What is the first thing that comes to mind when I say expats living with disabilities?
If I am honest with myself, I held this unconscious assumption that living abroad as a family with special needs must be harder than staying at home.
This episode of Expat Happy Hour is an invitation to break the myths and further the conversation about the realities of expat life when a loved one is living with a disability or has special needs.
From my standpoint, I feel like the realities experienced by expats living with disabilities are largely invisible. In our literature. In our blogs. In our podcasts.
And I want to change that.
That is why I have asked three voices to join me this week’s special episode: Challenges and Benefits of Expat Families Living with Disabilities.
You will hear first from Samantha Florent, an adult TCK who is raising children with special needs. As she shares her story, you will discover:
- What can go wrong if your children are not ideally supported, and
- How you can help your children get what they need.
Stephanie Sexton, MA in Special Ed and mother of 4 children (all of whom have needed some level of service during their 6 years abroad) shares her view of the challenges and current limitations of individualized learning plans.
Finally, Kathi Silva, a diplomatic spouse with autistic spectrum twins and a neurotypical daughter, shares the benefits of living abroad with special needs.
Join the conversation by listening now to Challenges and Benefits of Expat Families Living with Disabilities.
Here’s to fresh perspectives.
p.s. This is an important conversation. If you would like to share your experience, please comment on the blog, on the social media posts, or email me directly with your thoughts.
