Judy Winter 
Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs 
Raising the Bar of Expectations

Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs challenges families and professionals to help children with special needs to reach their full potential by using a proven motivational, how-to approach. This groundbreaking and inspiring book provides detailed information on how to let go of the ‘perfect-baby’ dream, face and resolve grief, avoid the no-false-hope syndrome, access early intervention services, and avoid the use of limiting and outdated labels. Also included are specific guidelines for working with professionals, understanding the law and inclusion, planning for the future, and insightful interviews with Dana Reeve of the Christopher Reeve Foundation, Tim Shriver of Special Olympics, and Diane Bubel of the Bubel/Aiken Foundation.

Table of Content

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Raising the Bar of Expectations for Children with
Special Needs

PART ONE: WELCOME TO BREAKTHROUGH PARENTING FOR CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS

1. The Perfect-Baby Dream

2. First You Cry

3. No Labels, Yes Hope

PART TWO: GUIDELINES FOR THE PRESCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE
YEARS

4. The Pre-K and Elementary Years

5. Middle School, Junior High, and High School

6. Advocating for Techniques and Programs That Work

PART THREE: FOCUSING ON THE FAMILY

7. Embracing a New Definition of Family and Planning for the
Future

8. Preserving Your Marriage, Caring for Yourself, and Surviving
the Death of a Child

9. Meeting the Needs of Siblings

PART FOUR: HONORING SPECIAL NEEDS EXCELLENCE

10. Honoring Special Needs Excellence

About the Author.

About the author

Judy Winter is an award wining journalist on special needs parenting issues, and recipient of the 2002 Exceptional Parent Award. Ms Winter has had extensive experience on TV, radio, in print media, and maintains a rigorous schedule of speaking, workshops, conferences, and ongoing public appearances on the subject. Her work, in articles either about or by her, has appeared in People, Child, Writer’s Digest, the Toys ‘R’ Us newsletter, and she has worked for PBS in Michigan for eight years. Her first son Eric had cerebral palsy and died at 12. She and her husband have one daughter, Jenna, and live in Michigan.