Emotional Support for Families
Just as every child with special needs is unique, so too is each parent, family member, and caregiver. People find emotional support in their own way. We've selected a sampling of resources that some parents have found supportive along the way.
Read About Other Parents' Experiences
There is plenty to read on living with and parenting a child with special needs. Here are a few essays, book lists, and collections to get you started:
- Common Bonds: an essay on the experience of parenting a child with special health care needs Meg Comeau, former Coordinator of Boston Children's Hospital Family-to-Family Program
- All the Silver Linings: a series of brief essays written by parents for Band-Aides and Blackboards
- Collection of stories or bibliography of books: personal reflections and book recommendations from fathers in the Father's Network
- Children's Disability Information's book list
- Woodbine House Special Needs book collection
Connect with Other Parents
Many parents find talking with others who face similar challenges to be enormously helpful. This can happen through one-to-one conversations, participating in a support group, or attending a social or educational gathering related to your child's diagnosis. Ask your child's health care providers, teachers, or other parents about where these kinds of opportunities might be found. These are a few links to organizations that can help connect with other parents:
- Family Village: look up your child's specific diagnosis under "Library" to find contact information of related national organizations that may have local chapters and support networks. Please note: site uses the term disability to include both medical/health diagnoses as well as developmental ones
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) Database: search by your child's diagnosis to find a support group or other source of help.
- Parent-to-Parent USA: learn if Parent-to-Parent has a program in your state. Scroll down to the US map to find contact information for a P2P program near you (Washington State residents can go directly to Parent to Parent in Washington State). Alternative support organizations in the western states include:
- Fathers Network: serves fathers and families of children with special needs in Washington State. Includes resources, support groups, essays from fathers, and newsletters.
- Sibling Support Project: national project for brothers and sisters of people with special needs. Sibshops are workshops that provide peer support for siblings age 6 to 13.
- Seattle Children's or your regional hospital: contact healthcare organizations in your area to learn if they offer support group opportunities.
Find Support Online
Families describe their experiences with the internet in a variety of ways ranging from immensely supportive to totally overwhelming. Some families find it supportive to read email newsletters or participate on bulletin boards, blogs or listservs:
- Family Village discussion board
- Children's Disabilities Information's list of online support groups
- Our Kids' email group
Find Professional Help
There may be times when seeking professional support is just the right thing for you. There are a variety of providers to whom you can turn such as therapists, counselors, doctors, social workers, clergy, or spiritual leaders. Friends, family, or health care providers can often be your best resources for recommendations. Here are a few resources to help guide your search for professional support:
- Types of mental health professionals
- Mental health professionals: who they are and how to find one
- Choosing the right mental health therapist