Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child with a Disability, Revised Edition

by Robert A. Naseef

Book Overview

Not just another resource on parenting. More than a book on autism. This important book is a must-have guide for any parent of a child with a disability as well as anyone who works with or cares for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557665354
• ISBN13: 9781557665355
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Brookes Publishing Company
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent book!

I would recommend this book to anyone with children even those without special needs. Dr. Naseef tells of his experience as a parent as well as a therapist. It's one of those books that when you read it you catch yourself thinking "I thought I was the only one who felt that way". I would also recommend seeing one of Dr. Naseef's lectures or looking up his webpage oneline.

An honest look at the grief a special needs parent feels.

Usually when I review a book, I'm looking for one that's reader-friendly (a quick read, written in understandable language, and offering practical ideas). By that definition, this book may not fit. Is "Special Children, Challenged Parents" written in understandable language? Yes. Does it offer practical ideas? Definitely. Will it be a quick read? Probably not. You see, Dr. Naseef's book is going to touch your emotions. This is perhaps the most honest book I have ever read on the grieving process of parents struggling to accept and raise a child with special needs. By sharing his own story and those of other parents he has interviewed and worked with, Dr. Naseef discusses why this process is so hard and what parents can do to survive the process and come out on the other side. But perhaps Dr. Naseef's most valuable contribution is his message for fathers. Fathers very rarely fit comfortably into the role of fathering a child with special needs and Dr. Naseef's unique qualifications as both a father and a psychologist have given him rare insights to help other Dads facing this challenge. This may not be an "easy read", but if you're a parent struggling with your emotional responses to your child -- it is definitely a "must read".

Know a child with special needs? This book's for you.

As a parent of a medically fragile child with special needs, Dr.Naseef's book has been a wonderful resource for me, my wife, and our family and friends. The author's experience as a father of a special child of his own and as a psychologist shine through its pages. This book is a must read for parents, teachers, medical professionals, caregivers, and others whose lives are touched by a child with special needs. Full of practical strategies for coping, from the initial grief to working effectively with medical and educational professionals, to staying together as a family. It's not easy explaining to our friends and family how we stay positive while faced with so many challenges -- Special Children, Challenged Parents has been a great help to us and the people who are close to our son.

a gentle mix of memoir and advice

Robert Naseef clearly understands the complex range of issues that accompany raising a special child. He is a gentle father and husband, and he interweaves the story of his own son's battle with autism into the lives of others he meets and counsels along the way. He offers plenty of good advice here about how to maintain one's sanity, health and marriage while still doing all one can and should for one's special child.