Raising Children with Developmental Issues
Adapting to Life with Special Needs Children
Families with a developmentally delayed child encounter a litany of stressors unique to their situation. Moreover, should parents’ financial, social or emotional resources be depleted by the stress of their circumstances, they could find it difficult to navigate their relationship with, and care of, their child. This, in turn, can affect the well-being of the whole family. Research suggests that many family adaptations are needed to ensure a developmentally supportive environment for the child, as well as optimal health for the family unit.
Resources for Raising Children with Developmental Issues
UW Resources
Autism Center in UW’s Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD): The UW Autism Center is a nonprofit organization devoted to supporting families affected by autism spectrum disorders through exceptional clinical services, innovative scientific research and high-quality training.
CARE Clinic (Clinical Services, Assessment, Research and Professional Education): The CARE Clinic serves individuals from infancy through adulthood who have neurodevelopmental differences (including autism spectrum, ADHD, learning disability and developmental delays) and their families. This clinic is part of the UW College of Education Haring Center.
Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD): The CHDD is one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive interdisciplinary research and training centers focusing on a wide array of developmental disabilities. Several core programs in the area of early childhood development and disabilities are a part of the UW’s CHDD, including the Experimental Education Unit, the Autism Center and the Center on Infant Mental Health and Development.
Center on Infant Mental Health and Development: The Center on Infant Mental Health and Development promotes interdisciplinary research, education and practice and advances policy related to the social and emotional development of all children during the first five years.
Experimental Education Unit (EEU) at the Haring Center: A comprehensive, early childhood center that puts the research on school readiness into action everyday. The EEU provides a high quality early learning program for children with and without disabilities from birth through kindergarten.
Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit (FADU): The FADU is a research unit in the UW School of Medicine dedicated to the prevention, intervention and treatment of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE).
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network: The core clinical/research/training hub at the UW’s Center on Human Development and Disability links this network of five Washington state community based clinics. The mission of the FAS DPN is prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome through screening, diagnosis, intervention, trainings, education and research.
Haring Center: The Haring Center is a leader in developing, implementing, evaluating and disseminating strategies to help all students succeed, all teachers be effective and all parents feel confident and competent. At the center, families, researchers and students work closely on their shared mission of providing inclusive educational services for children with and without disabilities.
Head Start Center on Inclusion: This UW program, funded by the Office of Head Start, is designed to increase the competence, confidence and effectiveness of educators in Head Start programs to include children with disabilities. The site offers training materials as well as tools for teachers and coordinators.
External Resources
Child Development Institute: A site providing information and research to parents and caregivers in support of their efforts to help each child develop to his or her full potential.
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities: This Center for Disease Control and Prevention site provides information to help protect people who are especially vulnerable to health risks, including babies and children with developmental delays.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities: This site provides information about national and local services, laws and policies that are helpful to families raising a child with developmental delays.
