

First Steps
Hearing that your child has a problem is never, ever easy. All of us are upset and scared and most of us ask the same questions: Do we know for sure what’s going on? Will it get better or worse? What can we do about it? If you’re reading this, you’ve started getting informed and connecting to other parents. That’s a great first step.

GET SMART
What You Need To Know
Parents have their own ways of doing things, but that won’t stop anyone from telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. Nothing helps as much as getting informed — knowing what some of the language means, learning how to be an advocate, getting ready to work with the experts who will help meet your kid’s special needs.

HOW TO SPEAK UP
Being A Champion For Your Child
You may be the kind of person who doesn’t like to say much in public, but you are now likely to be in situations where you need to let other people know what your child needs and even explain their challenges. These few suggestions can help you be better prepared and more comfortable.

FIRST REACTIONS
You feel afraid
You want to know the cause
You worry about the future
You worry about how others will react

FIRST QUESTIONS
What are we talking about?
What’s next?
What’s important?
What now?
