--- title: Special Needs Parenting description: Special needs parenting addresses the unique emotional, educational, and medical challenges of raising children with physical, developmental, or learning disabilities. You will understand how to navigate support systems, advocate for educational accommodations, and manage daily caregiving demands. category: personal-development subcategory: parenting-skills difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced url: /subject/special-needs-parenting --- # Special Needs Parenting Special needs parenting addresses the unique emotional, educational, and medical challenges of raising children with physical, developmental, or learning disabilities. You will understand how to navigate support systems, advocate for educational accommodations, and manage daily caregiving demands. ## Available Resources 2 Books • 5 Websites ## Websites ### 1. Wrightslaw.com Special education law site run by attorney Pete Wright and Pam Wright, with articles, case law summaries, and IDEA/504 explanations. Parents use it to understand their child's legal rights and prepare for IEP meetings and due process. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.wrightslaw.com/ **Tags:** special-education, iep, disability-law, parent-advocacy ### 2. Autismspeaks.org Toolkits Free downloadable guides from Autism Speaks covering the first 100 days after diagnosis, IEPs, challenging behaviors, dental visits, employment, housing, and transition to adulthood. Each kit gives caregivers checklists and practical steps for one specific situation. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit **Tags:** autism, parenting, caregiver-guides, special-education ### 3. CHADD.org Nonprofit for children and adults with ADHD that runs the National Resource Center on ADHD. Offers evidence-based fact sheets, webinars, a helpline, parent and educator training courses, and a directory of local chapters and support groups. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://chadd.org/ **Tags:** adhd, parenting, support-groups, special-education ### 4. childmind.org ChildMind.org is the online home of the Child Mind Institute, offering expert, parent-focused guidance on children’s mental health and family dynamics. It features articles, tips, checklists, and resource guides on topics like sibling relationships, behavior, anxiety, ADHD, and therapy options. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://childmind.org **Tags:** websites, personal-development, family-relationship ### 5. understood.org Understood.org is a resource hub for families and educators on learning and attention issues, offering expert articles, tools, and practical guides on ADHD, dyslexia, IEPs/504 plans, accommodations, and executive function. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://understood.org **Tags:** websites, education-teaching, education ## Youtubes ### 1. Understood.org Support and strategies for parents of kids with learning and thinking differences. Find expert advice & connect with other families. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://youtube.com/@understoodorg **Tags:** learning-differences, adhd, dyslexia, parenting ## Books ### 1. The Explosive Child **Author:** Ross W. Greene Child psychologist Ross Greene's Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model, which treats chronic meltdowns as lagging thinking skills rather than defiance. Readers learn to identify unsolved problems and work through them with the child instead of imposing consequences. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0061906190?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, personal-development, parenting-skills ### 2. Smart but Scattered **Author:** Peg Dawson, Richard Guare A framework of eleven executive skills, including working memory, emotional control and task initiation, with informal assessments for children and parents. Includes routines and environmental changes for strengthening the specific skills a child lacks. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/1593854455?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, personal-development, parenting-skills --- *This content is part of Dantes.io - Your Treasure Map to Knowledge* *Curated by humans at Dantes.io. Personal study use welcome; republishing this curation requires permission (team@dantes.io).* View this page online: https://dantes.io/subject/special-needs-parenting