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Hey i'm Maddie and i'm 16 and i have a 10 month old daughter Shiloh Taylor who is my world :) I might seem young but I have gained alot of knowledge throughout my years and I love to help so ask away!

advice

This is kind of awful, but I'm a little scared of people with physical or mental problems... like I hate going to the old folks's home because many of the occupants are either physically messed up or not all there. I don't feel comfortable talking to them, or anyone with an obvious physical ailment, like if they are in a wheelchair or have cerebral palsy. I also have a hard time around mentally handicapped people- I just don't know what to do with myself! I don't feel comfortable, I try to be polite and smile, but I know everyone can tell that I'm not used to it/ not comfortable. What do I do???? Please help... I want to be more at ease around people that have these ailments. I realize that they are the same as me and deserve every bit of respect that I can give, but still... Any advice would be appreciated!

okay this a problem for many, and one of them used to be. before, i was exactly like you, not sure what to say or how to act. this problem is not going to just go away, you need time. i no you've probably heard this many times, but you really need to just act like there a normal person, with NOTHING wrong. obviously you can see that something is wrong with them, but you just need to try to relax. when you first start talking to them you can usually tell what mental state they are at, like if there at a 5th grade level or 1st grade or if there mind is completely normal, and you should just treat them by what you can tell by that. dont ask someone who is clearly at a lower level about the latest political debate, because they wont know, you can just talk to them about there family for instance, or school. and for people with just a handicap, you need to try to see past that and try your hardest not to stare at the thing that is different, maybe there wheelchair, etc. i hope i helped and just remember that they are people with emotions just like you!
-maddie :)

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(Rating: 5) Thanks for the advice!
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