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The label special needs applies to a tremendous range of children, from those with physical issues like spina bifida or deafness to mental or emotional differences like ADD or Down syndrome. While each of these difficulties comes with its own specific set of frustrations and delights, families with special needs children face many similar challenges: finding qualified child-care and therapy; ... More

The label special needs applies to a tremendous range of children, from those with physical issues like spina bifida or deafness to mental or emotional differences like ADD or Down syndrome. While each of these difficulties comes with its own specific set of frustrations and delights, families with special needs children face many similar challenges: finding qualified child-care and therapy; dealing with the daily realities of teasing, pain, and hospitalizations; and the impact that these special needs can have on relationships between parents, siblings, and extended family. Special Kids Need Special Parents is designed to cover these non-area-specific realities, and author Judith Loseff Lavin writes from a point of view many parents are sure to appreciate: her daughter was born with a cleft lip and palate, and Lavin knows exactly what she's talking about when issuing statements like "the severity of the disability is not necessarily correlated to the amount of stress." Various chapters attempt to cover the perspective of parent, child, and other siblings, and each chapter ends with a short list of important points. Behavioral and emotional topics are discussed first, including depression, grief, teasing, guilt, and techniques for encouraging appropriate behavior from your child, regardless of his special needs. Using video to teach body language and social skills is one practical suggestion; comments like "just because someone has a birth defect or is disabled doesn't mean she is automatically sensitive" are welcome reminders that each child is to be treated as an individual. Physical issues like chronic pain, hospitalization, and prosthetics are covered in later chapters, and with the understanding of emotional issues gained from the earlier parts of the book, readers will feel totally prepared to act as their child's advocate with teachers and doctors alike. The age of your children is irrelevant to the usefulness of this book--even if your child is already a teen, you'll find plenty of great advice in navigating the continual issues of those with special needs. --Jill Lightner

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