Parents may well be under pressure from relatives as well as professionals to make decisions they feel ill equipped to reach. In such cases it may be constructive for them to share their thoughts and feelings with others who have experienced a similar occurrence in their lives. Early referral to a specialist centre is also desirable. The shock and anxiety at the time of birth gradually recedes. Acceptance takes a little longer, but most parents are able to cope once they see possibilities of their child learning to walk.
Society is organised on the basis of a two legged, two armed, walking model.
It is, therefore, inevitable that people who diverge from this model may well experience problems. The child's awareness of the condition is, to a large extent, rooted in the way the family deals with the situation. Pre-school children only seem to notice their hard leg when they play with it, such as using it to hit a drum, or at the Disablement Services Centre when a new limb is being fitted. Few questions arise before children enter the school environment and become aware of others attitudes. When the child begins to ask questions, honest, informative and sensitive responses should be offered.