New book supports parents of children with special needs

Parenting a child with special needs can be a lonely journey. The Rev. Lorna Bradley, a United Methodist deacon and parent of an adult son on the autism spectrum, saw a need for emotional and spiritual support of parents raising children with special needs. She wrote Special Needs Parenting: From Coping to Thriving (Huff Publishing Associates) to equip parents with tools to cope with common challenges and build personal and family resilience. The book, which includes discussion questions in each chapter, is suitable for small groups or individual readers.

“Something special happens when you’re in a small group with others who understand the journey you’re on,” said Bradley, a fellow at the Hope and Healing Institute in Houston. “When you’re parenting a child with special needs, even if you’re in the room with parents of neurotypical children, you can feel incredibly isolated. When you’re part of a small group with other parents of children with special needs, even if the diagnoses are different, you find mutual understanding.

“How we fuel ourselves when things go well helps prepare us for when things aren’t going well. Take care of yourself the best you can – your emotional health and your spiritual health, so that ... you are the most resilient person you can be.”

Learn more about Bradley on her website, www.SpecialNeedsParenting.me .

Adapted from Huff Publishing Associates release