Being a parent is a joyful, rewarding experience. At times, it can also be the most difficult and stressful job there is. You probably have a lot to do every day to meet your child's needs. And caring for a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder makes parenting that much more challenging. Between managing your child's medications, coordinating their education plans, and scheduling their healthcare appointments, there's hardly any time left to simply be a parent and spend time with your child.

In order to help make caring for your family—and for yourself—a bit easier, we have compiled this section of useful information and resources on how to best support and advocate for your child with special needs.

![](/sites/default/files/Patient_Care/Specialty_Care/Pediatrics___Special_Kids_Special_Help/Care_for_Your_Family/field_Attachments/sksh-son-on-fathers-shoulders.jpg)

This information is provided in part by the [Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs](https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-for-children-youth-with-special-health-needs) within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and [mass.gov](http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/).

## Contact

[The Arc of Massachusetts](http://thearcofmass.org/)  
[BraveKids.org](http://www.bravekids.org/)  
[Child Welfare Information Gateway](https://www.childwelfare.gov/)  
[Exceptional Parent Magazine](http://www.eparent.com/)  
[Family Ties of Massachusetts](http://www.massfamilyties.org/)  
[Federation for Children with Special Needs](http://fcsn.org/)  
[Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE)](http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/)  
[Massachusetts Department of Mental Health](http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dmh/)  
[Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)](http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/)  
[Massachusetts Family Voices](http://fcsn.org/mfv/)  
[MassPac.org](http://www.masspac.org/)  
[Medical-Legal Partnership for Children](http://www.mlpboston.org/)  
[Partners for Youth with Disabilities](http://www.pyd.org/)

### Downloads

[Child Life Program](https://www.bmc.org/sites/default/files/Patient_Care/Specialty_Care/Pediatrics___Special_Kids_Special_Help/Autism/child-life-program.pdf)