Charlotte E. Thompson. Oxford University Press Inc., New York, 1999, US $ 15.95.

This book is well written in a simple way and is easy to understand. It deals with some of the practical problems faced by parents of children with disabilities. Coping with a diagnosis of disability is not easy and parents often need proper guidance; this book provides such guidance and suggests ways to make coping easier. The emotional reactions and trauma that parents undergo have been dealt with in a sensitive way and strategies to deal with negative emotions have been highlighted. The impact of a child’s disability on various aspects of family functioning has also been dealt with in an easily comprehensible manner. The issues addressed are common to developed and developing countries although some suggested practical solutions may need local modifications becaue of cultural variations. The involvement of the father and grandparents in the management of a disabled child has been duly emphasized and ways to get some free time for mothers who are often loaded with the burden of household chores as well as the never ending task of rearing the disabled child have been suggested. The often neglected part, i.e., providing some leisure and fun in the life of both the child and the family has also been dealt with. As the book covers development and care in totality-right from the time a diagnosis is made to adolescence and beyond, it is a good hand book for parents to keep going back beyond, it is a good hand book for parents to keep going back to as their child grows and shows developmental changes. The information provided on agencies and resources is of course relevant for the United States; parents using this book in India would need to find such information from local sources.

Pediatricians and other professionals involved in the care of children with special needs often have to answer a number of questions related to psychosocial aspects of bringing up such children. This book would be a good ready reference for them to be able to provide such guidance and counselling particularly to those parents who are themselves unable to read and understand this book. While advising the parents to read this book, one would however, have to add some local flavour in terms of certain suggested practical steps because of cultural differences. In all other aspects, this is a good book both for parents as well as professionals dealing with special children.

Pratibha Singhi,
Additional Professor,
Advanced Pediatric Center,
Postgraduate Institute of
Medical Education and Research,
Chandigarh 160 012, India.