From the authors of The Wounded Warrior Handbook (Rowman & Littlefield, 2008), this volume fills the need for guidance and advice for military families with special-needs children. As explained in the foreword, the book “is not intended to be a guide for any specific special need, but an overall ‘compass’ of sorts to help families familiarize themselves with their options.” Some of these options, such as the Special Care Organizational Record (SCOR) for Children with Special Health Care Needs, provided by the Department of Defense, are unique to the military, making this an especially useful guide. A number of challenges, such as the discontinuity caused by frequent moves to new locations, are unique as well. Chapters cover diagnoses, caregiving, education, insurance, funding support, legal issues, advocacy, and more. Resources such as TRICARE (the military health entitlement program) and the Exceptional Family Medical Programs of each branch of the military are clearly explained. A final chapter provides sample letters and lists of useful websites and phone numbers. Although the focus is on children, many of the benefits and services (as well as the challenges) apply to adults as well. In a process that is already fraught with confusion and misunderstanding, dealing with the changing policies, services, and terms used from location to location only adds to the stress. This book will help alleviate some of the confusion.

Booklist

Special Needs Families in the Military: A Resource Guide is an inch-deep and a mile-wide resource for service members unexpectedly confronted by special needs issues. The authors explore topics applicable to all special needs families–and some unique to the military....The book serves as a useful overview for anyone encountering special needs issues for the first time.

“The chapters on education, insurance, and medical care do an especially good job of informing readers on their respective topics”

“The final chapter on resources is another of the book’s strengths. Here, readers will find contact information for advocacy and support groups for various disabilities, as well as numerous simple demand letters that can assist parents with obtaining records, appealing administrative decisions, or taking other such action to benefit their children

The Colorado Lawyer