Canfield - Chicken soup for the soul: children with special needs: stories of love and understanding for those who care for children with disabilities

What People Are Saying About
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Children with Special Needs...

This is such an important book! As parents, we need all the love, strength, and support we can get, especially from other parents and families. We are our childrens voices and the world needs to know how dedicated parents are and how hard our children work to overcome such obstacles that we sometimes take for granted.

Nicole ODrain

If this book had been available to me back when our son Gary was born, it would have given me great hope for a happy future for our wonderful son. Families of children with disabilities desperately need validation that their child can function successfully in our society, and lead a productive life. The stories printed here demonstrate just how much is possible with hope, optimism, and faith.

Helen Ruvolo

Thank you for not only addressing this topic but for providing a forum that allows us the opportunity to share our stories and read all the beautiful pieces included in the published edition. Each time I read such stories, they go straight to my heart and always leave a lasting impression; always touching, always spiritually enlightening, always uplifting. Love them!

Diane Cassity

As the founder of Sharing Down Syndrome Arizona, I know that Down syndrome is the most common genetic birth defect. There will be countless parents who will love this book. Most parents hearts feel broken when hearing what feels like the hardest news ever about their newborn or unborn baby. This book will bring more comfort than you can ever imagine.

Gina Johnson

When I was pregnant, all I could find was books that told me the bad, unhappy things that were in store for me. I wish I would have had a book that would have given me hope for a happy life. But of course, no one could have prepared me for the amount of joy I receive from my daughter daily.

Carolyn A. Kenney

The need for such a book is long overdue. The challenges of my sons autism have made me aware of how much work goes into not only loving him, but also appreciating his uniqueness. We need to know that others support us, whether through words that embrace the core of our struggles, or through a simple smile of understanding at the grocery store. We need avenues to express our joy, vent our frustrations, and share our triumphs.

Brenda Williams

Our family is quite grateful for this project and the awareness it will create for these fantastic children. Our children have broadened and enriched our lives greatly and perhaps this book will give many others a little taste of our joy.

John Bolton

Chicken Soup for the Soul will provoke a better understanding of individuals with different abilities. I wish I had this book when I taught special education.

Joey Travolta
Director, Inclusion Films

Reading these stories has been a great experience for me. I work for an agency that provides services for people with disabilities and sometimes feel disconnected from our agencys mission. This has helped me feel a stronger connection to my work place. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share in other peoples lives, to hear their dreams and hopes, triumphs and sorrows. It has been an honor.

Patty Dobbins

I wish I could write each and every person to thank them for their stories. They have kept me smiling and sane through an international move, trying to readjust to life in the states and starting a new job. Its been a busy couple of months, and Im not sure I could have done it without the laughter and the tears from reading these stories.

Heather Minnick

CHICKEN SOUP
FOR THE SOUL
CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS

Stories of Love and Understanding for Those
Who Care for Children with Disabilities

Jack Canfield
Mark Victor Hansen
Heather McNamara
Karen Simmons

www.hcibooks.com
www.chickensoup.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Chicken soup for the soul : children with special needs / Jack Canfield...

[et al.].

p. cm.

eISBN-13: 978-0-7573-9854-4 (ebook) eISBN-13: 0-7573-9854-5 (ebook)

1. Children with disabilities. I. Canfield, Jack, 1944
HV888.C475 2007
362.4083dc22

2007020388

2007 John T. Canfield and Hansen and Hansen LLC

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

HCI, its logos and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.

R-05-08

Cover photo Wolfgang Weinhupl, topimages.com
Cover design and interior formatting by Lawna Patterson Oldfield

T his book is dedicated to
everyone involved in the life of
a growing child.

We also dedicate this book to our own children
who have helped us grow as people.

Contents

Melissa Riggio as told to Rachel Buchholz

Emily Perl Kingsley

Reverend Johnny Wray as told to Stephanie Welcher Thompson

Jo Clancy

Louise Tucker Jones

Sarah and MMC John S. Smigal

Jill Presson

Stacey Flood

Deborah Rose

Shari Youngblood

Donna Turenne

Pam Wilson

Janet Lynn Mitchell

Gina Johnson

Cheryl Kremer

Michelle M. Guppy

Sandy Sotzen

PeggySue Wells

Michelle M. Guppy

Connie Ellison

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Jeffrey J. Cain, M.D.

Nanette Whitman-Holmes

Jimmy Hinkley

Trisha Kay Kayden

Mary Mooney

Laura Dean as told to Jeanne Pallos

Chynna Laird

Michelle Ward

Jennifer Lawler

Susan Farr-Fahncke

Scott Newport

Debbie Jaskot

Stephanie Welcher Thompson

Hillary Key

Karen Brill

Ted Kuntz

Susan Farr-Fahncke

Gina Morgan

Beverly Beckham

Lisa J. Schlitt

Sarah Smiley

Dick Sobsey

Jacqui Kess-Gardner