An organizer of a support program for fathers of children with disabilities discusses the father's role in the family, myths surrounding the father's role, coping with the extra stresses in families with disabled children, and emotional adjustment to the disability. (DB)

This article relates the story of a young girl's difficulties in accepting her parents' separation, and offers suggestions for both teachers and parents on how to help a child cope with his or her feelings and anxiety in this situation. Resources for further study are also offered.

A counselor describes feelings and attitudes of two young adults who see their marital problems as having begun with the birth of their severely disabled child. Counseling led to improved communication, better coping, and shared planning for the future. (DB)

Parents of children with disabilities must maintain a fine balance between protecting their child from thoughtless cruelty and discrimination and teaching their child to deal with such actions. Parents should quickly end any cruel actions toward the child, be open about the disability's nature, and talk to parents of the child's peers. (CB)

This article discusses factors that influence children of divorced parents (length of time since divorce, family income level); summarizes research related to these children's self concept, academic performance, and classroom behavior; and suggests several things that parents and educators can do to support children of divorce. (IAH)

A personal perspective is given on attitudes and behavior toward children with deafness and the lack of understanding it is felt to represent. (DB)

The mother of a brain-injured two-year-old recounts how she overcame feelings of anger and helplessness and applied professional management skills in her dealings with a constantly changing roster of therapists and health care personnel (sometimes inexperienced, uncommunicative, and unhelpful) and the professional and domestic changes necessitated…

An interview with parents of a child with cerebral palsy recount their struggles to find a diagnosis and treatment for their daughter and express their anger over the lack of information and help they were given by professionals. They emphasize the need for honesty and straightforwardness in professionals dealing with parents. (CL)

This collection of brief reports on educational matters of interest to parents contains the most popular titles in the Report to Parents series issued by the National Association of Elementary School Principals as a service to its members. Reports cover the following topics: (1) buying books for children; (2) dealing with child abuse; (3) helping…

The mother of a seven-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome describes her feelings as she came to realize that, despite intense early stimulation activities, her son's developmental capabilities were limited. The article also notes that media exposure of the successes of some disabled children sometimes creates unrealistic expectations in parents.…

Presents suggestions for helping stepfamilies cope with problems they may encounter: (1) helping the children move from loss to reconnection; (2) being patient with everyone in the new family; (3) cultivating communication and negotiation; and (4) sensitizing school personnel and society. (SM)

The author provides parents with information and suggestions about ways to alleviate strains placed on the natural attachment (bonding) process when their child has a hearing impairment. Strategies to foster the child's communicative and behavioral development are presented and the roles of parental responsivity, letting go, and fathers are…

The mother of a five-year-old with partial growth hormone deficiency recounts how she and her son attempted to deal with the physical pain and emotional upheaval caused by the regular injections of human growth hormones she had to administer to the child. (CB)

Proposes a precrisis curriculum for nursery and elementary schools to prepare healthy young children for hospitalization as an alternative to current preadmission preparation programs. Key elements include such stress-immunization techniques as systematic desensitization, modeling, and rehearsal. (AS)

A case is discussed in which parents of a disabled child seek counseling for the strain placed on their relationship by child care demands. The importance of understanding each other's perspective on child care and home management is emphasized, along with sharing burdens and maintaining open communication through stressful years. (PB)