Bringing Up a Challenging Child at Home

Jane Gregory was 23 when she had Chrissy. Her interest in the issues surrounding Chrissy's needs led Jane to write features about her, and about other complex disabilities. Researchers at Great Ormond Street found the cause of Chrissy's condition to be genetic and she was later diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Jane lives in Hampshire and is a busy freelance journalist. Her website can be visited at www.sharingstories.co.uk.

• Acknowledgements. Introduction. Part One: Early Years. 1. Chrissy's birth and early development. 2. Why won't anyone tell us what's wrong? 3. Trying to cope. 4. Making contacts. 5. Beginnings and endings. 6. Struggling alone. 7. Sinking into depression. Part Two: Coming Through: Help and Recognition of Difficulties. 8. More support. 9. Outings and holidays. 10. Chrissy's uniqueness. 11. Changes for Chrissy, changes for me. 12. Two steps forward, three steps back. 13. Behaviour versus epilepsy. 14. Ups and downs. 15. In-patient assessment. 16. Making progress. 17. Adolescence and the importance of a diagnosis. 18. Deciding to let go. 19. Residential school - making a difference. 20. Making sense of the past and looking to the future. Part Three: Practical Help, Therapy and Support. 21. Treatment approaches. 22. How to help your challenging child. Further Reading. References.

Jane Gregory's honest account of her experience as the mother of Chrissy, her daughter who has complex needs including epilepsy, learning difficulties and challenging behaviour, should be on the reading list for every professional in the field. What is so impressive about this account is its author's ability to follow threads that have connected Chrissy to the rest of her world, and so provide a complete picture. The book not only examines the long journey to a diagnosis and appropriate provision for grandparents, and professionals.While it covers in great detail the difficulties, trials and tribulations that Jane has experienced, it seeks always to balance this with the positives - the joy experienced in the small steps of progress; the relief felt when a professional spends time trying to understand. One of the key messages is that progress is best made when professionals listen to parents, and together they work as a team.