Customer Reviews

Extraordinary Kids: Nurturing and Championing Your Child With Special Needs

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
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I have a 1 yr old with Down Syndrome and I wish this had been the first book that I had read, It was so encouraging and up lifting. It was also very easy to read. I am recommending this book for Christian parent with handicapped children. The cover even looks happy and fun.

This book was so helpful for me - as a physical therapist. I was able to better understand where parents are coming from - and it gave me the desire to be a better Christian physical therapist. I LOVED the stories - the good and the bad. I strongly recommend it for teachers, therapists, parents, churches, etc.

I found this book to be both inspirational and thought provoking. I am a mother of an eight year old special child, and this book shed light on the conception that I am not alone. I would also recommend this book to anyone who has a special child in their family. The inspiration from scriputres are excellent and make you realize what a special gift you have in your child.

We have a six month old with Down Syndrome and have read many books...this is by far THE BEST! The information is excellent, and the stories are heartwarming and realistic without being overly negative or pie-in-sky positive. I plan to give this book to other parents of special needs children. So many publications cover the medical and emotional needs, but what they miss are the Spiritual needs. How refreshing and encouraging to read of God's hand in so many lives and know that prayer works!

During the 15 years I wrote reviews for Library Journal, or in all the years since, I have not found another guide for parents of special needs children that does such an excellent job of dealing with the special questions and needs of Christian parents. I found it shortly after it was first published, at a time when our family was dealing with some particularly difficult challenges related to our own special child. It was just the resource I needed at that time to help provide assurance and support. It is the one book I actually give to special parents. It provides a great overall view of issues and resources, drawing on scripture and a Christian worldview to shape the discussion.

Another review on this site criticizes the book for not being in depth enough on the particular issue they were concerned about. Such a criticism misses the point of the focus of the book. It is meant as an overall guide, a starting point rather than an extensive authority on each and every topic.

I whole-heartedly recommend this book!

I read this book 13 years ago when my daughter was first being diagnosed with cerebral palsy. I have yet to find another resource that has helped me as much as this book has. Over the years I have had 3 different copies and have given them away to other families with a special needs child. so I'm ordering another copy.

This is a very feel-good book for parents of children with disabilities, especially those feeling isolated and alone.

I do have to say I found the chapter on being your child's advocate was particularly weak, and if you need advise on how to approach an IEP meeting, find another book for that.

Having children with "invisible" disabilities, I found the IEP process to be particularly adversarial, and taking the book's advice would have made me a lamb led to the slaughter.

You do not bring cookies to an IEP meeting. Instead, you educate yourself regarding your child's disability and present your child's needs using high level vocabulary. You find out on your own what the best placement would be for your child and fight like the devil to secure it from the school administration. You do make friends and contacts of the school professionals and find out what the sticking points might be regarding the administration's opinion on your child's placement. You do find parents who have been through the process and educate yourselves on the problems they've had. If the school is adverse to providing particular services to children, you do not go in there with a polyanna attitude expecting to have no problems. Instead, you go in there as you would for any court proceeding with a lawyer or advocate by your side.

As a Christian, we are told in scripture to give to Caesar what is Caesar's. Our tax dollars pay for public education, and federal law is clear that children with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment.

Achieving the best placement for your child often requires being a lion rather than a lamb.