Helpful Hints for Parenting a Child with Special Needs

These are helpful hints taken from the previous chapters. They may help in your search to meet your child's special needs.

• Get help and advice right away if you have a concern about your child's development and learning. It may prevent some developmental delays.
• Start by talking to your child's caregiver, doctor, or teacher.
• Make notes and lists of questions for meetings.
• Bring a friend or relative with you to give support when meeting with doctors and teachers.
• Keep good records of shots, tests, letters from doctors and teachers, and notes from meetings, and put them in a file.
• Learn all you can about your child's special needs.
• Learn as much as you can about your legal rights under The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Try to learn as much as you can about supports and services that can help you and your child.
• As a parent or caregiver it is important to make sure that your child's education and environment meet his or her special needs.
• Ask for changes if something is not working.
• Imagine goals and dreams for your child and talk about them with others who know your child.
• Your child has special abilities and talents. Use your child's abilities to create a plan to make the dreams come true.
• You know your child best; set goals your child can reach.
• Keep notes of your child's progress.
• Get the support you need by joining a support group, or by talking to other parents, friends, or family members you can trust.
• Brothers and sisters of children with special needs need support and attention, too.
• Include your child with special needs in activities with all children, both with and without special needs.
• Gather as much information as you can about programs your community offers children your child's age.
• Be sure to look at your whole child: your child's strengths as well as the areas for which your child needs supports and services.
• Do not give up when you know you are right!