‘Don’t worry!’ ‘He’ll be right’: Why do we say all the wrong things to parents of children with a disability?

‘Every day it would be, “He’ll grow out of it. He’s such a lovely boy.” I don’t need strangers to tell me my own son is a good kid. The point is he was struggling.’ Photograph: ChristinLola/Getty Images/iStockphoto

I remember the feeling: the well-meaning friend trying to offer reassurance about my toddler, which left me feeling dismissed, deflated and alone.

“Don’t worry! He’ll be right! Einstein didn’t talk till he was four! Did you know that?”