REFRAMING DISABILITY

I will often tell children that they had a superpower--super hearing, super sensitivity to other's emotions, and other aspects of their experience that can be overwhelming.  Sometimes, I will engage with a child with Autism about how they have super hearing, taste, smell, touch, etc. and that we can learn to control their powers so that they are better able to engage in their world in a way that they would like.  Other times, I have similar discussions with children who are hypervigilant after a trauma, or responding quickly to dysregulation in their family system or school.

Here is a clip from the Superman film Man of Steel, which shows Clark's powers being incredibly disruptive to him as a young child.  I show this clip during trainings because I think it is important that helping adults and professionals remember that child are trying to do their best to engage with us in the way we expect, but something may be getting in the way.  And, what we see as a disability may be something that, if controlled, could be a superpower?