Fathers of kids with learning problems - Being a dad of a child with learning or attention problems has its special challenges and rewards.  Because moms often take the primary role in child rearing, dads can sometimes feel pushed to the sidelines in the day-to-day lives of their children. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

A Father’s Perspective - Hi, my name is Alan. I want to share with you my story, from a father's perspective, of having a child with special needs.

Ages & Stages - Sharing thoughts from within families of children with disabilities....by Joani Gent, freelance writer. Having a child with a disability requires parents to adjust to a new set of expectations on how it feels to be a "father" or "mother."

Being a dad - Having a disabled child affects all members of a family. Mothers and fathers can sometimes react in different ways to the news that their child has a disability or medical condition. As a father of a disabled child, you may find your partner or other members of the family looking to you for support at a time when you have to adapt to a new and sometimes difficult set of circumstances.

Being a father to a child with disabilities issues and what helps (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

Building the Bond between Fathers and Kids with Learning Difficulties - Ever since our son, Alex, was little and I was taking him from tutoring to speech therapy to therapeutic swimming, the overwhelming prevalence of women in those settings was impossible to ignore. In waiting rooms, on the sidelines of swim and horseback riding lessons, and in parent support groups, moms were everywhere. Articles, brochures and even books, offered advice on everything from potty training to classroom accommodations. But, always, the target audience was the mother.

Dads for kids - Becoming the best fathers we can be through education, sharing and caring for the well being of our children. Nurture their inner spirit, guide and empower them. Give them "Roots & Wings" to make enabling decisions to reach their potential in life. Share best practices and solutions that will foster better relationships with our children and family. Become better men along the way.

Dads must connect with kids who have autism too - Make room for daddy, say University of Florida autism experts. Teaching fathers how to communicate and play with their children who have autism pays dividends, for parents and kids alike.

Dads' stories

Dynamic Duo: A Father and Daughter Who Share LD - Schwab Learning recently spoke with David Sharpe about his teenage daughter, Hayley, and the role he plays in her life. Both David and Hayley have learning disabilities (LD). David first contacted Schwab Learning to make us aware of the support group Hayley set up at her high school to help incoming freshman with LD learn effective self-advocacy skills.

Fathers Have Increased Role With Caring For Kids- Family roles continue to change, especially in today's over-scheduled, stressful environment. Studies show that about two-thirds of mothers of young children have outside employment. Currently, about 40 percent of fathers work over 50 hours per week at work. The conflict between career and family continues, and child care from dad is especially needed in a two-career family.

Forgotten Fathers? - In most cases a child has one main carer either the mother or the father. This may be that one of the partners has a full time job, or many other reasons. It is naturally accepted that a mother can take care of her child/children but even in this day and age people have their doubts about a father performing the role of a mother. Why: Are fathers less able to care for their child? NO!!

How To Maximize Fathers' Involvement With Their Children Who Have Disabilities - Mothers are typically viewed as overseeing their children's education and development, while fathers are thought to be less involved. There are good reasons for this often true perception. However, better reasons exist to change it and to use the commonly untapped resource of fathers when working with a family that has a child with a disability.

It Takes Someone Special to Be a Dad - Fatherhood is an increasingly difficult role nowadays. As fathers, we have a cluster of concerns and anxieties that our dads could not have imagined…internet pornography…terrorism…school violence. Today’s father is confronted daily with pleasures and pressures that are unique to this generation of parents.

The Learning Disabled Child and the Home - Parents of children with learning disabilities are tired. In addition to the normal stresses of family life, they are continually working on their child's behalf. They mediate, advocate, intervene, referee, preplan, negotiate, and adapt until they are exhausted. In the meantime, they provide emotional support for their learning disabled child, while trying to balance the attention given him with the attention given the other members of the family. No wonder they are worn out.

National Father's Network. - The National Fathers' Network is dedicated to providing support and resources for fathers and families of children with special needs. Their beautiful, well-designed website includes Articles by Dads, moving, real life stories, poetry and insight from fathers of children with disabilities (many in Spanish); For Providers, a section designed to assist professionals in being "father friendly" in their work setting; an online photo album celebrating dads and their kids; great family, father, and disability links; and much more. One nice feature of this website is that it comes in two versions: one for newcomers to the Web and one for seasoned surfers.

Promoting Father Involvement in Early Childhood (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

Relationship with your partner - Having a disabled child may put pressure on your relationship with your partner or you may react in very different ways to the issues concerning your child. It is important to talk them through and sometimes you might need to compromise.

Super Dads - The real heroism of quarterbacks Boomer Esiason, Doug Flutie, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino and Jeff Hostetler; But for five great NFL (National Football League) quarterbacks-Boomer Esiason, Doug Flutie, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino and Jeff Hostetler-what happened on the field is just the beginning of the heroics. They are young dads with sons with disabilities, and it is precisely their grit and leadership that enable them to make a difference not only in their homes, but on behalf of thousands of others who benefit from their charitable work.