--- title: Praying For Your Special Needs Child description: "Dave and Mercedes Rizzo discuss their new book \"Praying for Your Special Needs Child,\" coming in August from The Word Among Us Press." --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/07/25/praying-for-your-special-needs-child/#) [BOOKS](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) # Praying For Your Special Needs Child Jul 25, 2018 6:30:57 PM  |  by [David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/david-and-mercedes-rizzo) [![Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336.png) A good friend of ours always says that you know you are on the right track with something when it comes easily. When The Word Among Us Press contacted us and asked us if we would like to write a book on prayer, we felt that the door had easily swung open. This opportunity was not expected but very welcomed -- and, in that sense, easy. In our new book, [*Praying For Your Special Needs Child*](https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Your-Special-Needs-Child/dp/1593253400/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531694353&sr=8-1&keywords=praying+for+your+special+needs+child&dpID=51kzcPEVg7L&preST=_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_QL70_&dpSrc=srch), we discuss the daily opportunities that lead special needs parents to pray. By this we mean events such as trying to get a medical appointment with a specialist, facing the school child study team during an IEP meeting, keeping your child safe from harm, finances, behavior at Mass, and many other challenges. Such events in our lives fuel our need to turn towards God to make sense of the situation we find ourselves in. We also discuss various types of prayers that parents can try and we tell our personal stories. [![](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Praying-for-Your-Special-Needs-Child_final-1.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Praying-for-Your-Special-Needs-Child_final-1.jpg) At first, we weren't sure where to begin, but the book seemed to write itself, which is always a good sign. This was an opportunity to really think about the lives that special needs families face -- their struggles and their triumphs. Writing this book gave us a greater appreciation of the role that prayer plays in your daily life. Parents of children with special needs often carry burdens which work inside them until they become a type of prayer. Praying in this way can lead to acceptance and ultimately celebration of your special needs child. Such prayer can take many forms including prayers of petition, breath prayers, formulaic prayers, visualization, reading scripture, giving thanks, turning to the saints, paying attention, going on retreat, and attending Mass. We explore all of these types of prayer  in the book. If you are the parent of a child or young adult with special needs, or know someone who is, then we encourage you to check out our book *Praying For Your Special Needs Child. *We hope this will help you discover meaning and purpose in your life, as you grow in the strength and grace that a prayerful relationship with God provides. ### **Visit [our Book Notes archive](http://catholicmom.com/category/book-notes/).** --- *Copyright 2018 David and Mercedes Rizzo* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F07%2F25%2Fpraying-for-your-special-needs-child%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F07%2F25%2Fpraying-for-your-special-needs-child%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F07%2F25%2Fpraying-for-your-special-needs-child%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Praying%20For%20Your%20Special%20Needs%20Child) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F07%2F25%2Fpraying-for-your-special-needs-child%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F07%2F25%2Fpraying-for-your-special-needs-child%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/DAVID%20AND%20MERCEDES%20RIZZO.jpeg) ### [David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/david-and-mercedes-rizzo) David and Mercedes write and speak from a faith perspective as parents of a child with autism. They are available to speak, and have appeared on radio and other media. Visit [DavidAndMercedesRizzo.com](http://davidandmercedesrizzo.com) to learn more. Follow them on Facebook at [Autism With The Rizzos](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-With-The-Rizzos/281489198616138?ref=tn_tnmn). Authors of *Praying For Your Special Needs Child*, (Word Among Us Press) and [*Spiritually Able* and *The Adaptive First Eucharist Preparation Kit*](http://www.loyolapress.com/search-result.aspx?s=rizzo) (Loyola Press). ## Related Blog Articles [ Dancing The Night Away Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/06/22/dancing-night-away) [ The Family Bible Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/the-family-bible) [ The Seasons God Sends Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/the-seasons-god-sends) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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