The booklet contains proceedings of a 1982 conference focusing on the needs of parents of handicapped children. Summaries of presentations and panels address the following topics: federal support systems for parents of handicapped children, parents' reactions to learning their child is disabled, early intervention services, community support systems and advocacy programs, improvement of family relationships, recognition of psychological needs of handicapped children, recreational and leisure time opportunities, parents' role in the intervention program, coping skills effective for parenting, visual impairment, and evaluation of the conference and parent suggestions. Emphasis is on such Nevada programs as the Coalition for Handicapped Children's Education, the Developmental Disabilities Advocate's Office, Northern Nevada Mental Retardation Services, Mayville Counseling and Psychological Services, and Southern Nevada Association for the Handicapped. (SW)