Changed by a Child

Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary!A must for all parents of exceptional children
Review:

_Changed by a Child_ is a refreshing addition to the genre of disability literature for parents. Similar to mainstream books like _Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much_, Gill provides quick, readable vignettes for parents who often don't have time to read.

Inspirational insights- like the joy of finding the face of God in the face of a child with Down Syndrome, an argument that false hope is better than no hope at all, and a reminder that children's needs and wants need to be considered as often as their legal rights- give mothers and fathers the courage to move forward in the face of frustration, sadness and anger. For a population so frequently isolated from the rest of the world, "Changed By a Child" is one of those books that reaches into the living rooms of exceptional parents and says: "You are not alone!" Such affirmation is sure to strengthen many who need to return to physical therapy exercises, suctioning trach tubes, administering medications or battling with school districts as soon as they put the book down.

Great for personal reading, daily meditations, or as a study guide for a parent support group, "Changed by a Child" is a must read for every parent of a child with special needs.

Rating:
Summary: A Companion...
Review: As the mother of a special needs child, if I had to choose one book to recommend, this would be that book! It is overwhelming sometimes how many books there are about our children and their conditions, behaviors, prognosis, etc. etc.. This book stands apart from all of that. It is one you will actually like to read and find time to read again and again and again. Thank you to Barbara Gill for having written the most amazingly wonderful and insightful book.

Rating:
Summary: A must have book for all parents of special needs kids
Review: As the mother of a special needs child, if I had to choose one book to recommend, this would be that book! It is overwhelming sometimes how many books there are about our children and their conditions, behaviors, prognosis, etc. etc.. This book stands apart from all of that. It is one you will actually like to read and find time to read again and again and again. Thank you to Barbara Gill for having written the most amazingly wonderful and insightful book.

Rating:
Summary: A book to treasure
Review: Barbara Gill is a writer, attorney, and disability advocate as well as the mother of a child with Down syndrome. In this book she shares short one or two page vignettes that honestly tell what she has experienced. With titles such as "Awareness", "Sorrow", "Magical Thinking", "Forgiveness", "Pain", she captures the emotions that parents of children with disabilities share. Each reading stands by itself and can be read over and over again. It is a book that you will always keep nearby and will want to read from for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: As a Child Psychiatrist,I find it offers support to parents
Review: I am a Child Psychiatrist and was touched by the excerpts in this book. So much so that I haved given copies to the parents of many of my patients.From mild to major disabilities,my patients teach me every day and their parents need to hear how others put these challenges into perspective. The book offers support and compassion to the caretakers and families of these children.

Rating:
Summary: A Companion...
Review: I bought this shortly after finding out my baby had severe cerebral palsy, blindess, and mental disabilities from brain damage. It was helpful to read the words of other parents whose children were didabled in various ways, because they knew what they were talking about. I did not feel the same as all of the contributors, but I could see their point of view. Reading some of the contributions, I felt so good knowing that some of these parents felt the same and had the same thoughts I did. At the time, I was deluged with advice and attempts at wisdom from people with healthy normal children. But this book offered me the shared wisdom and strength of parents who really know what it is like.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book
Review: I only wish I had found this book a year ago, when I was first struggling with the facts of my child's disability. This is a book they should hand out to parents in hospitals and clinics. It is honest, heartbreaking, sweet and hopeful all at the same time. Not every one of the little notes will match your mood at any given time, but the book is structured so that you can pick and choose among them at random. Barbara Gill has managed to put into words the complex emotions of having a child that challenges every facet of your life in previously unimaginable ways, yet for whom you feel a deep and ferocious love. I keep it on my desk at work and pick it up when I feel myself flagging -- it never fails to help me pick up and go on.

Rating:
Summary: A "must" have for parents of special children
Review: This book is a "must have" for parents of special needs children. The author and the other parents quoted in this book have honestly captured all of the feelings and thoughts of parents of special children. I have referred to it many times when tackling a particularly hard issue or challenge and it's very nice to see other parents who have shared the same experiences and feelings. I highly recommend it!!!

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This book was given to me by a friend and I have given it to countless others including my school district and my daughter's teachers through the years. This book means different things to me each time that I read it. I can pick it up after not reading it for several months and find something new and inspiring in it. I belong to a book club for moms who have kids with special needs and although we've read several books, we keep coming back to this one and each meeting we each read an exerpt and it can result in an entire night of sharing. This book can make you laugh, cry, reflect and give you strength to face another day. This is my favorite book of all times.

Rating:
Summary: Not for those who feel good about their child
Review: This collection of short vignettes might be good for those struggling with grief about their child with a disability,
those that want to know that there are others who feel that way too.
I found the book annoying and upsetting, as I am grateful for my daughter with DS and enjoy her a lot.
I was also disappointed that the author chose to try to write almost entirely about disabilities other than DS(Down Syndrome). Her child had DS so she could have shared more of her own experiences and perhaps given the book a little more warmth.