Special Needs Family

Two moms. Two sons. Two families forever connected. An unforgettable story of motherhood, friendship and loss. Julia has the perfect life—a happy marriage, a precocious son, and twin daughters on the way. She is forced to rethink her idea of perfection, however, when her daughters, born prematurely, face devastating health consequences and her marriage can’t withstand the challenges of this new normal. Gail has not allowed herself to get caught up in looking for perfection, having learned long ago no such thing exists. She creates a life that works for her and her son. Despite his ...

To make this groundbreaking audiobook, Dr. James Lyons-Weiler combed through the past fifty years of published research on autism, exploring subjects such as genetic variation, mechanisms of neurotoxicity of metals and pesticides, and the central and combined roles of each in causing autism.

Priscilla Gilman had the greatest expectations for the birth of her first child. Growing up in New York City amongst writers, artists, and actors, Gilman experienced childhood as a whirlwind of imagination, creativity, and spontaneity. As a Wordsworth scholar, she celebrated and embraced the poet's romantic view of children - and eagerly anticipated her son's birth, certain that he, too, would come - trailing clouds of glory.

Every person—whether baby, child, teenager, or adult—interacts with the world in their own unique way. Yet some have a harder time than others due to a variety of sensory processing issues, which can lead to motor delays, learning differences, frustration, anxiety, and emotional, behavioral, and social challenges as well as diagnoses like ADHD and “autism spectrum.” As sensory integration expert Sally Fryer Dietz reveals, these children are not “broken.”

I have a twin brother. Everyone calls him Jimmy, which is sort of the English version of Dimitri, his actual Greek name. Our mum's Greek, you see. I'm Cally, short for Calista, which means, I don't want to sound big-headed or anything, 'most beautiful'. I'm not sure about Dimitri, but if Dimitri means most-annoying-brother-in-the-whole-wide-world, then that's him.

Have you seen the badly behaved child at the check out? Do you think you could do a better job? Do you bite your tongue when you witness a parent standing mutely while their child has a public melt down? Or is the child your own? The things that are unsaid are by people who love children with behavioural and/or emotional special needs (like autism, bipolar depression, selective mutism and ADHD). In a compilation of first person stories, mothers, fathers, a special needs teacher and a childcare professional talk about their own children and those they’ve encountered. They illustrate the ...

Until two years of age, Craig and Samantha’s son Connor was just like other kids - playful, verbal, and affectionate. Then everything changed. He stopped talking, displayed behavioral problems, and withdrew into his own world. The official diagnosis - autism. Faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, Craig and Samantha refused to believe a meaningful life for Connor was impossible. God confirmed their faith by revealing to Craig that Connor would one day touch the lives of thousands of people around the world.

When my son Sean was born with special needs, his mother and I were told he would never be “normal” and we mourned for the life we had imagined for him. We thought we would have to be his teacher and protector, more so than the typical child. However, we quickly learned that lessons can come from the most unlikely places and that our world would be changed for the better in ways we could have never envisioned. . . all because of Sean. Before he died on Father’s Day 2019, Sean taught me valuable life lessons. He taught me how to live like Sean, and these lessons are his legacy.

Ashley Blaker has six children, three of whom have an SEN diagnosis. Between endless meetings, countless therapists, public humiliations, failed playdates, surreal monologues and occasional violence, it’s certainly not what anyone would call a ‘normal’ household – but would he want it any other way? Normal Schmormal is part-memoir, part how-to guide, highlighting the many challenges, as well as the hugely rewarding elements, of parenting children with additional needs.

We are living in one of the most stressful times in human history. This abundance of stress is impacting families and in many cases, manifesting itself in children with difficult and severe behaviors. Homes often turn into intense fighting grounds of power struggles and control battles parents find themselves in us against them scenarios with their children. Tension continually builds and before long, parents are feeling completely overwhelmed, powerless, and resentful of their children.

Parents of children with autism have so much to learn and to manage, it’s easy for them to feel alone and become emotionally drained. But there is a framework for making progress, whether the child is newly diagnosed or an adult. Now available in audiobook, reviewers call Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism: Between Now and Dreams a first-stop, must-listen for parents, family members and caregivers, one that is also eloquent and engaging.

Grandparents, here is the book you have been looking for! Helping Grandparents Understand Autism is a grandparent-friendly guide by Dr. Linda Barboa and Jan Luck. It was designed to help you understand this complex disorder and how it affects your grandchild. It tells how communication difficulties and sensory issues may affect your grandchild’s behavior.

For over 30 years, The Silent Garden has offered parents of deaf children the support and unbiased information needed to fully realize their children’s potential. This completely revised third edition is a must-have resource that will help parents navigate the complex and unique challenges they face. Accessible, practical, and above all open-minded, The Silent Garden educates parents quickly and thoroughly about the many conflicting points of view on what is best for their deaf children.

Did you know anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for children, affecting upwards of 20 percent of children and adolescents over the course of their youth? Anxiety is more prevalent in our society than ever before; we’re all affected by it. But it doesn't have to be this way. Your kids don't have to live a life of anxious stress. Together, you can build a new reality - one completely free from unnecessary anxiety.

Blessed with Extraordinary is a heartfelt guide to caring for children with Down Syndrome from birth into independent adulthood. Linda Bonner intertwines her personal experiences of raising her son Kevin, beginning with her initial grief to embracing the joy of parenting her extraordinary child, with practical resources, empowering tools, and a lifelong roadmap to help you forge a clear path to a life of opportunities for you and your child.

Third-grader Aven Green is a real professional musician! She just needs to choose what instrument to play. When she decides to try the piano, Aven is disappointed when she can’t master Mozart in one whole day. To pick up Aven’s beat, her parents take her for a four-hour drive to see someone just like her play the guitar. With new inspiration and a special gift from her great-grandma, Aven is ready to take on the school talent show. Will she be ready in time? Or will she blow her big chance?

Diagnosed as severely autistic at the age of three, Tito, nearly nonverbal, was brought up by his loving mother Soma, who taught him to read English and challenged him to write his own stories. The initial result was The Mind Tree, published in 2003, which Tito wrote between the ages of eight and 11. The Gold of the Sunbeams is an equally impressive, beautiful collection of stories, each prefaced by a charming note from Tito explaining how the story came into being.

There are thousands of books on autism. Some books advocate new methods of teaching styles. Some talk about alternative medications that have worked miracles. This book does not make such claims. What this book conveys is that every family who has a child with autism has to figure out a coping system that works for their child with autism and for themselves. This is our journey to that place of facilitation and happiness.

Asperger's syndrome is often misunderstood and rarely accepted. Many skeptics and critics dismiss or misuse the term out of hand, while parents who have a child diagnosed with such a syndrome are usually confused and unsure what to do. This guide is here to help new or experienced mothers, fathers, and other family members understand Asperger's and how to help deal with issues such as anxiety and episodes.

When Schuyler Rummel-Hudson was 18 months old, a question about her lack of speech by her pediatrician set in motion a journey that continues today. When she was diagnosed with bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria (an extremely rare neurological disorder), her parents were given a name for the monster that had been stalking them from doctor to doctor, and from despair to hope, and back again.