligation to satisfy anybody's curiosity. You can simply smile and say, “Why do you ask?” Most people won't push the issue.

If a child asks, you probably should give some sort of response that won't invade the privacy of your own child but will educate the child about people with differences. You might say, “He can't talk, but he can see your smile” or “His eyes were hurt in an accident, so he can't see that pretty shirt you're wearing.” If your child is verbal and old enough to speak for himself, rehearse with him what he might say to another child who asks questions.