Lead the Conversation About Disability with Confidence - Part 2
We are excited to continue our blog series on how to LEAD the conversation about disability with confidence. As a refresher, our LEAD acronym stands for:
🌱 L = Learn Together
💛 E = Encourage Empathy
❓ A = Address Curiosity
💬 D = Define & Embrace
We know most parents aren’t sure how to start conversations about disability. {That’s ok . . . neither did we many years ago.} We want to change that!
This series is designed to empower and equip you with the words and tools to have conversations about disability — whether you are sharing with your child about their disability, you are talking to siblings of an individual with a disability or you want to discuss disability with your children to prepare them for when they meet someone with a disability at school or other places in your community.
Let’s pick up where we left off last week and talk about the second step of our LEAD framework, E = Encourage Empathy. Keep scrolling for the details.
**If you missed last week’s tips for L = Learn Together, click here.
E = ENCOURAGE EMPATHY
Imagine how others might feel and model inclusive actions and kind words.
Have you ever watched your child’s face when they see someone doing something differently — maybe using a wheelchair, covering their ears in a noisy room, or reading with extra support — and you wondered what to say next?
Those moments are incredible opportunities to encourage empathy — not pity, not fear, but genuine understanding — because empathy is the bridge of understanding that connects curiosity to inclusive actions and kind words.
WHAT EMPATHY REALLY MEANS
Empathy can sometimes be a hard word to define. At BRIDGED, we teach students that empathy is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Empathy doesn’t mean feeling sorry for someone — it means caring enough to understand. Empathy is more than saying “be kind” — it’s helping kids understand why kindness and inclusion matters. Even if we don’t have the same experiences in life, empathy gives us an opportunity to be thoughtful humans who see the value in everyone.
MODELING EMPATHY IS KEY
As we all know, children learn best through modeling . . . empathy isn’t any different.
You can model empathy by showing your kids how to:
Pause before reacting in a moment.
Imagine what the world might feel like for someone else.
Respond with inclusive actions and kind words.
By modeling empathy, you’re not only preparing your children to be a good friend — you’re helping them become empathetic individuals who change the world.
ENCOURAGE EMPATHY IN EVERYDAY LIFE
In addition to modeling, the seeds of empathy can be cultivated in everyday life.
1. Use Real-life Moments - When your child notices someone doing something differently, invite reflection instead of judgment. These simple responses can help kids connect feelings to experiences.
Sample Scripts:
“That person is covering their ears because it’s really loud. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by noise before?”
“Some people use wheelchairs to get around, just like we use shoes to walk. Let’s be respectful of their wheelchair just like you want others to be respectful of your things.”
“Remember when you didn’t get picked for the game? That’s how others might feel when we aren’t inclusive. What’s one way you could help someone feel included at recess?”
“They have a minivan like us! Their minivan has a ramp/lift so that individual can get into their vehicle and go to their favorite restaurant with their family and friends. Isn’t that so cool?!?
“How do you think it would feel if people laughed at you for wearing glasses? That’s why we treat everyone the way we want to be treated.”
2. Discuss Stories that Build Understanding - When you are practicing the first step of LEAD (Learn Together), you can use the stories to discuss how certain disabled characters might feel.
Sample Scripts:
“How do you think that character felt when her friends didn’t include her?”
“Imagine if you couldn’t hear the teacher and no one helped you. How would that feel?”
“In that story, I learned that people with disabilities have to advocate for their rights. That must be exhausting. How would you feel if you had to advocate?
“People said mean things to people with disabilities in that movie. How would that make you feel?
3. Model Inclusive Actions and Kind Words - Empathy isn’t just about feelings — it’s about doing. Encourage acts of inclusion and kind words. When kids see inclusion, they learn what empathy looks like in action.
Sample Scripts:
“Let’s make sure everyone gets a turn to play.”
“Your classmate just made the local wheelchair basketball team! I know you love for your friends to cheer you on when you play basketball. Why don’t we go to one of your classmate’s games and cheer them on?
“Let’s move our chairs so everyone can fit at the table.”
“Sometimes being a good friend is speaking up if someone is left out or treated unfairly.”
“We can’t always see someone’s disability, but we can always use kind words with everyone.”
CLOSING THOUGHTS ON EMPATHY
Empathy is a crucial part in leading the conversation about disability. Just like any skill, it will take time and will require practice. However, when kids master empathy, they will become leaders of inclusive actions and kind words — at school, in friendships, and throughout life.
Next week, in the LEAD series, we will discuss: A = Address Curiosity. We hope you will come back for that next step as you LEAD the conversation about disability with confidence.
At BRIDGED, we are passionate about disability education. In addition to supporting conversations about disability at home, we also support conversations at school through our award-winning Disability Awareness Programs. Our school-based programming cultivates a disability-inclusive environment through education and experience. Programming is available for K-12 students in both public and private schools. You can learn more by clicking here.
