Being the parent of a child with special needs is not a job any of us should have to do alone. Luckily, there are countless resources out there with the specific purpose of helping you navigate the stressful and amazing world of having a kid with special needs. Wading through all of the resources to find the best ones is a daunting and time-consuming task. We compiled some of the most reputable and most practical resources to get you started.
You’re Not Alone
As with any challenging life task, it can be hard to ask for help. But by asking, you will not only be getting help for yourself in a very difficult job, you will also be helping your child, whether directly or indirectly. There are many support groups available for parents to join with whatever level of involvement they need and are comfortable with. Parent to Parent is a wonderful organization with chapters in every state, and even some more local chapters. Parents can use this resource to connect with each other, find support groups, or just find answers to questions.
Get Social
There are also organizations that can connect your child with other children who have similar needs. Best Buddies is a nonprofit that creates friendships, employment opportunities, and other means of life improvement for individuals with disabilities.
Another excellent organization is Friendship Circle. They believe that “friendship is not a luxury.” We don’t think it should be either. They have locations around the world that partner volunteers and kids with disabilities to form mutually beneficial and lasting relationships.
Learn How to Advocate
You are your child’s very best advocate. But it can be hard to know how to best advocate for his or her needs. Family Voices is an organization that partners with families to improve quality of life and advocate for policies that directly affect children with special needs. They are committed to being advocates for special needs populations and are constantly developing content to educate parents. These resources help parents become better advocates for their own families in turn.
Do the Research & Get Involved
Giving your child with special needs the most support possible starts with doing your research. Try to understand your child’s disability neurologically, and stay informed with current science and best practices in both education and in parenting. The Federation for Children with Special Needs and the Council for Exceptional Children are strong organizations that inform and empower. The former is geared more toward families and provides valuable resources to make sure that parents know what they need to in order to best support their child. The latter focuses on what developments are happening in schools. As an organization, the CEC is dedicated to making sure all students with disabilities are receiving the best education possible. They also have some valuable resources that are worth looking at, not just for educators, but for parents who want to be informed about their child’s education.
Conclusion
Raising a child with special needs is hard work, but it is work worth doing. Remember that you don’t have to do it alone, and there are plenty of resources out there to help guide you.
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