Athletes Rock Adaptive Action Sports

I think this is awesome--people who aren't willing to let their disabilities hold them back. I wish some of the students I work with had that kind of attitude. Even if you don't succeed, if you've done your best, there's definitely no shame in that.

It's so easy just to give up when you have a disability--and some parents encourage this. If you never fail, you'll never be disappointed, they think. I know it's because they think that it will do more harm if their child fails at something, and I can't fault them for wanting to protect them. But it's a cop out, I think. No parent wants to see their child fall, and some think that failure is a reflection on the parent.

Eventually, however, that disabled child will be an adult and will have to learn to roll with the failures of life as well as the successes. As a parent, you want your child to be a successful adult, and it's your job to prepare them to be just that. Part of that preparation is letting them try things, like skateboarding, even if you think it won't end happily. Kids can surprise you with what they can do if they know their parents are supporting them. And if it doesn't work out, then that wonderful child will learn that they can do some things but not others, and they will move on. They will learn resilience, which is what every kid needs these days. Is that so bad?