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Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities: Resource List

Books for Children

Ages 4 to 8

  • Alex Is My Friend; by Marisabina Russo; Greenwillow, 1992
  • Arnie and the New Kid; by Nancy Carlson; Viking, 1990
  • Friends in the Park; by Rochelle Bunnett; Checkerboard, 1993
  • My Brother Matthew; by Mary Thompson; Woodbine, 1992
  • We Can Do It!; by Laura Dwight; Checkerboard, 1992

Ages 8 to 12

  • The Acorn People; by Ron Jones; Bantam, 1996
  • The Bee Tree; by Patricia Polacco; Philomel, 1993
  • Living With a Brother or Sister with Special Needs: A Book for Sibs; by Donald Joseph Meyer and Patricia Vadasy; 2nd rev. ed.; University of Washington Press, 1996
  • My Name Is Not Slow: Youth with Mental Retardation; by Autumn Libal; Mason Crest, 2004
  • Oh Brother! Growing Up With a Special Needs Sibling; by Natalie Hale; Magination Press, 2004
  • Radiance Descending; by Paula Fox; DK Ink, 1997
  • Special Brothers and Sisters: Stories and Tips for Siblings of Children with a Disability or Serious Illness; by Annette Hames; Jessica Kingsley, 2005.
  • The View From Saturday; by E.L. Konigsburg; Aladdin, 1997
  • Views From Our Shoes: Growing Up With a Brother or Sister With Special Needs; by Donald J. Meyer; Woodbine House, 1997
  • Welcome Home, Jellybean; by Marlene Shyer; Econo-Clad Books, 1999

Young Adult

  • Being the Other One: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister Who Has Special Needs; by Kate Strohm; Shambhala, 2005

Books for Adults

  • A Parent's Guide to Special Education: Insider Advice on How to Navigate the System and Help Your Child Succeed; by Linda Wilmshurts and Alan Brue; AMACOM, 2005
  • After Your Child's Diagnosis: A Practical Guide for Families Raising Children With Disabilities; by Cathy Lynn Binstock; E M Press, 1997
  • Children With Disabilities; edited by Mark L. Batshaw; Paul H. Brookes Pub. Co., 2007
  • Developing Personal Safety Skills in Children With Disabilities; by Freda Briggs; Jessica Kingsley Publishing, 2002
  • Guiding Your Teenager with Special Needs Through the Transition From School to Adult Life: Tools for Parents; by Mary Korpi; Jessica Kingsley, 2007
  • Just Say Know! Understanding and Reducing the Risk of Sexual Victimization of People with Development Disabilities; by Dave Hingsburger; Diverse City Press, 1995
  • Sexuality: You Sons and Daughters With Intellectual Disabilities; by Karin M. Schwier; Paul H. Brooks Co, 2000
  • Simple Successes: From Obstacles to Solutions with Special Needs Children; by Rachelle Zola; Outskirts Press, 2006
  • Special Needs Advocacy Resource Book: What You Can Do Now to Advocate for Your Exceptional Child’s Education; by Rich Weinfeld; Prufrock Press, 2008
  • Steps to Independence: Teaching Everyday Skills to Children with Special Needs; by Bruce L. Baker and Alan J. Brightman with Jan B. Blacher, Louis J. Heifetz, Stephen P. Hinshaw, and Diane Murphy; Paul H. Brookes Pub. Co., 1997
  • Strengthening Relationships When Our Children Have Special Needs; by Nick Martin; Future Horizons, 2004
  • Understanding Mental Retardation; by Patricia Ainsworth and Pamela Baker; University Press of Mississippi, 2004
  • When Your Child Has a Disability: The Complete Sourcebook of Daily and Medical Care; by Mark Batshaw; 2nd ed.; Paul Brookes, 2001

Other Resources

American Association on Mental Retardation
444 N Capitol St. NW Suite 846
Washington, DC 20001
800-424-3688
http://www.aamr.org

The ARC
1010 Wayne Ave., Ste. 650
Silver Spring, MD 20910
800-433-5255
http://www.thearc.org

National Down Syndrome Congress
7000 Peach Tree-Dunwoody Rd., Bldg. 5, Ste. 100
Atlanta, GA 30328
800-232-NDSC(6372)

National Fragile X Foundation of the USA
PO Box 190488
San Francisco, CA 94119
800-688-8765
http://www.fragilex.org

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
PO Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013
800-695-0285
http://www.nichcy.org

Compiled by Catherine Smith, MLS, medical librarian at the Family Health Library, The Children's Hospital, Denver, CO.
Published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2011-05-10
Last reviewed: 2010-06-04
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
© 2011 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
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