Customer Reviews

Special Kids Need Special Parents: A Resource for Parents of Children with Special Needs

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dear Amazon: I am not the parent of a disabled child, but I know all of the issues that parents face first-hand, because I grew up with a mentally handicapped sister.

This is the first book which I have seen which discusses all the issues -- the strain on marriages, the difficulties siblings have when their brother or sister has special needs, what to expect from the schools and social workers, etc.

I gave the book to my mother and she keeps re-reading it.

It is practical, but inspirational, too. There are chapters about how one must reconcile what has happened, and how so many of us have a tendency to blame God or feel sorry for ourselves.

Right now, I am dealing with how to help an adult sister find good housing and a job. This book is something I pick up if I feel frustrated -- because it provides a real glimpe into how others solve similar problems

The definition of "disability" is broad in the book. That's why someone with a child who has slight learning disabilites would find it useful, as well as a parent or family member with a child with cancer. Any medical or even emotional problem can be tackled better with a read.

I recommend it highly. --

SPECIAL KIDS NEED SPECIAL PARENTS is a unique and wonderful resource. (I'm so thankful that the Orange County Register, in the LA area ran several excerpts of the book in their paper--that's how I learned about it.)
What I love about SPECIAL KIDS NEED SPECIAL PARENTS, besides the fact that it gives practical, upbeat advice, is that it's not just one person's perspective or story. Many, many people (professionals and family members as well as others across the country) put in their "two-cents." And their "two cents" are great! Indepth, on-target insights, advice and even, wisdom. The book is inspirational, spiritual, practical and very well written.
Both of my children have different special needs--one is on the austism spectrum and the other has had a slew of medical challenges. (She is mildly delayed and has learning disabilities.) Honestly, SPECIAL KIDS NEED SPECIAL PARENTS was a lifesaver. It helped us understand ourselves and our dynamics so we could cope better with the situations at hand.
It is an engaging and easy read. The author put a summary at the back of each chapter, so you can get the highlights of the chapter in a snatch if you're too tired to read. Recently, I copied the summary page at the end of the advocacy chapter and took it to a school meeting so I could remember what to say. Believe it or not, using the tips and approaches this author provided, helped me get extra services for my daughter!
What's more, there's a fabulous resource guide--about 40 pages--in the back of the book.
If you have or even work with a child with special needs, this book is an absolute MUST. It is unique and answers so many questions for so many types of people.
I want to thank the author for writing SPECIAL KIDS NEED SPECIAL PARENTS. You really gave us something wonderful.

Finding a book like Ms. Lavin's has made such a difference. It is filled with wonderful pieces of advice that make it seem somehow manageable to cope when at times it seems so hard. This book offers helpful and practical strategies on dealing with self esteem, grief, anger, choosing a therapist and many other issues that arise. The book is easy to read for parents and professionals both and is sure to be of value in any home.

SPECIAL KIDS NEED SPECIAL PARENTS is a wonderful resource. As the mother of a child who has a rare syndrome that causes deafness along with other disabilities, this book is not only chocked full of insights and tips from people all across the US, but also has an extensive resource guide in the back which helped me get some extra support.

The book is easy-to-read and enabled me to deal with some complex issues I was having within my own family. It is exhaustively researched and full of compassion. I carry this book with me--the pages are dogeared and underlined. Thank you Ms. Lavin for your help!

This book has been a tremendous help to not only me but my entire family. It is very easy to read and there is so much knowledge and support to gain. It had a very posivite impact on my life and really helped me. I encourage anyone out there, teachers, parents children even to read this, you will be happy you did.

This Book is a wonderful addition to any home, whether or not a child is born with special needs does not matter this book can help parents and children of all kinds. It makes you feel like you have your own support group right there with you as well as gives tips and hints to help you through your rough time. I think this is one of the best books ever written and give it a very enthusiastic 5 stars!

It's devastating to find out that your child is less than perfect. While there are many books that guide a parent on the science of a disability, Ms. Lavin compassionately addresses the emotional aspects of a child's disability and its effect on parents, siblings and extended family. What I liked most was Ms. Lavin's writing style: clear, focused and human. I felt like I was having a conversation with someone who'd been there. The book is loaded with practical information, as well as true stories of people and families who thrive in spite of disabilities.

Special Kids Need Special Parents is a must have book for parents of children with special needs. Before any parent or educator can begin to deal with a special needs child they need to be informed. Information is key to successfully navigating the waters with your child or student. This book will serve as your source of information about what, how and where you can turn for assistance. I am the parent of an adult ADD son,an educator and filmaker. I am grateful that Judith Lavin is sharing her knowledge with all of us.

I liked this book, it has great info....just not exactly what I was looking for!

As the mother of two children with cystic fibrosis and a parent educator, I think this book provides an excellent overview of the many challenges parents may face when a child is diagnosed with a special need of any kind.

The personal examples and stories bring a personal touch to the many subjects covered including: grieving, marriage issues, siblings, parenting issues, developmental stages, hospitalizations, counseling, prosthetics and wheelchairs, hair replacement and cosmetic enhancement, special education, advocacy and trusts.

As you can see, the book covers a lot of ground and doesn't cover any one subject in depth but is an excellent place to start especially when a child is newly diagnosed.

If I could rate this book with 4.5 stars, I would have. It's a great book but I had purchased it looking for information of a more "how to" nature like communicating with my kids about their illness and responding to resistance to medication.

While Judy touches upon these issues in the chapters titled "Parenting Acceptable Behavior" and "Understanding Developmental Stages," I needed more. And that's why I sought some help from Love and Logic and ended up writing a book of my own (with Foster Cline MD) to fill in the gap.

For a resource which focuses specifically on parenting skills for your special needs child, see Love and Logic's: Parenting Children With Health Issues: Essential Tools, Tips, and Tactics for Raising Kids With Chronic Illness, Medical Conditions, and Special Healthcare Needs