System Maintenance

Dear Special Needs Therapist/Parent/Expert:

I am the mother of a second grader with sensory integration dysfunction. In November, 2005, I signed a book contract with Hudson Street Press (part of Penguin) to edit a book of essays in which parents and teachers will write about being the parent of a special needs child. I am currently gathering journal entries, personal essays and short stories written by parents of children with mental health issues, including but not limited to ADD, ADHD, Autism, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Anxiety or Panic Disorders, Depression and Bipolar diagnosis. I hope you will help the voices of your fellow parents to be heard by giving them a chance to become published writers. Please pass on the word about my project.

Could you ask your clients, parent association and therapist contacts, school psychologists, counselors and newsletters to send me contributions from parents? I would like to receive submissions as soon as possible, but no later than May 1. Please feel free to copy and post this letter on community bulletin boards or websites.

I am looking for honesty, self0disclosure and specific experiences that will help other parents survive the difficulty reality of having helping a special needs child thrive. All submissions for the book will say where you are from in general terms, such as “Southern City.” If you choose, your contribution will give your racial identity, childs age and first name. Each submission should be titled: What I Want to Tell Other Special Needs Parents and include at the top a few sentences on where you live, diagnosis and any diagnostic details (essays should not be case histories of how you have treated or found treatment for your child). Suggested topics include:
• finding a special school
• determining if your child should be medicated
• helping siblings cope
• how you manage your social life/playdates
• how you joined a group that helped you cope
• explaining issues to grandparents
• finding a babysitter/caregiver
• how the stress of raising a child affected your marriage
• how you see your child as a success
• what you learned about parenting from having a special child
• why you are proud of the accomplishments of your child or your family

To assure you that this is a serious endeavor, I have also attached the contact information for my editor at Hudson Street Press in New York City. You are, of course, welcome to contact her if you have any doubts or concerns. Thank you for your time, consideration and effort. I am eager to read about your experiences. You may send your submissions, including your email, phone, address to: Denise.Brodey@gmail.com or send them to me at: 178 8th avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Sincerely, Denise Brodey

Contact at Hudson Street Press in New York City Laureen.Rowland@us.penguingroup.com