• She is often trapped and frustrated by her inability to communicate and manage her body. I want her to be free to fully be herself and feel her disability limits that and makes her future scary for her.
• Because her autism affects her ability to be happy. her ability to make friends, and to have self-esteem.
• My son has vision loss, hearing loss, adrenal insufficiency, seizures, severe cognitive and physical delays, is feeding tube dependent, and nonverbal. His genetic disease has no cure. He is likely to remain an infant forever (his development is at 9 to 18 months) although he will be 5 this summer.
• To take away her sufferings.
• Some of the treatment is very painful. It would be nice if he did not have to suffer through it.
• He has to work so freaking hard to still not keep up physically. A hug from a friend today knocked him over and ended up making him cough for 30 minutes from the accidental choke hold. Ugh! 
• I know how hard it is for her to function. For her I would do anything to help her just cope with the world around her and to be able to live and function.
• She has severe sensory issues among other things and the world is an overwhelming place for her. Absolutely, I would change this if I could.
• A typical child is what my family originally wanted.
• What a difficult question to answer. My daughter was born 15 weeks early due to complications that were undiagnosed. She experienced a lack of oxygen which led to lifelong disabilities. She is the strongest, most determined, most persistent person that I know. Every single day of her life has been a challenge; a challenge to which she constantly rises and with painful determination little by little and step by step overcomes. Every single action, every little task, every single milestone has been an ordeal for her. She…never…quits! No matter the pain, no matter the suffering, no matter the hardship, she just keeps going, working, striving for better. I am so abundantly proud of her. She is a blessing not only to me, but to all who know her. Would I change things for her if I could? Without a moment’s hesitation!
• I wouldn’t change the autism. I would change the learning disabilities. That would make things a little more simple. I can handle the autism.
• My son’s Asperger’s and learning disabilities prevent him from making friends and isolate him. I would take them away, so he can have friends, a career, and a full life.
• I wish I would have been more persistent about staying with my child while procedures were done to her and while she was in the PICU.
• I’d want to spare her the emotional, physical pain brought on by her special needs.
• I believe in a God who works all events to His glory. That includes my daughter’s being born with genetic defects. Additionally, my daughter’s personality has been influenced by her experiences. Without them, she would not be the same person. I would not change my daughter in the slightest.

Now that you’ve read these survey responses, you have another chance to have your say.

Would you change things for your child with special needs if you could?

Leave your answer to that question in the box below. Or share your thoughts about what you read. I’d love to hear what you have to say!

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