Boundless Hope by Kim Botto

Kids who have disabilities, are neurodivergent, or have experienced trauma may have behaviors that are especially challenging and confusing.

But as we better understand their unique needs, we can create safe spaces for all to contribute and belong.

Churches, parents, and educators want to make things better, not worse for kids. When frustration sets in, however, even well-meaning adults reinforce harmful patterns and the misguided belief that the behavior is bad and therefore the kid is too. It's easy to react with anger or try to "fix" behaviors that challenge the expectations, but there is another option.

In Boundless Hope, Kim Botto draws on more than thirty years of professional and volunteer experience, as well as her personal experience as an adoptive mom and an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, to provide tools for responding positively to kids and teens with difficult behaviors. It all starts with a simple change in perspective: consciously approaching disruptive behaviors with curiosity and understanding, rather than judgment. Simple, yes—but as Botto's anecdotes illustrate, this shift can make an enormous difference in a child's life, with positive effects that may reverberate for generations to come.