Join us in welcoming author Amanda Griffith-Atkins to our Grand Rapids event studio!
Amanda, who is a therapist and the mother of a disabled child with high-support needs, will be discussing her book, How to Handle More Than You Can Handle: Caring for Yourself While Raising a Disabled Child, with Laura Muma, who is a Grand Rapids local and mom to two children, one of whom has disabilities.
We love seeing who is planning to join us! Your RSVP helps us prepare to host you. You can RSVP here:
https://events.humanitix.com/amanda-griffith-atkins-and-laura-muma-sbgr
About the Book:
A guide to navigating the emotional experience of caring for and raising disabled children with high-support needs, from a therapist and parent of a disabled child.
Amanda Griffith-Atkins, a therapist who is also one of the millions of people raising a disabled child with high-support needs, knows firsthand about the dark places parents go—the grief, the anger, the frustration—and the shame these feelings can bring up. In her practice, and now her book, she gives parents an invaluable set of tools to find the strength, acceptance, and self-compassion to face these hard emotions to become a more forgiving and healthier version of themselves---and better caretakers for their children. She takes readers through the different emotions of this unique parenting journey: the shock of diagnosis, the fight for resources, the anxiety of navigating your child’s growing independence, the uncertainty of how best to prepare for their future without you. Then she turns her lens to the parent’s world and how to navigate the fraught territory of marriage, identity, expectations, guilt, managing non-disabled siblings, and more. She shows us that bringing your darkest feelings into the light and showing up as your full self is the best way to get out of survival mode. Because you—and your child—deserve it.
About the Author:
Amanda Griffith-Atkins is a licensed therapist and founder of the Amanda Atkins Counseling Group in Chicago. Amanda earned a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University, but it wasn't until her son Asher was born that she discovered her life's purpose: to help parents of disabled children find their stride. Amanda has become a leading expert in helping parents of disabled children navigate their emotions, relationships, and parenting. Her first book. How to Handle More Than You Can Handle: Caring for Yourself While Raising a Disabled Child, came out in June, 2025. She lives in Chicago with her husband and 3 sons.
About the Conversation Partner:
Laura Muma is a local Grand Rapids mom to two children, one of whom has disabilities. Her son’s journey has deeply influenced her perspective on life, motivating her to advocate for his needs and those of others facing similar challenges. Laura is eager to connect with other parents on a similar journey, with the goal of building a supportive community where families can share experiences, resources, and encouragement. She will join Amanda for a brief discussion about the book, sharing insights and perspectives from her own experiences.
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