 Browse any bookshelf on the topic of parenting special needs children and you will find a wealth of information on different diagnoses that tell you how to best support and care for that child. What you will not find is a book on how parents should support and take care of themselves. No matter what the disability or the situation, parents can take control of their own life and find happiness. Authors Nancy J. Whiteman and Linda Roan-Yager wanted to write a book that showed how it is possible to create a life filled with gratitude and joy. The result is BUILDING A JOYFUL LIFE WITH YOUR CHILD WHO HAS SPECIAL NEEDS (December 2006, Jessica Kingsley Publishers Paperback, $19.95; ISBN-10: 1-84310-841-0; 204 pages). As they say in the book, “You count. You deserve a great life. Spending time on yourself is not selfish. In fact, one of the greatest gifts you can give your child is a happier and less stressed parent.”
Whiteman and Roan-Yager are co-founders and Presidents of Shifting View Inc., an organization set up to provide inspiration, support, and practical strategies for parents of children with special needs. Children with special needs require so much time and energy it is easy for parents to neglect their own well-being. They have worked with over a thousand parents and professionals through workshops and coaching sessions. Many of the exercises from their workshops are incorporated into BUILDING A JOYFUL LIFE WITH YOUR CHILD. You can go to www.shiftingview.com to learn more about their organization.
Nancy J. Whiteman is the mother of two daughters. Her older daughter has early onset bipolar disorder and ADHD. In addition to her work with Shifting View, Whiteman is President of The Whiteman Group, Inc., a consultancy that advises corporations on sales, marketing and business development issues. Nancy holds a B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Linda Roan-Yager has three daughters. Her oldest daughter has Down’s Syndrome and cleft lip and palate. She is a Family Resource Consultant for the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Department, providing workshops and support for professionals and families around Colorado. Yager holds a master’s degree in School Psychology from Trinity University and a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers specializes in producing accessible professional and academic books in the social and behavioral sciences. In 2007, Jessica Kingsley Publishers was named both the Academic & Professional Publisher of the Year and the overall Independent Publisher of the Year at the Independent Publishing Awards in London. The prizes coincide with Jessica Kingsley Publishers' 20th year as an independent company. Jessica Kingsley books are available worldwide through distributors, local bookstores and online bookstores. The company has offices in London and Philadelphia. More information can be found at www.jkp.com. |
