Parenting is demanding, joyous, exhausting and fulfilling. If you are parenting a special needs child you can double the emotions – and the exhaustion. It is no secret that special needs children need special parents, but what qualities do these parents need to have?

"Special needs families do best when they are resilient, flexible, open-minded, resourceful and positive," says Karen Krivit, a social worker for Philadelphia Elwyn Early Intervention SEEDS Program and founder of the Philadelphia Autism Network.

It's very difficult for families to even begin to think about what qualities will be needed when a child is first diagnosed, but the following traits will help parents positively and constructively deal with the needs of their very special child.

A child's disability can be devastating on many levels to a family. According to Krivit, the emotions that a family goes through at first diagnosis can include tremendous amounts of guilt, anger and blame. These feelings can become crippling for a family if they are not acknowledged.

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