Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs: Stories of Love and Understanding for Those Who Care for Children with Disabilities

Parenting a child with special needs is hard work, parenting any child is hard work. The stories in this book encourage me to continue, every day. All of these terrific stories give encouragement and hope to parents. Other readers will come away with a new appreciation of children with disabilities.Yes, I do have a story included, "Good Night Faith", about my 10 year old daughter with Down Syndrome. Sharing this story about Faith has been a wonderful opportunity to tell the world what a great kid she is.

If you have a special needs child in your family, are friends with someone with a special needs child, or just want to expand your understanding, this book is a must - read. I think it would be a very good book for younger persons to read as well, especially those without firsthand knowledge or experience with children or other youngsters with special needs.

With the Chicken Soup craze being so popular so many years ago, I'm surprised that a Special Needs edition wasn't created sooner! But better late than never. It's hard as a special needs parent to make contact with others. It will be nice to read this book and find stories similar to mine. It's a different kind of "Mom's" club, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

As you read the stories about these kids your heart will melt with that deep down truth that we all know and believe. Each of us has a force, a determined drive to do our very best. The kids in these stories exemplify this concept to the very MAX! Their stories will not only encourage those who have children with special needs. This collection of stories inspires the rest of us to overlook our supposed shortcomings. We come away from these chapters with a greater determination to be what the Lord would have us to be. Ron Reese Author of Mike's Trucks Chicken Soup for the Child's Soul

Yes, one of my stories is featured in this book. But that is not the reason I am writing here. After reading the other stories, I realized what an honor and privilege it is to be included in such outstanding company as the other contributing authors. The courage, the compassion, the insight and determination inspire me for those "bad" days that I know will continue to happen and remind me that a day is just a day and not a lifetime. I first encountered Chicken Soup and it's inspiration when I attended my first IBI Conference in Ca. a few years ago. There,I met and was coached by Lisa Nichols, another Chicken Soup author and I knew that inspiration was always at hand if I could be around people like Lisa. Also, it was a wonderful opportunity to speak out about mental illness and it's affect on our children. So please, read this book and let it touch it in a very special way. It's just real people, telling their story.