Dear Parents with "Normal Children"

I sat on a movie set this morning, filling out paper work for my minor children to play extras.  I was sitting at a table beside my children, while our full time medical attendant kept them entertained with crayons!  My back was to the table of 6 kids while I completed the forms, and I suddenly heard something that made me very sad.  One of the little girls, asked "What is on his head?"  When I turned enough, I could tell she was pointing at my son.  Brady is 3, and wears a cochlear implant on his left ear, and a hearing aid on his right.  The question isn't what bothered me, and neither was the pointing.  It is what happened next that really made me think.
Our attendant, Cassidy, responded with "It helps him hear."
The little girl replied, "he can't hear?"
Cassidy said, "not without these special ears."
Then the little girl's mother chimed in, "Shhhhh, that's enough."

PROBLEM
When a child asks these questions, they are innocent.  The child is curious, likely hasn't seen something like it before, and genuinely wants to know it's purpose.  Adults forget sometimes that children ask that obnoxious "WHY" question a lot, because they actually don't know the answer.

So to the parents of the many beautifully curious, "NORMAL", children... I want to ask you a favor.  I can't speak for all special needs parents, but I can speak for our family.  There is NOTHING wrong with my children!  They are amazing, and completely perfect.  We are not ashamed of ANY thing about them!  Brady has visible disabilities, and Abbie has some that you can't obviously see.  We aren't ashamed of them.  There is nothing to be ashamed of!  We are happy to answer questions, and even encourage them!  When a child asks me a question about Brady or about Abbie... I perk up!  It gives me a chance to educate someone young and moldable!  I can teach them about this, and they will learn that things like a cochlear implants, wheelchairs, walkers, braces, and so much more can actually provide Brady ABILITIES, instead of leaving him enabled by his disabilities.  I can teach them that Abbie's medication helps her stay safe.  I can teach them that sign language helps us understand Brady.

I see NOTHING shameful in these opportunities, until a parent jumps in and makes it uncomfortable.
When you hush your child, tell them not to ask questions, or even worse... walk them away from us, it makes us feel like we are lepers.  Some people avoid eye contact, some avoid conversation, others literally run away from us.  It is hurtful.  You can't catch a brain abnormality, epilepsy, or a hearing loss.  There is nothing contagious about my children's handicaps.
So, please... let you children ask questions.  Let them learn that "NORMAL" is a terrible word, and a concept that should be all inclusive.  Explain to them that sometimes people need things to help them hear, see, walk, eat, and live.  Explain to them that those people are perfect, just like they are.
Don't pretend like we don't exist.  Don't teach your children to see through us, avoid us, and treat us like we don't matter.

We are blessed that Brady has glasses, they help him see!  We are blessed that Brady has a cochlear implant & hearing aid, they help him hear!  We are blessed to know some sign language, it helps him communicate!  We are blessed to have medications, they keep my kids from having seizures.
I am so beyond blessed that I am able to raise Abbie in a home with a sibling who has an obvious disability.  She will never think less of anyone who has a disability.  It is NORMAL!!