Praise for the revised edition of

                        Special Children, Challenged Parents

“Writing with the wisdom of a mental health professional and the compassion of a loving father, Dr. Naseef has given us a book  that will instruct and inspire us all.”

       -Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to     Good People

 

"Fear, dismay, anger, frustration -- these and many other emotions

assail the parents of disabled children when they first learn of their

child's problem, and on a daily basis thereafter. Robert Naseef's book,

based on his personal experience as a parent, and as a guide and mentor to other parents, provides a welcome beacon of light, information and inspiration to the beleaguered families searching for help and hope.  This book will become a valued friend. Highly recommended."

        - Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., Director, Autism Research Institue

          Founder, Autism Society of America

          Editor, Autism Research Review International

 

"Author Robert Naseef has written a very special book for parents with special children. Beautifully written with love and compassion, it is so much more than a resource guide. Parents will not feel so alone, clinicians and educators will gain better insight. Dr. Naseef clearly understands the complex range of issues that parents face, because he has experienced these concerns firsthand."

       -Nancy D. Wiseman, Founder & President, First Signs, Inc.

 

"Special Children, Challenged Parents" is a compelling journey that speaks to the heart and soul of all who are touched by children with special needs.  Bob Naseef is an expert in addressing despair, sorrow, and grieving, while offering us uplifting skills to achieve courage, hope, and joyful acceptance. This book is truly inspirational; you will never feel alone again.

       -Jody Swarbrick,  Parenting Special Needs at About.com

 

Robert A. Naseef, Ph.D., a skilled clinical psychologist, has written a touching and insightful portrayal of thr heartbreaking problems which confront parents of a special child. Special Children,Challenged Parents is told from Naseef's point of view as the father of a young adult with severe disabilities. Dr. Naseef's specialy is counseling families of children with special needs. His account of the phases of grief, anger,bewildermant to final acceptance and peace of mind which the families(and Naseef) experience is eloquent. Professionals,parents, siblings,anyone involved in the field of special needs should read this book.

       -Virginia Walker Sperry, author of Fragile Success

 

"This is a landmark book for parents and professionals. Beautifully written, this up-to-date book describes the complex challenges families face as the author integrates his personal growth as a father with his terrific professional empathy and expertise. You will find yourself reaching for this book again and again as an important resource for understanding families, for intervention strategies, and for inspiration."

       -Nancy Miller, author of Nobody's Perfect and Everybody's          Different

                                               **********************

 

Critical Acclaim for the first edition of Special Children, Challenged Parents

 

“With enormous insight and eloquence Bob Naseef blends his understanding as a psychologist with his real life experience of raising a son with autism.  The result is a book which moves and teaches us at the same time--an intelligent, authentic, and impressive achievement.”

-James May, Project Director, National Fathers’ Network

 

“As a father and a psychotherapist, Dr. Naseef provides a very well written discussion of the powerful issues faced by parents of children with disabilities or special health care in their day-to-day lives--a fine book for parents and professionals.”

-Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D.,Co-Founder, former Editor in Chief, Exceptional Parent

 

 "This is an honest and compassionate look at one of life's challenges: parenting a child with a disability. Bob Naseef writes with both authority and great tenderness, as a father and a psychologist. This book can help parents feel more forgiving and hopeful, for their children and themselves."

- Sam Osherson, Ph.D., Harvard University Health Services; author of Finding  Our Fathers, Wrestling With Love, and The Passions of Fatherhood

 

"A searingly honest, soul-searching account of Bob Naseef's struggles, his growth, and his solutions, this truly exceptional book combines the empathetic with a useful and practical manual about how to recognize and deal with guilt, gender, 'expectations,' friends and relatives, and learning to live with, protect, discipline, and love a disabled child."

- Bertram A. Ruttenberg, M.D., Center for Autistic Children, Philadelphia; Professor of Psychiatry, Jefferson University College of Medicine

 

"Never have I read a book that combines so profoundly the experiences of a father - agonizing, embarrassing, frustrating, exhilarating, sometimes even blissful - with the insights of an experienced therapist and the wisdom of a scholar. The richness, breadth, and eloquence of this work are a tour de force - a must for parents, therapists, and researchers."

-Joan F. Goodman Ed.D., University of Pennsylvania Graduate school of Education; author of When Slow is Fast Enough

 

"A moving account of the dynamics, challenges, and triumphs of families coping with a childhood disability. Special Children, Challenged Parents is essential reading for family members and the professionals who serve those families."

- Milton Seligman Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychology in Education; coauthor of Ordinary Families, Special Children

 

“Special Children, Challenged Parents is able to straddle that fine line between popular psychology and academic scholarship...useful for academic course work, clinical supervision, rehabilitation facilities, parent groups, and educators.”

-Jed Yalof, Psy.D., The Independent Practitioner, American Psychological Association

 

“Although the target audience is parents, to whom I would recommend this book without hesitation, clinicians and trainees in the many disciplines that deal with disabled children will also benefit from reading it.

 -Dorothy O’Keefe, M.D., Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

 

“This book represents the intersection of the heart and soul of the parent with the insight and knowledge of the therapist...By opening up his own personal journal, Dr. Naseef sheds a bright light on the emotional pain and victories of raising children with disabilities.”

-Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities

 

“An extremely moving personal documentary.  The professional work and detailed clinical work he describes are enriched by his own vivid experiences, thus making his suggestions more meaningful and practical.”

-The Journal of Developmental and Learning Disorders

 

“Written with professional expertise and fatherly compassion, this is a book from the heart that offers practical ways of coping with life.  His book, like a good friend, made me feel less alone.”

-Jennifer Graham, ACTION,  PA Council for Exceptional Children

 

“Dr. Naseef encourages parents to observe and understand their children's development and behavior, and provides guidance for translating these insights into practical strategies for encouraging more adaptive behavior by both children and adult family members.”

-Zero to Three, National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families

 

“The book is recommended for parents who feel that the strain of caring for a child with special needs is taking a toll on their marriage and for families who have other children without disabilities and need to learn how to make each one of them feel special and nurtured.”

-Occupational Therapy Practice

 

“A very candid personal book. In speaking to his readers both as a professional and as a parent, he encompasses the needs of children with disabilities and their bewildered, often angry parents.”

-Hannah Merker, author of Listening: Ways of Hearing in a Silent World, in Newswaves