Additional Resources for Families of Children with Disabilities

Books:

Batshaw, M. (2000). When your child has a disability: The complete sourcebook of daily and medical care (rev. ed.). Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

A parent's guide that offers detailed information about the daily and long-term care requirements of specific disabilities, including mental retardation, Down syndrome and other genetic syndromes, spina bifida, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, communication disorders, visual impairment, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Some of the topics covered in this book include child development, behavior, nutrition and feeding, medications, therapies, education and early intervention, legal rights and benefits, and genetic counseling.

Bowe, F. (2004). Early childhood special education: Birth to age eight (3rd ed.). Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.

This book provides an introduction to early childhood special education from birth to eight years of age. This foundation book offers information on IDEA, on issues and trends in early childhood special education, and on a variety of disabilities within the context of child development.

Curran, D. (1989). Working with parents. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

Topics covered in this book for professionals working in the parent education field include: conducting groups that empower parents, reexamining traditional assumptions about parents, and listening to identify parents' needs.

Dettmer, P., Thurston, L., & Dyck, N. (2005). Consultation, collaboration, and teamwork for students with special needs. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

This book is a comprehensive guide for preparing general and special educators to work collaboratively in educating students with special learning needs. Topics include the team process; educational roles and opportunities; processes for teaching, learning, and interacting; and improving educational partnerships to serve special needs of students.

Falvey, M. (2005). Believe in my child with special needs! Helping children achieve their potential in school. Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

Drawing on her experiences as a parent of a child with a disability and as an educator, the author helps parents understand their child's rights, pursue an inclusive education, collaborate with other IEP team members, promote their child's access to the general education curriculum, encourage educators to use appropriate modifications and assessment strategies, support their child's social skills, and develop transition plans.

Featherstone, H. (1980). A difference in the family: Living with a disabled child. New York: Penguin Books.

A woman shares her own personal story regarding the impact a disability has on the family as a whole as well as on each individual family member. She shares the family dynamics and frank discussion of their decisions regarding the child with a disability.

Gill, B. (1997). Changed by a child: Companion notes for parents of a child with a disability. New York: Broadway Books.

This book has numerous accounts of parents who share their inner feelings and thoughts about raising a child who has a disability.

Harry, B. (1992). Cultural diversity, families, and the special education system: Communication and empowerment. New York: Teachers College Press.

This thought-provoking book explores the quadruple disadvantage faced by the parents of poor and minority children with disabilities whose first language is not that of the school they attend.

Howard, V. F., Williams, B. F., Port, P. D., & Lepper, C. (2001). Very young children with special needs: A formative approach for the 21st century (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Provides an introduction to early childhood and early childhood special education professionals who provide child and family services as well as intervention to very young children with disabilities. This foundation book offers the philosophy, history, family impact, legal issues, and medical concerns that are important to early intervention and early childhood services to very young children with disabilities and their families.

Jorgenson, C., Schuh, M., & Nisbet, J. (2005). The inclusion facilitator's guide. Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

This book addresses the role of inclusion facilitators who are educators that advocate for change in schools and communities. This guidebook prepares staff for the challenges of facilitating full inclusion. Topics covered in this book include: promising practices for supporting ten key elements of inclusion, functioning effectively as a collaborative team leader and a source of information and support, learning strategies for supporting students to be full participants and learners within the general education curriculum and classroom, and advance organizational changes in specific areas such as scheduling and technology.

Kalyanpur, M., & Harry, B. (1999). Culture in special education: Building reciprocal family-professional relationships. Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

This book helps educators understand the importance of developing education plans that will enhance children's learning and respect their cultural beliefs. Filled with personal anecdotes, case examples, and detailed theoretical discussions, this book brings to light the potential impact of cultural assumptions on parent-professional interactions in special education.

Klein, S., & Schive, K. (Eds.). (2001). You will dream new dreams: Inspiring personal stories by parents of children with disabilities. New York: Kensington Publishing Corporation.

Parents of children with disabilities share their personal experiences about the journey of having a child who has special needs.

Kroth, R. L., & Edge, D. (1997). Strategies for communicating with parents of exceptional children (3rd ed.). Denver, CO: Love.

A book of techniques based on the premise that all parents have strengths from which to contribute to their child's education as well as needs to be met. It is aimed at teachers who would like to improve their skills in working with parents.

Marsh, J. (Ed.). (1995). From the heart: On being a mother of a child with special needs. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

Nine mothers share their personal experiences of raising children with special needs. They discuss topics such as relationships with professionals, family life, and school issues.

Martin, N. (2005). A guide to collaboration for IEP teams. Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

Developed for administrators, teachers, resource professionals, and parents, this skills-based book will help members of the IEP team design, review, and modify IEPs for children with special education needs.

McHugh, M. (2002). Special siblings: Growing up with someone with a disability (rev. ed.). Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

In this book, the author shares her experience across the lifespan as the sister of a man with cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Interviews with others who have a sibling with a disability are shared regarding the issues that may arise in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

Meyer, D. (Ed.). (1995). Uncommon fathers: Reflections on raising a child with a disability. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

Nineteen fathers share their experiences and perspectives concerning raising a child with special needs.

Meyer, D. J., & Vadasy, P. F. (1994). Sibshops: Workshops for siblings of children with special needs. Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

The easy-to-use Sibshop is a practical resource that brings together eight- to thirteen-year-olds to express their feelings about brothers and sisters with disabilities.

Naseef, R. (2001). Special children, challenged parents: The struggles of raising a child with a disability (rev. ed.). Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

Written from a father's perspective, the author describes the grieving process and his experiences living with his own child who has autism. He shares how to work effectively with medical and educational professionals.

O'Shea, D., Bateman, D., Algozzine, B., & O'Shea, L. (2004). The special education due process handbook. Longmont, CO: Sopris West.

Developed for parents, administrators, special education teachers, and general education teachers, this guidebook offers information about special education due process.

Powell, T. H., & Gallagher, P. A. (1993). Brothers and sisters: A special part of exceptional families (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

This book contains personal stories shared by brothers and sisters of exceptional siblings. Topics include sibling adjustment, effective listening, and innovative teaching programs.

Rainforth, B., & York-Barr, J. (1997). Collaborative teams for students with severe disabilities: Integrating therapy and educational services (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

A text on how to establish effective transdisciplinary teaming with professionals and parents. Various models of effective collaboration in educational settings are discussed. Detailed case studies illustrate how to integrate therapy into educational programming.

Snow, K. (2005). Disability is natural: Revolutionary common sense for raising successful children with disabilities (2nd ed.). Woodland Park, CO: Braveheart Press.

The author shares her journey with her son, Benjamin, who was born seven weeks prematurely. As a result of the premature birth, Benjamin and his family were thrown into "Disability World" filled with therapies, specialists, and special education. The author shares her ideas about the importance of using people-first language and that disability is a natural part of the human experience.