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Special

Antidotes to the obsessions that come with a child's disability
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Special by Melanie Dimmitt is an uplifting and candid guide for parents newly navigating the challenges of raising a child with a disability. Drawing from the author's personal experience and interviews with parents of children with diverse disabilities, it offers honest insight, expert advice, and practical coping strategies. The book addresses common fears and questions faced by special-needs parents, such as feelings of isolation, relationship strains, career concerns, and uncertainty about the future.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5700

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This title is in-stock with overseas suppliers. While it is not available locally, we fly books in weekly from the US and UK to our Auckland warehouse for immediate dispatch.

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for parents and caregivers who are in the early stages of raising a child with a disability, offering reassurance and guidance. It may also resonate with family members, friends, and professionals seeking to better understand the emotional journey of special-needs families.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

From prominent Australian journalist Melanie Dimmitt comes Special - an uplifting guidebook to soothe and surprise those in the early stages of navigating a child's disability.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Most of us expect to meander through the motions of love, marriage and (textbook) baby in the carriage, but once in a while life has something a little more special in store.

Special is an uplifting, candid companion for those in the early stages of navigating a child’s disability, offering honest, reassuring and relatable insight into a largely unknown (and so, initially terrifying) part of our world.

It features antidotes to the obsessions at the forefront of a newly minted special-needs parent’s mind: Why has this happened to me? Will I ever stop comparing my child to typical children? How will my relationship survive? Will I be able to work again? Should I have another baby? And the big one: What will my future look like?

Inspired by professional writer Melanie Dimmitt’s own crash-landing into special-needs parenthood, and shaped by her conversations with parents of children with wide-ranging disabilities, Special shares real stories, expert guidance and simple coping strategies to soothe anyone whose life has taken an unexpected turn.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised for its raw honesty and emotional depth, Special has been described as touching, insightful, and a lifesaver for parents of children with special needs. Reviewers commend the book for balancing humour and hope with the difficult realities of special-needs parenting. It is seen as a brave and illuminating work that compassionately shatters and rebuilds readers' hearts through authentic storytelling.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781925384680

Publisher: Ventura Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 September 2019

Country: Australia

Imprint: Ventura Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 300

About the Author

Melanie Dimmitt is an Australian journalist who has written for publications including The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Collective Hub magazine, Broadsheet, The Tot and Mama Disrupt magazine, and has created content for Smack Bang Designs and You & Co Media. A Perth native, who has also lived in Melbourne and London, Melanie currently lives in Sydney with her partner and two young children. Special - a candid companion for parents who are coming to terms with their child’s disability – is her first published book.

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