I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now: A Guide for Special Needs Parents

Fourteen years ago Sandy was pregnant with our son Ian. Being diligent parents we read the parenting books and magazines. We wanted to be as prepared as possible as we embarked on parenthood. When Ian was five months old we found out about his disability. Our library of parenting books didn't cover the new direction parenting was taking. There were no parenting books for this path. It would have been nice to get a heads up about how things were going to change and more importantly what we could do to reduce the added stress this new direction was going to create. For fourteen years we navigated the waters of special needs parenting before we decided to share what we've learned along the way. We decided to write this book to give others the heads up we didn't have and let others benefit from our experience and planning. In this informative guide you will find strategies and techniques to: Reduce the intensity and duration of meltdowns and tantrums. Improve the responses to transitions. Teach financial concepts and develop marketable skills. Make therapy equipment for home use. Deal with the challenges of mainstreaming at school, and socially. Plan for your child's future employment and financial well being. Improve your records management. Systemically compare therapies, learning programs and schools. Even though our kids different, as parents we are essentially faced with the same challenges. This guide will help you navigate the waters of being a special needs parents. About the Authors: Mark Horowitz is a planner, inventor, trainer, public speaker, change agent, and the major influence on his son Ian's imagination, creativity and sense of humor. As a change agent, Mark knows how important the computer and the Internet are to Ian's immediate success and his future well-being. The planner in Mark keeps him thinking about his Ian's future as an adult and ways to teach him about being an entrepreneur and developing multiple streams of income. Sandy Horowitz,

Mark Horowitz is a planner, inventor, trainer, public speaker, change agent, and the major influence on his son Ian's imagination, creativity and sense of humor. As a change agent, Mark knows how important the computer and the Internet are to Ian's immediate success and his future well being. The planner in Mark keeps him thinking about his Ian's future as an adult and ways to teach him about being an entrepreneur and developing multiple streams of income. Sandy Horowitz, a self-described information junkie, spends more time researching whatever is needed to help Ian than she does sleeping. She has attended workshops on advocacy, building relationships and self esteem, as well as handwriting and movement programs. Her attention to the development of Ian's social skills is critical to his success in developing friendships, and the soft skills need for the workplace. Her research has exposed her family to science of all types that have lead to improvements in Ian's development.