About.com 2012 Readers' Choice Award Winner, Favorite New Special-Needs Parenting Book!The author-equal parts mentor, humorist, enthusiast, and realist-takes readers by the hand and walks them through the various life stages, experiences, and people they will encounter with their child. Humor, insight, information, and rock-solid advice guides the reader from birth to independent living in this diamond of a book. Ms. Hale's warm friend-to-friend voice draws in the reader with insights and experiences gleaned not only from raising her own son, but as a teacher in the broad Down syndrome community, she gives us a treasure-trove of meaningful stories from many families.Foreword by Martha Beck, mother of an adult with Down syndrome and author of the New York Times bestseller, Expecting Adam.Down Syndrome Parenting 101 offers inspired takes on a host of important issues, including a deep dive into the extraordinary abilities of individuals with Down syndrome, interacting with medical professionals, literacy, discipline, school, transitioning, independence, and much more. Chapters are short, a plus for busy parents, and can be read individually or sequentially. Throughout, many characters-the author's son, friends, and students-appear, serving as anecdotal evidence in support of the author's points and adding to the storytelling effect. Turn to this upbeat book for credible, realistic advice and for a dose of bibliotherapy when you need validation and perspective. Also check out Natalie Hale's book for teaching reading, Whole Child Reading, and her book on money management skills for young adults with developmental delays, Managing My Money: Banking and Budgeting Basics.