More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs

MORE THAN A MOM explores how women can lead rich, fulfilling personal lives while parenting a child with special needs. The authors' skillful blend of research, personal experiences, and feedback from over 500 mothers across North America results in a book that is jam-packed with practical strategies, advice, and reassurance for mothers trying to create more manageable and fulfilling lives.

MORE THAN A MOM addresses the universal concerns and questions of all mothers, coupled with the added intensity of raising children with disabilities. This how-to guide looks at the challenges mothers face at home, at work, and within themselves, with special attention paid to:

Staying healthy both physically and emotionally;

Keeping friendships;

Staying organized;

Maintaining your marriage;

Nurturing interests and goals;

Seeking flexible work options;

Changing careers or starting a business;

Rejoining the workforce;

Finding specialized childcare;

Advocating for your child.

The mothers who were interviewed for the book have diverse backgrounds and family dynamics. Given their differences and the fact that their children have such varied disabilities, it s striking that these mothers face such similar issues. MORE THAN A MOM provides mothers with many voices and solutions that will resonate with their own circumstances. Husbands, extended family, friends, support organizations, and service providers will also want to read this insightful and fact-filled book.

More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs

Elephant in the Playroom: Ordinary Parents Write Intimately and Honestly About the Extraordinary Highs and Heartbreaking Lows ... Special Needs

Candid, passionate, personal, and heartbreakingly funny, a view from within the whirlwind of parenting a child with special needs

Three years ago, magazine editor Denise Brodey’s precocious four-year-old son, Toby, was diagnosed with a combination of sensory integration dysfunction and childhood depression. As she struggled to make sense of her new, often chaotic, often lonely world, what she found comforted her most was talking with other harried, hopeful, and insightful parents of kids with special needs, learning how they coped with the feelings they encountered throughout the day.

In The Elephant in the Playroom, moms and dads from across the country write intimately and honestly about the joyful highs and disordered lows of raising children who are "not quite normal." Laying bare the emotional, medical, and social challenges they face, their stories address issues ranging from if and when to medicate a child, to how to get a child who is overly sensitive to the texture of food to eat lunch. Eloquent and honest, the voices in this collection will provide solace and support for the millions of parents whose kids struggle with ADD, ADHD, sensory disorders, childhood depression, Asperger’s syndrome, and autism—as well as the many kids who fall between diagnoses.

Offering readers comfort, community, and much-needed perspective, The Elephant in the Playroom is sure to become essential reading for parents of special needs kids. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

The Elephant in the Playroom: Ordinary Parents Write Intimately and Honestly About the Extraordinary Highs and Heartbreaking Lows of Raising Kids with Special Needs

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594630356
• ASIN: B00149NX8C

In My Mind: Through the Eyes of Autism by Adonya Wong

In my mind, I see many colors, bright like a rainbow, shooting about like comets in a night sky. Take a closer look What do you see? In My Mind, by Adonya Wong, explores the inner world of an autistic childthe world that no one else can see. From exciting adventures to silly games and conversations with friends, look closely and see how a child with autism sees the worldand how the world sees him.

In My Mind: Through the Eyes of Autism by Adonya Wong

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 28 pages
• Publisher: Tate Publishing (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606966014
• ISBN-13: 978-1606966013

When I learned he had autism, I was taken aback. Like most parents, I was not prepared to hear those words. I wasn’t prepared to hear that there was “something wrong with him”. That’s how I saw autism… in those early months. I saw it as a bad thing. Plus, it didn’t help matters when I told my family, and they denied the diagnosis. To them, there was nothing awry, and he just needed to “around other kids his own age”. I’m thankful, however, for my friends. Their unwavering support has helped me so much during this journey. In addition, I changed my views about autism, and life has been happier ever since.

The best advice I can offer new families is to seek out support. You’ll quickly discover who your true friends are as well as how supportive your family is. Seek out parent groups, and if there isn’t one close by… ORGANIZE one yourself. There’s no greater feeling than being around other parents who understand your life, who want to offer useful advice, and who will not hesitate to offer a kind and supportive listening ear. Or even a shoulder for those days when you just want to cry.

SOURCE: Book Tour! In My Mind: Through the Eyes of Autism by Adonya Wong

In My Mind: Through the Eyes of Autism by Adonya Wong

The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's by Temple Grandin

Review
Every library, large or small, needs this book on its shelves. Every school, large or small, with the responsibility of educating children with autism or Asperger's needs the guidance this book offers. . . . Last, and certainly not least, every parent will find within these pages golden nuggets of advice, encouragement, and hope to fuel their day-to-day journey through their child's autism. . . . The wisdom she offers through this book and its personal reflections on autism will, I'm sure, ring true for many more decades to come. --Ruth Christ Sullivan, co-founder of the Autism Society of America

Product Description
In this innovative book, Dr. Temple Grandin gets down to the REAL issues of autism, the ones parents, teachers, and individuals on the spectrum face every day. Temple offers helpful do's and don'ts, practical strategies, and try-it-now tips, all based on her "insider" perspective and a great deal of research. These are just some of the specific topics Temple delves into:

How and Why People with Autism Think Differently

Economical Early Intervention Programs that Work

How Sensory Sensitivities Affect Learning

Behaviors Caused by a Disability vs. Just Bad Behaviors

Teaching People with Autism to Live in an Unpredictable World

Alternative Medicine vs. Conventional Medicine

Employment Ideas for Adults with Autism

And many more!

Caring for Myself: A Social Skills Storybook by Christy Gast and Jane Krug

Review
"This is a resource for young children that is certain to stand the practical tests of time and application! Simple and complete, parents and professionals will find themselves reaching for it time and again." Carol Gray, President, The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding and pioneer of Social Stories[trademark] "As adults, we frequently take for granted the daily routines which have become such an integral part of our lives. For many children, however, the unfamiliarity of these activities can instil fear or uncertainty, or promote the impression that the tasks are overwhelmingly difficult or complicated. With beautiful photos and simple, reassuring text, the authors and illustrator have created a remarkable resource. The step-by-step information will enable children to become familiar with basic routines so that they can approach them with both confidence and competence." Laurel A. Hoekman, Executive Director, The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding "These picture/word stories are to be enjoyed as they teach practical life skills to our children by making the information explicit and user friendly. The information is clearly presented and sequenced so it makes sense to our children, pairing language with pictures. It also helps parents learn how to break down these tasks into smaller steps that can guide them as to how best to teach this information to their children." Michelle Garcia Winner, Center for Social Thinking, Inc "An amazing book! Christy Gast and Jane Krug have provided a fun and informative text that will assist children on the autism spectrum in learning important life skills. Each step is broken down clearly and concisely with great visual representation. As an individual on the autism spectrum who has trouble with fine motor tasks, tasks which involve multiple directions and the fact that I tend to be a visual learner, I would have greatly benefited from a book like this as a child. Highly recommended!" Nick Dubin, presenter and author of Asperger Syndrome and Bullying "Children love looking at photos of themselves. That is why they will enjoy the personalized pages in Caring for Myself. Parents and teachers will enjoy the easy-to-use way to tap the visual learning strengths of students with ASD." Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, author of Visual Strategies for Improving Communication"

'An amazing book! Christy Gast and Jane Krug have provided a fun and informative text that will assist children on the autism spectrum in learning important life skills. Each step is broken down clearly and concisely with great visual representation. As an individual on the autism spectrum who has trouble with fine motor tasks, tasks which involve multiple directions and the fact that I tend to be a visual learner, I would have greatly benefited from a book like this as a child. Highly recommended!' --Nick Dubin, presenter and author of Asperger Syndrome and Bullying

'As adults, we frequently take for granted the daily routines which have become such an integral part of our lives. For many children, however, the unfamiliarity of these activities can instill fear or uncertainty, or promote the impression that the tasks are overwhelmingly difficult or complicated. With beautiful photos and simple, reassuring text, the authors and illustrator have created a remarkable resource. The step-by-step information will enable children to become familiar with basic routines so that they can approach them with both confidence and competence.' ---Laurel A. Hoekman, Executive Director, The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding

'This is a resource for young children that is certain to stand the practical tests of time and application! Simple and complete, parents and professionals will find themselves reaching for it time and again.' ---Carol Gray, President, The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding and pioneer of Social Stories(TM)

Product Description
For a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), even everyday activities like brushing your teeth, washing your hands or visiting the doctor can cause anxiety and stress because of the sensory, cognitive and communication impairments they experience.
Caring for Myself is an entertaining and educational social skills storybook that will help children with ASDs to understand the importance of taking care of their bodies. Fully illustrated with color photographs, it sets out fun, simple steps that explain what caring for yourself actually involves how you can do it, where it is done, why it is important.
At the end of each story is a handy 'Pause for thought' page for parents which offers tips and strategies to help a child with each activity.

This charming book will be much loved by children with ASD and will enable them and their parents to cope with the daily activities that can be such a challenge.

Caring for Myself: A Social Skills Storybook

The Boy Who Loved Windows: Opening The Heart And Mind Of A Child Threatened With Autism

The Boy Who Loved Windows: Opening The Heart And Mind Of A Child Threatened With Autism (Paperback)

Key Phrases: doing floor time, sensory integration disorder, hypoallergenic formula, Darleen Corbett, Smith College, Bainbridge Cohen

Amazon.com Review
Any parent who has suspected something was off with their baby will empathize with the first chapters of The Boy Who Loved Windows, which recounts the familiar tale of medical practitioners refusing to run tests or offer diagnoses. You'll empathize even more when it turns out that mom (and author) Patricia Stacey was right: young Walker is autistic. It's partially the empathy that makes this such a compelling read. Some chapters are devoted to Walker's life at home; others mix his development with medical details. The facts are wrenching: an estimated 1 in 500 people has some level of autism, causes are unclear, and the expectation for a cure is microscopic. But midway through the book, the family meets up with Dr. Stanley Greenspan (The Child With Special Needs), who introduces new techniques that spread rapidly to Walker's assorted therapists. Progress begins, if at a glacial pace. Stacey lets readers into her emotional process over the years she details; her anger, frustration, and concern over the rest of her family and her wild joy at some seemingly minor events provide a roller coaster in contrast to the more methodical research explanation. As a complement to more direct parenting books on autism or simply as a fascinating look at the early development of an atypical child, this book makes good on the promise of its intriguing title. --Jill Lightner --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Former Atlantic Monthly staffer Stacey makes her debut with a sharply observed, deeply personal account of her son Walker's metamorphosis from a worryingly unresponsive infant to an intelligent, normally functioning child. Living in the leafy college town of Northampton, Mass., Stacey documents her harrowing experiences as a mother, as she and her husband, Cliff, quickly realize that Walker is not a normal, happy baby. Walker fails to respond to his parents, eats very little, is unable to express emotion and spends much of his time staring at windows. Stacey works night and day to try to reverse Walker's diagnosis of possible autism, trying every conceivable treatment and specialist and obsessively educating herself about new trends in the neuroscience behind the disorder. She realizes that Walker blankly stares out of windows not because his senses are dulled but because they are overwhelmed; Walker is hypersensitive to the world and cannot cope with the constant rush of stimuli. Child psychiatrist Stanley Greenspan recommends his controversial "floor time" strategy for Walker: several hours of rigorous playtime between parent and child per day, emphasizing interaction. The time, money and stress involved in maintaining an intensive schedule of treatments for Walker from his eighth to 20th month soon show their toll on the Stacey family, as funds run dry, the parents grow further apart, and less time is available for Walker's older sister, Elizabeth. Stacey in particular becomes increasingly nervous, obsessive and exhausted from her constant battle to improve her son's life, but the result is stage-by-stage breakthroughs. Some readers will want less personal and medico-historical detail and fewer in-depth treatments of the various therapies and sessions, but Stacey keeps the focus on her own understanding, which ultimately sustains the book.

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (September 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073820966X
• ISBN-13: 978-0738209661

The Vaccine Book (A Safer Vaccine Schedule, Must Read!)

The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (Sears Parenting Library)

Sears, coauthor of several books in the Sears Parenting series, addresses one of today's most controversial and worrisome questions. Sears' goal is "to give you a balanced look at pros and cons of vaccination so that you can make an educated decision." Sears does not advocate for or rail against vaccination, stating it doesn't have to be an all or nothing decision-there are choices. The first 12 chapters discuss each vaccination in the childhood series, providing explanation of the relative disease, how the vaccine is made and points to assess a child's at-risk level when considering if the vaccine is necessary. Sears does offer guidance for those who are indecisive, offering his opinion based on clinical experience and 13 years of research taken from product inserts, pediatric reference books, articles and databases. Additional chapters illuminate more controversial aspects of the debate, such as how vaccine safety is researched and what the findings are, side effects and how to minimize them, common myths and questions. As always, Sears' tone puts readers at ease as he clearly explains medical terms and elucidates debates.

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (October 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316017507
• ISBN-13: 978-0316017503