Parenting Your Complex Child: Become a Powerful Advocate for the Autistic, down Syndrome, PDD, Bipolar, or Other Special-Needs Child »

Peggy Lou Morgan (LaPine, OR) has worked with the disabled for nearly 35 years, including more than 10 years as a professional fiduciary, setting up services and placements for her clients. Morgan adopted a multiply disabled child 20 years ago.

"Besides the usual parenting challenges, parents of disabled children face added obstacles that can tax the resolve and resources of even the strongest families. The author has developed a powerful system for obtaining dramatically better care for children with one or more serious disabilities. Parenting Your Complex Child reflects the experience and knowledge she has gained through decades of navigating a sea of complex medical, educational, occupational, and social issues while working with disabled clients and with her own son. Morgan's unique tracking and documentation tools let parents adapt to their child's challenges, create routines that support the child's needs, communicate those needs to busy professionals -- and be taken seriously by them.

The book also helps parents lay the groundwork for care to continue after they themselves can no longer provide it. Compassionate, practical, and proven, Parenting Your Complex Child helps parents ensure that life-changing decisions are based on the best interests of the child -- and on the best information available."

Atlanta Parent

Energy, wisdom, power and a personal touch make this book a cut above the rest.

"Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Part One: The Journey: Life with a Complex Child

Chapter 1: The Complex Child

Chapter 2: Billy Ray’s Story

Chapter 3: Not Yet the Best of Times

Chapter 4: Feeling Misunderstood

Chapter 5: Working with Doctors

Chapter 6: Encountering the “Dumb-Parent Treatment""

Part Two: Changing Course: Solutions and Suggestions

Chapter 7: Turning Point

Chapter 8: The Best Teacher—Your Child

Chapter 9: Two Essential Words: Communicate and Adapt

Chapter 10: Creating a Life that Works for Your Child and Your Family

Chapter 11: Service Dogs

Chapter 12: Document Everything

Chapter 13: Getting the Professionals to Listen

Chapter 14: Creating a Community for Your Child

Chapter 15: Hiring, Training, and Supervising Caregivers

Chapter 16: Mapping the Journey

Appendix

Index"