125 Empowering Special Needs Parents Quotes To Inspire You

These carefully selected special needs parents quotes are empowering and uplifting!

Parenting a child with special needs comes with its unique set of challenges, but it’s also a journey filled with moments of strength, love, and inspiration. Here are 125 quotes that capture the essence of being a parent to a special-needs child, offering wisdom, encouragement, and a perspective that goes beyond the ordinary.

From our own experience, we believe a child with special abilities positively influences you to be a special kind of person.  They open us up to a world of gratitude and love.

With that said, here are our top 125 special needs parents quotes to brighten your day. Enjoy!

P.S. If you need a good laugh, be sure to stick around to the end for “18 Silly Parenting Quotes”. 😅

125 Inspirational Special Needs Parents Quotes

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1. “There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more.” – Robert M. Hensel
2. “Embrace the unique way your child is blooming -even if it’s not in the garden you imagined.” – Jenn Soehnlin
3. “My ability is stronger than my disability.” – Theresa Sheridan
4. “All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them.” – Magic Johnson
5. “Just because I can’t walk, doesn’t mean I can’t play!” – Inclusive Play
6. “Great things are not done by impulse but by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh
7. “The only thing that separates any one of us from excellence is fear and the opposite of fear is faith.” – Michael J. Fox
8. “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
9. “Hang on tight and get ready for the wildest, saddest, happiest, most challenging and most rewarding ride of your life!”- Sylvia Phillips
10. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
11. “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa
12. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius
13. “One of the great things that any community can do is not teach tolerance, but live tolerance, not talk respect, but live inclusivity.” ~ Michael Pritchard
14. “Motherhood is about raising—and celebrating—the child you have, not the child you thought you would have.” – Joan Ryan
15. “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” – Stephen R. Covey
16. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
17. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
18. “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean
19. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
20. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
21. “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – Allen Saunders
22. “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson
23. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
24. “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.” – Florence Nightingale
25. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain
26. “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – J.K. Rowling
27. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller
28. “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” – Dalai Lama
29. “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller
30. “Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
31. “Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.” – Walt Whitman
32. “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
33. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.” – Steve Jobs
34. “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston S. Churchill
35. “If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs
36. “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
37. “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson
38. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
39. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis
40.  “Truth is everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.” – Bob Marley
41. “The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.” – Charles Kingsleigh
42. “Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” – Charles R. Swindoll
43. “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – C.S. Lewis
44. “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo
45. “I wish for a world that views disability, mental or physical, not as a hindrance but as unique attributes that can be seen as powerful assets if given the right opportunities.” – Oliver Sacks
46. “When you have a disability, knowing you are not defined by it is the sweetest feeling.” – Anne Strike
47. “The world worries about disability more than disabled people do.” – Warwick Davis
48. “I choose not to place “DIS” in my ability.” – Robert M. Hensel
49. “You don’t have to be perfect to be amazing.” – Unknown
50. “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
51. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
52. “Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just one thing well, you’re needed by someone.” – Martina Navratilova
53. “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” – Scott Hamilton
54. “The wheelchair should not be a symbol of disability. A wheelchair is a vehicle to liberation and freedom; a chariot for independence.” – Rick Hansen
55. “I am differently able.” – Anonymous
56. “It’s not a disability it’s a different ability.” – @abilityministry
57. “Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you.” – Anonymous
58. “If I know what love is it is because of you.” – Herman Hesse
59. “What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.” – Buddha
60. “Sometimes real superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles.” – Anonymous
61. “Bless those who see light through a different window and those who understand their view.” – Anonymous
62. “If they can’t learn the way we teach, we teach the way they learn.” – Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas
63. “Today you are You that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is Youer than you.” – Dr. Seuss
64. “Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” – Lady Bird Johson
65. “Successful mothers are not the ones that have never struggled. They are the ones that never give up, despite the struggles.” – Sharon Jaynes
66. “In French, you don’t say “I miss you.” You say “Tu me manques,” which means “You are missing from me.” I love that. – Anonymous
67. “I did not give you the gift of life, life gave me the gift of you.” – Upjourney
68. “Being a mother is learning about the strengths you didn’t know you had, and dealing with fears you didn’t know existed.” – Linda Wooten
69. “You’ll never be bored when you try something new. There’s really no limit to what you can do!” – Dr. Seuss
70. “I’m not a superhero because I parent a child with special needs...I’m the sidekick to my superhero.” – A. Krause Studio
71. “My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness.” – Maya Angelou
72. “Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” – Robert Fulghum
73. “Raise your words not voice.  It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.” – Rumi
74. “Some of the most wonderful people are the ones who don’t fit into boxes.” – Tori Amos
75. “Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness.” – George Santayana
76. “If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world.” – Elaine & Dalton
77. “Your child will teach you more than you will ever teach them.” – Melissa Noel Brown Oliveras
78. “You’ve made this day a special day, by just you being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you, just the way you are.” – Mr. Rogers
79. “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or in the same way.” – George Evans
80. “What makes you different is what makes you beautiful.” – Happy Soul Project
81. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
82. “When you focus on problems, you will have more problems. When you focus on possibilities, you will have more opportunities.” – Anonymous
83. “We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.” – OurPact
84. “Don’t let the mind limit what an able heart can do.” – Robert M. Hensel
85. “Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world.” – Maria Montesorri
86. “As a special needs parent we don’t have the power to make life “fair”, but we have the power to make life joyful.” – Anonymous
87. “One word of encouragement can be enough to spark someone’s motivation to continue with a difficult challenge.” – Roy T. Bennett
88. “The less you respond to negative people, the more peaceful your life will become.” – www.itsalovelylife.com
89. “Surround yourself with those who believe in you. Your life is too important for anything less.” – Steve Goodier
90. “When something or someone is no longer adding to your life, but subtracting from it – it’s time to let go.” – Mandy Hale
91. “Those who know do, those that understand, teach.” – Aristotle
92. “Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller
93. “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.” – Christopher Reeves
94. “However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.” – Stephen Hawking
95. “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they determine merely where you start.” – Nido Qubein
96. “Your greatest contribution to the universe may not be something you do, but someone you teach.” – Anonymous
97. “There is only one way to look at things until someone shows us how to look at them with different eyes.” – Pablo Picasso
98. “Labels are for filing. Labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people.” – Martina Navratilova
99. “Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust is gained. Loyalty is returned.” – Upjourney
100. “My attitude is based on how you treat me.” – Anonymous
101. “Believe in yourself as a parent, you are your child’s best therapist and advocate.” – Anonymous
102. “A lot of disabilities are invisible. Your reaction to them isn’t.” – A Life With A Side Of The Unexpected
103. “The best inheritance a parent can give their children is their time each day.” – Anonymous
104. “All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them.” – www.bestoflife.com
105. “Children learn more from what you are than what you teach.” – W.E.B. Dubois
106. “The sign of great parenting is not the child’s behavior. The sign of truly great parenting is the parent’s behavior.” – Andy Smithson
107. “It shouldn’t matter how slowly a child learns.  What matters is that we encourage them to never stop trying.” – Robert John Meehan
108. “Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.” – Matthew Jacobsen
109. “Parents need to fill a child’s bucket of self-esteem so high that the rest of the world can’t poke enough holes to make it dry.” – Alvin Price
110. “Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” – Charles R. Swindoll
111. “We’re all imperfect parents and that’s perfectly ok. Tiny humans need connection not perfection.” – LR Knost
112. “At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.” – Jane D. Hull
113. “There are two things we should give our children; one is roots and the other is wings.” – Hodding Carter
114. “Kids spell love T-I-M-E.” – John Crudele
115. “Whoever first coined the phrase ‘You’re the wind beneath my wings’ most assuredly was reflecting on the sublime influence of a very special teacher.” – Frank Trujillo
116. “The way we talk to children becomes their inner voice.” – Peggy O’Mara
117. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas A. Edison
118. “Until you have a kid with special needs you have no idea of the depth of your strength, tenacity and resourcefulness.” – Anonymous
119. “Sometimes even the greatest joy brings challenge, and children with special needs inspire a very, very special love.” – Sarah Palin
120. “A child is like a butterfly in the wind. Some can fly higher than others, but each one flies the best it can. Why compare one against the other? Each one is different. Each one is special. Each one is beautiful.” – Anonymous
121. “I wouldn’t change you for the world, but I would change the world for you.” – Anonymous
122. “We have no special needs children – just children with special needs.” – Uwe Maurer
123. “There is only one question: how to love this world.” – Mary Oliver Spring
124. “Every child has a different learning style and pace. Each child is unique, not only capable of learning but also capable of succeeding.” – Robert John Meehan
125. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde

4 Tips To Navigate The Extraordinary Unique Way of Special Needs Parenting

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Navigating the world of special needs parenting is hard work and a journey unlike any other.

Parents of children with special needs often find themselves in their own world of happiness, facing the daily triumphs and challenges in a different light. As Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity,” highlighting the unique perspective and resilience of special needs parents.

To embrace this heartfelt path, here are four tips to help you along your journey.

1. Celebrate The Small Victories and Great Things

Albert Einstein’s wisdom echoes through the experiences of parents of special-needs children, emphasizing the beauty found in the little things. Look to embrace the joy in small victories and the great things that come from raising a special-needs child. In the tapestry of special parents, each small triumph weaves a story of resilience and love.

2. Find Your Inspiration

Special needs parents, in particular, embody strength and resilience. The challenges and triumphs you face, emphasize the power of a parents’ love. Find things that inspire and uplift you, whether that be through quotes, self-care, etc., reminding you have extraordinary strength when faced with adversity.

3. Embrace the Unique Challenges

Dr. Temple Grandin once said, “I am different, not less,” capturing the essence of embracing uniqueness. Special needs parents face unique challenges. It’s a journey of resilience, filled with choices that shape a child’s world and define the path to a brighter future.

4. It’s A Secret World

Every special needs parent understands the secret world they inhabit—a world of unconditional love, tremendous burdens, and the pursuit of their child’s full potential. It’s a life where love knows no bounds and where strength emerges from the challenges, creating a tapestry of extraordinary parenting.

18 Silly Parenting Quotes To Brighten Your Day…Just Because 😉

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1. “Unless your parenting advice is which wine pairs best with 3 weeks of laundry, keep it to yourself.” – The Glad Stork
2. “Before becoming a parent, I didn’t know I could ruin someone’s life by asking them to put pants on.” – The Funny Beaver
3. “My kid is turning out just like me.  Well played, karma.  Well played.” – Anonymous 
4. “People who say they sleep like babies usually don’t have them.” – Leo J. Burke
5. “PARENTING STYLE: Somewhere in between No, Dont! and Oh, Whatever.” – Anonymous
6. “A two-year-old is kind of like having a blender, but you don’t have a top for it.” – Jerry Seinfeld
7. “90% of parenting is just thinking about when you can lie down again.” – Anonymous
8. “FIRST RULE OF PARENT CLUB: You don’t talk about activities in front of the kids unless you are fully prepared to engage in said activities.” – @mompsychologist
9. “BEDTIME: The perfect time for kids to ask questions, request food, require additional bathroom breaks, and need a new nightlight.” – Anonymous
10. “I’m sorry for all the things I said when my toddler wouldn’t nap”. – @unfilteredmama
11. “Recipe for iced coffee: (1) Have kids (2) Make coffee (3) Forget you made coffee (4) Drink it cold” – @toni_hammer
12. “The easiest way to shop with kids is not to.” – @relaxingmommy
13. “So I stepped away for like 2 seconds…the beginning of every parenting horror story.” – Mombabble
14. “It’s like no one in my family appreciates that I stayed up all night overthinking for them.” – Anonymous
15. “Motherhood is an extreme sport.  That’s why we have to wear workout clothes every day.” – @fruitsofmotherhood
16. “SON: Was I adopted?  ME: Not yet.” – @HenpeckedHal
17. “When I tell my kids I’ll do something in a minute, what I’m really is “Please Forget”.” – @sarcasticmommy4
18. “As a parent, my hobbies include repeating myself, rage waiting, and repeating myself.” – @realtoughdad

Final Thoughts

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Shedding light on special needs parenting, every thread tells a story of resilience, love, and the extraordinary strength found within unique challenges.

As Albert Einstein wisely noted, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity,” encapsulating the spirit of this journey. From celebrating small victories to navigating bad days, every special needs mom, parent, and caregiver, understands the significance of each little thing.

This blog post has explored inspirational quotes that resonate with the difficult times and triumphs of parenting a special-needs child. Embracing the unique journey, facing the unknown, and making that first step as a parent to the most wonderful child are not just tasks; they are acts of courage and love.

As we conclude, let these words be a reminder that, in the world of special needs parenting, every effort, no matter how small, contributes to a story of unwavering strength, echoing the powerful heartbeat of extraordinary parenthood.

Thank You

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We all need a positive boost at times which is healthy for our mind, body, and soul. We hope at least one of these quotes inspired you today or made you smile.

Do you have other special needs parents’ quotes you love? Let us know in the comments below. ♥

Was this information helpful to you?  If so, you’d make our day by sharing it! 🙂

About the Author

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Lindsey is the co-founder of The LENN Foundation and content creator of the Intensive Therapy for Kids blog.

When she isn’t busy playing Godzilla with her son or chasing around her mischievous Rottweiler pup, she loves creating experiences and memories with her loved ones (traveling, watching a good flick, trying new n’ yummy restaurants).  Speaking of restaurants, one of her favs is Taco Bell!

Most of all, she is grateful for her supportive circle of family, friends, and to live out her passion for helping kids with Cerebral Palsy (like her sweet nephew Lenny).

If you’re curious about The LENN Foundation, you may see the kids’ helped and feel-good content here. ♥

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