Book Review: Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child

Parenting a disabled child is a daunting task, and author and advocate Kelly Coleman turned her experience into a disability resource book so that other parents and caregivers would have access to explanations and resources that make navigating the systems a bit smoother. This newly published book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child – Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports is an incredible resource for parents and caregivers. 

Schools, medical offices, and therapy clinics should have a copy of this in the lobby. Not only is it helpful to parents, but it gives others insight into the struggle and loneliness families feel when navigating systems and services. No parent ever thinks they will be there, but if you are, you are not alone in the journey. No matter where you are in your journey, this book is a roadmap and a comfort to find you are not alone.

 As a teacher and tutor, this book gave me talking points to use with clients as I help them understand what an IEP meeting looks like and how to advocate for their child at school. Three of the chapters were especially helpful. Chapter 6 is Everthing No One Tells you about Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Chapter 7 is Everthing No One Tells you about school, and chapter 8 is Disability Rights and Advocacy.

Coleman combines basic information, personal stories, humor, tools, and expert insights to communicate information helpful to parents regardless of their child’s age or disability. Readers can jump to whatever chapter is most important to them at the time or read it straight through. It is not an exhaustive resource which is good because no parent has time to read that! Yet, through her own parenting story, she helps others come up with questions to ask to get better answers to planning the best support for their children as they are parenting a disabled child. 

Chapter 7 gives parents a template to make a one-page introduction sheet to give to teachers and staff where you can list your child’s strengths, what works for them, what doesn’t work, and what they are working on. As a teacher, I love learning this about my students. It helps me be a part of the team and highlights the strengths of the child! I use something similar in my tutoring business where parents get to tell me their child’s strengths and interests not just a list of problems or struggles. It gives me things to talk about with my students and helps us connect in new ways. 

“My great hope is that this book gives you the headspace and clarity to make the world a better place for your child, for your family, and, if you have the capacity, for the world. For me, this book always came back to one thing: I’m not out to change my child, I’m out to change the world.” Kelly Coleman

This book is such a helpful resource whether you are a teacher, tutor, or parent. Parenting a disabled child is a team effort and this book gives helpful ways to bring in people, conversations, and resources. Ask your local libraries, bookstores, and medical offices to stock this book, Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child.

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Table Talk: What do teachers wish parents told them about their kids? How is a child with disabilities a blessing in the home or classroom?