Parents and families are the most important influence in young children's lives. They are partners in the special education process and, through collaboration with service providers, they can significantly impact their child's development. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act protects parental rights to participate in the education of their child and the special education process. This section contains a number of resources for families and the professionals who work with them.

Books Published by Houghton Mifflin Company

• Hunt, N., & Marshall, K. (1999). Exceptional Children and Youth (2^nd ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company - Chapter 3.
• Kirk, S.A., Gallagher, J.J. & Anastasiow, N.J. (2000). Educating Exceptional Children (9^th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company - Chapter 1.

Books Published by Other Companies

• Anderson, W., Chitwood, S., & Hayden, D. (1997). Negotiating the special education maze: A guide for parents and teachers. Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.
• Kroth, R. L., & Edge, D. (1997). Strategies for communicating with parents of exceptional children (3^rd ed.). Denver, CO: Love.
• Meyer, D. J., Vadasy, P. F., & Fewell, R. R. (1996). Living with a brother or sister with special needs: A book for sibs (2^nd ed.). Seattle: University of Washington Press.
• Simpson, R. L. (1996). Working with families and parents of exceptional children and youth: Techniques for successful conferencing and collaboration (3^rd ed.). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
• Turnbull, A. P., & Turnbull, H. R. (1997). Families, professionals, and exceptionality: A special partnership (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.

Journals

• Exceptional Parent
• Families and Disability Newsletter
• Sibling Information Network Newsletter

Fact Sheets

• General information about disabilities - http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/genresc/gr3.htm

Web site Resources

• Beach Center on Families and Disability - www.lsi.ukans.edu/beach/index.htm
• Exceptional Parent Magazine -- http://www.eparent.com/
• Indiana Parent Information Network -- http://www.ai.org/ipin/
• National Fathers Network -- http://www.fathersnetwork.org/
• National Parent Information Network - http://ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/npin/
• National Parent to Parent Support Information System - http://www.nppsis.org
• NICHCY Articles and Information - http://www.kidsource.com/NICHCY/index.html
• Parents Helping Parents (PHP) - http://www.php.com
• About.com -- http://specialed.miningco.com/education/specialed/
• Positive Parenting -- http://www.positiveparenting.com/
• Our-Kids: Devoted to raising special kids with special needs - http://www.our-kids.org/
• Resources for parents and families -- http://www.dssc.org/frc/index.htm
• Resource Sites for parents of special needs children -- http://wshs.luminet.net/sped/parents.html
• Sibling Support Project - http://www.chmc.org/departmt/sibsupp
• Toy Catalog List for Children with Special Needs - http://www.nas.com/downsyn/toy.html

Online Resource Documents

• A parent's guide to doctors, disabilities, and the family -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/parent/pa7txt.htm
• Assessing children for disabilities: Families -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/bibliog/bib2.htm
• Basics for Parents: Your child's evaluation -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/basicpar/bp1txt.htm
• Families and teachers as partners -- http://ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/npin/library/1998/n00088/n00088.html
• How can I support my gifted child? -- http://ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/npin/library/1998/n00042/n00042.html
• Parent rights and responsibilities -- http://www.brus-dso.odedodea.edu/special/PARENTR2.htm
• Parenting a child with special needs: A guide to readings and resources -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/newsdig/nd20txt.htm
• Related services for school-aged children with disabilities -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/newsdig/nd16txt.htm
• Respite Care -- http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/newsdig/nd12txt.htm
• What is an effective advocate? -- http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/parenting/cutler_advocate.html