Description

Children with multiple disabilities and complex neurological problems, often compounded by psychological and behavioral problems, need care provision beyond the normal community and hospital pediatric services. These children and their families need the help of a variety of specialists. Organizing these is a complex problem and there is a constant risk of the family's needs being overridden by the professionals' convenience. Dr. Robards describes ways of providing all the necessary specialist care while at the same time increasing the family's participation and understanding to its optimum level. Illustrating his proposals with a variety of lively case histories, the author demonstrates that a rigid structure can never meet these children's needs. This practical book offers clear recommendations about record keeping, integrating voluntary support groups into the professionals' work, the location and layout of premises used by the professionals, and many other factors collectively critical to the efficient and humane delivery of this element of community care.