The book is first and foremost written for parents, with some reference to research but mostly through the telling of vignettes and short stories about how families have fared with the responsibilities for raising and supporting impaired family members. Written as it is for parents and coming from one of the foremost authorities on community services for person with developmental disabilities in the world, this brief monograph is also important reading for professionals.

The book is divided into three major sections, including the first part that reviews the conditions that are likely to arouse concern for families of an impaired family member, the second part which covers some of Wolfensberger’s thoughts on parental responsibilities, and a third section on five common mistakes made by parents of children with impairments.