"When your community calls your child a bad omen. When relatives want to perform cleansing rituals. When being a special needs parent in Africa means fighting battles you never asked for."
Why I Wrote This Guide
My Story
People looked at my son and saw something to be cleansed — not a child to be loved. In many African communities, a child with a disability is viewed as a curse, a punishment, a bad omen.
Family members distance themselves. Partners walk away.
Employers won't accommodate the endless hospital visits. I worried constantly: would my extended family accept him?
Could a nanny give him the care he needed? Would my husband stay?
This guide is about navigating cultural stigma, protecting your child's dignity, and finding strength when the whole world seems determined to misunderstand your family.
This guide was written for you.