Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D., Founder, disAbilities Books
In 1954, as a college freshman, Stanley D. Klein got a summer job as a counselor at a Camp Jawonio, a camp for children with cerebral palsy in Rockland County, New York. He worked at Camp Jawonio for three more summers (through 1957) serving as head counselor for the boys. At camp, he learned about what it is like to be a parent — 24 hours/day.
While at camp, he observed and got to know the consulting psychologist. As a result, he decided to become a clinical psychologist. Dr. Klein received his Ph.D. in psychology from Clark University in 1963.
He has been a clinical psychologist and a college educator. In 1971, he co-founded Exceptional Parent magazine and served as editor-in-chief until 1997. During that time, he was the author or co-author of over 200 articles and editorials and three books.
In 1993, his article on communicating with parents, including the challenge of delivering difficult diagnostic news, appeared in a pediatric journal. He has spoken on this important topic to health and education professionals at many teaching hospitals and many other clinical and educational educational settings throughout the United States as well as in Greece, United Kingdom, Israel, and Germany.*
Dr. Klein also does presentations and workshops on a range of topics for parents organizations, health care and special education students, and groups including parents, professionals, and/or people with disabilities.* He has also discussed children with disabilities and their parents on radio and television.
In the late 1990s, he helped Merrill Lynch establish its Families of Children with Disabilities Program and served as “Special Needs Expert” at Parents.com (Parents magazine Web site). He also served as Education Director for Abilities Expo for several years.
In recent years, he has co-edited three books — each one with a person with a disability:
You Will Dream New Dreams, Inspiring Personal Stories by Parents of Children with Disabilities (Kensington Books, 2001) was co-edited with Kim Schive with a Foreword by Richard Thornburgh, former Governor of Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney General, and a parent. Sixty-three essay authors, all “veteran” parents of children (with different disabilities), wrote short essays about what they wished they had been told when first learned about their child’s disability.
Reflections from a Different Journey: What Adults with Disabilities Wish All Parents Knew (McGraw-Hill, 2004; DisABILITIESBOOKS, 2011) was co-edited with John D. Kemp, with a Foreword by Marlee Matlin, Academy Award winning actress who is deaf. It is a book of forty inspiring and realistic short essays by successful adult role models.
From There to Here: Stories of Adjustment to Spinal Cord Injury (No Limits Communications, 2004; DisABILITIESBOOKS, 2011), co-edited with Gary Karp, includes forty-five short essays by women and men describing how they coped with a spinal cord injury in order to get from first being injured (There) to leading full adult lives (Here).
In 1996, he retired, after 19 years, as Professor of Psychology and Director of the Counseling Service at the New England College of Optometry. During his career, Dr. Klein also taught at Simmons College School of Social Work, University of Massachusetts/Boston, Clark University, Boston University, Wheelock College, Emmanuel College, Massachusetts School of Profession Psychology, Lesley College, and Indiana University.
In 2002, he created DisABILITIESBOOKS to publish books by parents and people with disabilities. From 2002 through 2008, he was a regular contributor to InSight, the national newsletter of The Arc.
In September, 2012, Dr. Klein became a consultant at the Viscardi Center in Albertson, NY.
Dr. Klein has received numerous national awards for his work from organizations such as the National Parents Network, American Psychological Association, National Down Syndrome Congress, American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, National Easter Seals Society, and The President’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities and the American Association of Disability Communicators.
Active in politics for many years, from May, 2007 to November, 2008, he served as co-chair of the Obama Disability Policy Committee.
The father of two adult children, Dr. Klein lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.