Raising a Kid with Special Needs: The Complete Canadian Guide.

Janet Collins is a freelance writer in Sechelt, British Columbia.

The 20 percent of Canadian families who are raising a child with some sort of disability have a new information resource to call their own. Lisa Bendall has produced a guide that is both comprehensive and friendly—a rare find, especially for one devoted to Canadian resources on the topic. From dealing with the diagnosis to suggestions for coping with every aspect of life—life of both the parents and the child—this book covers it all.

While the strategies and resource information are invaluable tools, it is the personal stories from parents who’ve learned how to navigate the system and advocate for their own children that gives the book its reassuring—and empowering—quality. In fact, there is much that any parent of any child can learn from this publication.

A must-read book for any family raising a child with special needs. Also a good addition to public, school, and support agency libraries.