A Different Kind of Perfect: Writings by Parents on Raising a Child with Special Needs »

Neil Nicoll is a child and family psychologist in private practice in Sydney specializing in developmental disorders.

Every parent dreams of having a happy, healthy child. What happens when these dreams are shattered by a physical or cognitive disability? A Different Kind of Perfect offers comfort, consolation, and wisdom from parents who have been there—and are finding their way through.

The writings collected here are grouped into chapters reflecting the progressive stages of many parents' emotional journeys, starting with grief, denial, and anger and moving towards acceptance, empowerment, laughter, and even joy. Each chapter opens with an introduction by Neil Nicoll, a child and family psychologist who specializes in development disorders.

Library Journal

Compiled by a psychologist and two parents of special needs children, this work collects writings about the experiences and challenges by parents of physically and mentally disabled children. There are four to six essays on each theme (e.g., grief, denial, or anger); the conditions discussed include those apparent at birth (Down syndrome and cerebral palsy), at an early age (vision or hearing impairment), and at a later age (autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). The essays reveal deeply personal issues, such as the loss of the ideal or "perfect child," marital stress, the need to advocate constantly for services, and the nagging fear that the parents could have caused the child's disability. Through these sincere accounts, we see both the strain on the parents and the potential of the children, best demonstrated by a mother's realization that Down syndrome will not prevent her dream of watching her daughter at a dance recital. Strongly recommended for all public libraries and academic libraries with parenting or disabilities collections.-Corey Seeman, Kresge Business Administration Lib., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.