Sometimes one of the most difficult parts of handling a life-altering event is not even knowing what needs to be accomplished, never mind what issues should be tackled first. There is no single set plan for any family, no "one size fits all" list of tasks to accomplish first. In this article the author, a mother of two children on the autism…

A mother of a son with epilepsy and dyslexia offers 10 guidelines for parents including: acknowledge your grief; recognize assets and limitations; encourage independence; ignore unsolicited advice; be proud of your child's achievements; make use of financial aid; subscribe to newsletters; get to know your child's physician; and make time for…

The mother of a mentally retarded 16-year-old discusses ways in which parents can accept their children's sexuality and help them deal with it. (CL)

A parent recounts his Downs Syndrome son's integration into a regular Boy Scout troop and subsequent earning of the Eagle rank. His Eagle project involved speaking about his disability in local elementary, junior high, and senior high schools. Policies of the Boy and Girl Scout organizations concerning disabled members are summarized. (CB)

The mother of a disabled young adult recounts her daughter's steady progress in a work adjustment program that featured a special job-site coordinator assigned to her. (CL)

The mother of a teenage daughter with mental retardation describes the ways in which her child behaves as a typical adolescent despite the retardation. Positive experiences with camping are described along with the difficulties of allowing her to maintain her independence safely. (CL)

The mother of a child with Rett Syndrome, a degenerative brain disease, describes difficulties in obtaining a diagnosis and the relief she and her family felt once the diagnosis was made. She emphasizes the need for parents to offer each other support. (CL)

A disabled woman reviews the ways in which parents can communicate positive and realistic expectations about their disabled children's future. The importance of direct communication regarding sexuality and prejudice is emphasized. (CL)

The author describes her experiences in teaching her mentally retarded daughter about sex and the changes happening to her body. She suggests the needs of disabled young people extend beyond preventing unplanned pregnancy and preparing them for their menstrual period. (CL)

A parent of a six-year-old son with spina bifida examines common accessibility problems in the form of six steps involved in taking the child shopping from finding a parking space to finding an entrance ramp and maneuvering in the store. (DB)

A mother describes how her family reached the decision to place their mentally retarded adolescent in a group home. (CL)

Parents of a child with muscular dystrophy recount their reactions to learning of the diagnosis, their gradual acceptance, and their son's resistance, which was gradually lessened when he was provided with more information and treated more normally as a member of the family. (CL)

A father recounts experiences in selecting and sending a handicapped eight-year-old child to a summer camp. Stressed are the family reactions to the child's camping experience. (DB)

The mother of a handicapped child recounts her development of assertiveness skills in the interests of her child. She discusses needing to be constantly alert during her child's infancy, dealing with her own feelings of grief and guilt, fighting for her son's rights against bureaucratic obstacles, and learning the appropriate times to exercise…

A parent recounts the process leading to placement of her severely retarded and cerebral palsied son in a residential situation using Community Training Homes, a foster home program in Connecticut. (DB)