The following books are recommended not just for parents of children with additional needs but anyone seeking to understand and support these families.
This book addresses the spiritual needs of parents of critically and chronically ill children, sharing thoughts and encouragements from the author’s own experience and the experience of other parents. Written in short chapters it’s a very helpful book not just for parents but possibly even more for grandparents, friends and others who are seeking to support these parents.
This book is written to help children understand that God has made each of us unique and that having additional needs doesn’t make anyone less valuable before God. Set in a Kids Church Group one Sunday morning the book also encourages children to understand each other and treat each other with respect and kindness.
Cecily Paterson is a mum whose son was diagnosed at age three with autism spectrum disorder She is also the wife of an Anglican Minister in the southern highlands and in this book shares her autism journey, sharing the highs and lows with humour, warmth and brutal honesty. The value of the book lies not only in the encouragement and information it provides to families on a similar journey but the insight it gives for those seeking to support and understand the pressures these families face.
Written for parents, grandparents and family friends of those who are coping with a disability this book combines consideration of hard theological questions about disability with personal stories from Australian Christian parents caring for children with additional needs.
Sara wrote this book to help her son, who has ASD, in communicating his feelings through pictures. Each page illustrates an emotion or sense through colour and character accompanied by a short description. This allows a child to use the pictures to start a conversation about how they feel and what they need at that time.
In this book the authors acknowledge the importance of parents showing love to each other, their special needs children and any other siblings in the family while at the same time recognising the extreme pressures and demands these families face. The idea of the love languages is to equip parents, who have limited time, resources and energy, to show love in the most effective and efficient way possible.
In this book English pastor Andrew Wilson and his wife Rachel share their personal experience as parents of two children with special needs with honesty and openness. It provides insight and encouragement for Christian parents that is grounded in God’s Word and their own determination to trust God. I was especially challenged and encouraged by their struggle with deep questions about suffering and prayer.
These books are available to borrow from our Family Resources Collection at church.