Tag: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Only A Minor Request

$160 at Amazon

I find the perspectives shared by this story so very sad and so, I share it as well.

I’m a support worker in a specialized care home. The company I work for takes on kids with high needs and challenging behaviors. My job is basically to support the kids that I work with in any and all aspects of their lives from personal care to playing (and anything in between). We just recently had 2 kids placed back in our care after reunification almost 4 weeks ago (not their fault and not their mom’s fault). The youngest who’s 8 is a non-verbal autism spectrum disorder (ASD) child who requires constant supervision. She also requires sensory stimulation!! I absolutely love the company I work for but holy fuck!!!! I’m about to go bat shit crazy advocating to get this little girl the things she needs to self regulate!! The unit she’s in has a massive basement that could very easily be set up with sensory activities and stuff that she 100 percent requires to function in her daily life, yet the company I work for and the agency have both said they don’t want to waste money on something for a child that might only be here for 3 or 4 months!! I’m sorry what??? When did it be come a waste to see a child thrive, even if it’s only for 3 or 4 months? We constantly deal with ASD kids, why would a massive sensory room go to waste?? Why do these kids have to suffer, in order to get their needs met? It irritates the hell out of me that kids in care get shit on unless their placement becomes permanent!! And all I asked this company to do for this little girl was get her a little indoor trampoline and a ball pit!!! Her mom said that’s where she hangs out at home!!

PS – we find out next week how long these kids are with us and I’m so hoping it isn’t for months!!

Safe Families For Children

This organization was recommended to a woman going through a crisis as she is attempting to escape domestic violence by moving to another state. She is currently homeless with a 4 year old child. She worries they will become a target for Child Protective Services. A bit of her story –

A family friend had said that we would have a place to stay but when we got there, they said we couldn’t stay because my son was “too noisy.” He has autism spectrum disorder and is vocally pretty loud. We slept in our car the first couple of nights and then started camping. I tried to make it a fun summer adventure at first but recently we have started to get run out of campgrounds, even though we haven’t overstayed our allowed time. We are assumed to be homeless (which we are, but I don’t go around announcing it). I just found a job and someone willing to watch my son during work. It is all so overwhelming. I haven’t started yet but I can’t even figure out how to get work clothes, gas, even the fingerprints process done – all while living in my car with my little guy. I’m afraid I’ll end up losing the opportunity to work but actually my biggest fear is having my son taken away.

NOTE – Walking away takes a tremendous amount of courage. Taking your child with you to safety shows integrity and good parenting.

Some advice – look for “Women’s Shelters,” “domestic abuse shelters” and organizations that provide shelters specifically for mothers with children. They can give you an address that would satisfy an employer. There is a LINK> National Domestic Violence Hotline. Another suggestion was the LINK> Bridge of Hope program, which serves families without discrimination, extending compassion and grace without judgement to families facing homelessness. Bridge of Hope has no faith or church attendance requirement or expectations.

LINK> Safe Families For Children is an organization that serve families in crisis. Basically prescreened families host kids for a short term in order to keep them out of the foster care system. Safe Families For Children serves families who lack social networks and live in isolation without support of family and friends who are dealing with crises such as homelessness, unemployment, child abuse, domestic violence, medical emergencies and alcohol/drug rehabilitation.