Resources on Family Resilience

This list of resources was prepared in preparation for a workshop on family resilience at the Annual Conference of the national Prader-Willi Syndrome Association.

Recommended reading for parents and families

Books

• Average to A+: Realizing Strengths in Yourself and Others by A. Linley

• Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson

• Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff, PhD (author has a child with special needs)

• SMART Strengths - Building Character, Resilience and Relationships in Youth by John Yeager

• Jane’s Worry Elephant - A book for children with anxiety by Kelly Miller

Projects and Programs

• Food Gratitude: A Crash-course in Positive Psychology for Parents of Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Emily Felt, MPP, CAPP ( Www.foodgratitude.net)

• Big Life Journal - Resources for kids to help children develop a growth mindset. https://biglifejournal.com/

Talks & Videos

• 3 Things I learned from my intellectually disabled son https://www.ted.com/talks/emilie_weight_3_things_i_learned_from_my_intellectually_disabled_son

Emilie Weight talks about the main benefits of living with her disabled son - “My son brings new flavors to my life that I had lost, because like so many others I was pretending instead of living fully”

• Good and bad are incomplete stories we tell ourselves  

https://www.ted.com/talks/heather_lanier_good_and_bad_are_incomplete_stories_we_tell_ourselves#t-105865

Heather Lanier on raising her daughter with Wolf-Hirschorn Syndrome.

• I failed at being disabled

https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_robinson_how_i_fail_at_being_disabled#t-141521

“Disabled people have superpowers! Relying on strengths allows for tremendous outcomes.”

• Zach Anner: Top 10 Things I wish People Knew about Cerebral Palsy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-Sh8ZuGbMI

Prepare to laugh;)

Scientific Studies

• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Parents of Children with Developmental Delays: Implications for Parental Mental Health and Child Behavior (2014). By Cameron L. Neece, Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities; 27, 174-186.

• Strength in Diversity: Positive Impacts of Children with Disabilities (2013). By Michele Lodewyks, The Vanier Institute of the Family. https://vanierinstitute.ca/children-disability-positive-impacts-children-family/

• Happiness, Wellbeing and Character Strengths: Outcomes for Families and Siblings of Persons with Mental Retardation (2005). By Elisabeth Dykens. Mental Retardation, Oct.43(5) p.60-64.