Customer Reviews

Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs: Raising the Bar of Expectations

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book from cover to cover in one night! It is so refreshing for me to read a book for special needs parenting that focuses on positive parenting, but also addresses the real life daily needs. Seeing our children as a unique, talented, treasure! I found every chapter to have useful, realistic information for parents and professionals. I am the parent of two sons with special needs and two daughters without, and Ms. Winter includes wonderful encouragement on raising the siblings of special needs. The end of each chapter includes resource info to save time in searching yourself! I am a nurse as a profession and will also recommend this book to patients. Highly Recommend!!

Full disclosure: I know Judy Winter, author of "Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs." If I didn't find this an exceptional book, I would simply wish her congratulations. But it is a book that is well worth your reading time - and not just for parents, I might add. If I have any quibble, it's that the title may appear to limit this book to parents. But every professional - teacher, social worker, medical professional, school counselor or principal - who works with children of special needs should read this book, as should family members and those who work with children as volunteers. While targeted to empowering parents, it also shifts the paradigm to focus on the ability and not the disability of the child, and when you have that shift, it makes working together much easier. Judy writes as though she's sitting down with you and sharing experiences - her own, and those of many who have walked the special needs path. The book is highly motivating, and while some strategies and stories will resonate more with than others, based on your own experiences, there is much for anyone to pull from this book. The resource list of websites, organizations and tips alone is more than worth the purchase of "Breakthrough Parenting."

I guess maybe it depends what and where you are at on that journey but I felt untouched by the book. It wasn't a bad book and it has a great section on the grieving process and a great section on resources but I was hoping to be inspired in how to be a positive parent and help my child reach their fullest potential while maintaining my own sanity, but it seemed to be more into pushing fad/popular ideas and therapy rather than what I as a mom could do. One of the greatest downfalls of today's society is we have become so big on putting labels on children and getting them in 'therapy'. In my own experience and with other children I have worked with while therapy can be a nice accent its the parenting that plays a central role in a child reaching their fullest potential. This book didn't really talk much about actually parenting the child and that is what I had expected to read about instead of the usual. I can find resources on my own I wanted help learning to work with my child without feeling like giving up and getting frustrated at every turn.

I really enjoyed this book. I have been a pediatric physical therapist for 16 years and found the book both educational and inspiring. The book is a must for parents with special needs children. Thank you Judy for fighting for children and enpowering parents and professionals to do what they feel is in the best interest of the child.

As someone who educates and trains parents, foster parents, and school professionals, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book. The combination of genuine stories, practical tips, and useful resources helps parents of children with special needs know what to DO to take care of their precious child (as well as themselves!).

After stubbling upon this book at our local bookstore, I was inspired by what I read. This book is well laid out, easy to read, and contains a limitless amount of resources. This book has inspired me to be the best parent I can be, and to take advantage of what there is out there to help me do that. I plan to pass this on to my family and friends and suggest any, not just those of us with special needs children, read this book. Thank you Judy Winter for such an amazing resource.

I am so happy I have this book, it brought tears to my eyes as I have been reading it. I have a daughter who is now almost 7 years of age, who has special needs. I have been through so much with Doctor's and testing, and sometimes forget about what else is going on in life. I think anyone who's going through a challenge with their child being a little different from the rest, should own a copy of this book. It's sense that should be common, for both parents and doctor's.

Being the mother of 4, with 3 who are absolutely normal, I feel even more blessed with having 1 child who is different, and this book really confirms I'm not alone in thinking that way. Thank you Judy, for taking the time to write this book. I hope every parent going through these sorts of challenges, is able to read this book!

I just finished "Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs: Raising the Bar of Expectations" and found it easy to read and chock full of great information. This book connects the author to the reader in the manner of an old friend providing both comfort and a reality check. I am the Executive Producer with "A Wider World", a PBS TV show on disability issues and the parent of three special needs children (now grown). Both my personal story and those of parents I interviewed, are mirrored in this book. What a sad commentary on our society that parents are forced to advocate to get appropriate services for their child, to sometimes bankrupt themselves to pay for these services that are not covered by health insurance, all while coping with stresses and strains of health issues and/or emotional crises. With more than 54 million Americans with a disability, Ms. Winter's book is a sorely needed guide to navigating the system and understanding your rights. I await the day when people view disability as part of the diversity of humankind, not something apart from the "rest of the world". Ms. Winter's book has taken a big step in moving the agenda of full inclusion forward.

This was an absolutely wonderful book. It was inspirational, motivating, educational, touching, .... I am now a better mother because of it. I read this book more than two years ago and have a reason to think about it every single day. This book has changed my life.

I am a therapist currently working with children with autism in China. I purchased "Breakthrough Parenting" because it has been a dream of mine to start a parent support group, but didn't know where to begin. This was an excellent resource choice! I was deeply moved and challenged many times over as nearly every paragraph resonated with me. As Winter honestly shares her heart and her journey, she opened my eyes both to the parents' perspective (both joys and trials) and the fact that love and respect for both these parents and their children is vital and life-changing! Through her bold, positive and hope-filled language, she challenged me to think and act differently. She challenged me to step up to the plate and be an advocate. I closed this book a very different person than when I opened it--more informed, well-resourced (she provides a myriad of resources and web sites at the end of each chapter), empowered. Her passion, vision and hope are contagious! I can't wait to empower, encourage and equip these parents on their journey through "the special needs parenting woods!"

I highly recommend "Breakthrough Parenting" to ANYONE whose life touches someone with special needs--parent, teacher, therapist, neighbor, friend, extended family, caregiver.