Do you have a Special Needs child in your family?  If you are a parent with a Special Needs child, you know that they often require greater care and attention then other children may need.  But don't forget to make their siblings feel loved and special too.  If you are the sibling of a Special Needs child, you may feel at times that you are neglected.  Speak with your parents about your feelings; they may not know how you feel unless you reach out to them.  This web page has some resources for parents and siblings of Special Needs children.  Please read our article further down on this page - "Raising Special Needs Children: Siblings Have Special Needs Too".  It was written by a woman who has two children, one of which has special needs.  Learn from her experiences with raising them both.   Realize that Every Child has Special Needs! After you have read our article, follow the Related Links to related articles and further information on Special Needs children.  For even more information about Special Needs children, please buy a few of the Books we recommend below.  Talk to your children and help them to understand that each one is special in their own way!  Related Links: Tools for Parents of Children with Disabilities and Special Needs A 19 part article that gives bulleted lists of things to consider in regards to many topics related to Special Needs Children. Being Different: Raising a Special Needs Child  Another article on raising a special needs child, from LifeToolsForWomen.com.  When Special Needs Spark Sibling Rivalry An article about siblings of children with special needs. See more articles on this related page . Parenting Special Needs Forum  A forum to talk about special needs children.  From specialchildren.about.com. Moms of Special Needs Children  "In this forum, you will talk with other parents of children with disabilities who are dealing with the same issues that you face every day."  Read These Books:

Special Kids Need Special Parents: A Resource for Parents of Children with Special Needs Parents of children with special needs face unique emotional and practical challenges that are seldom addressed by the medical community. In Special Kids Need Special Parents, Judith Loseff Lavin-herself the parent of a child with special needs-draws on interviews with health care professionals, nationally recognized authorities, and other parents to give readers the answers, advice, and comfort they crave.   * Coping with chronic pain, sleep problems, and frequent hospitalizations * Dealing with feelings of grief and anger * Choosing a therapist * Finding suitable, reliable childcare * How to cope with teasing * The impact a child with special needs can have on a marriage, siblings, and grandparents * Finding cosmetic, prosthetic, and orthotic help * and more Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, LD, Asperger's, Tourette's, Bipolar and More!: The One Stop Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Other Professionals Kids in the Syndrome Mix is a concise, scientifically up-to-date, all-in-one guide to the whole range of often co-existing neuro-behavioral disorders in children - from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder to autistic spectrum disorders, nonverbal learning disabilities, sensory integration problems, and executive dysfunction. Dr. Kutscher provides accessible information on causes, symptoms, interactions with other conditions, and treatments. He presents effective behavioral strategies for responding to children who display traits of these disorders - whether at home, at school, or in other settings - along with case vignettes and practical tips. Raising NLD Superstars: What Families with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities Need to Know about Nurturing Confident, Competent Kids Raising NLD Superstars is essential reading for all those who come into contact with children with nonverbal learning disorders (NLD). Instead of insisting upon the one-size-fits-all model of intervention, the author focuses on the individual nature of NLD children and offers practical, adaptable advice that will help them find their place both in the family and in wider social groups. The author shares her experiences of life as the parent of a child with NLD with humanity and humor. She looks not only at day-to-day practicalities such as making meal times easier for all the family and reaching compromises on inappropriate clothing choices but also at the long-term plan for independence. The book will help parents and careers to support children with NLD to reach their emotional and cognitive potential while taking into account the views and experiences of other family members. Special Kids Problem Solver: Ready-to-Use Interventions for Helping All Students with Academic, Behavioral, and Physical Problems Written by an experienced school psychologist, this unique resource gives classroom teachers and specialists at all levels the key information and practical stategies they need to recognize and respond effectively to 30 of the most common problems encountered in today's classroom, including:   ACADEMIC PROBLEMS: Auditory Processing Problem · The ESL Student · The Gifted Student · Handwriting Problem · Math Anxiety · Mild Mental Retardation · Reading Disability · Speech and Language Problems · Spelling Problem · The unmotivated Student   BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS: The Aggressive Student · Attention Deficit Disorder · Autism · The Disorganized Student · The Disruptive Student · Low Seld-Esteem · The Perfectionist Student · The School Phobic Student · The Shy Student · Stuttering   PHYSICAL PROBLEMS: AIDS and HIV · Asthma · Cerebral Palsy · Cystic Fibrosis · Diabetes · Epilepsy · Hearing Impairment · Spina Bifida · Tourette Syndrome · Visual Impairment