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APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

To all loving and devoted autism moms and caregivers: you are heros and I'm inspired by your strength. You're doing a great job!!
 
kipari said:
To all loving and devoted autism moms and caregivers: you are heros and I'm inspired by your strength. You're doing a great job!!
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:kiss2:
 
@Luvallgems, thank you for announcing this here.

I have so much respect and admiration for all you wonderful women and men who love and take care of autistic children.

I am retired now but I spent 30 years working with autistic and special needs adults and children and it was the most rewarding part of my career hands down. But I didn't take care of them 24/7 as you do and I know how challenging it is. And yes rewarding too but I know at times it is unspeakably difficult and kudos to all of you. I too am inspired by your strength and energy and love.

(((Hugs))).


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missy said:
@Luvallgems, thank you for announcing this here.

I have so much respect and admiration for all you wonderful women and men who love and take care of autistic children.

I am retired now but I spent 30 years working with autistic and special needs adults and children and it was the most rewarding part of my career hands down. But I didn't take care of them 24/7 as you do and I know how challenging it is. And yes rewarding too but I know at times it is unspeakably difficult and kudos to all of you. I too am inspired by your strength and energy and love.

(((Hugs))).


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Thank you @missy for all you’ve done over the course of your 30 year career...It takes a special type of person to do it for as long as you did. I always knew you had a big heart..:kiss2:
 
Mamabean said:
Thank you @missy for all you’ve done over the course of your 30 year career...It takes a special type of person to do it for as long as you did. I always knew you had a big heart..:kiss2:
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Thank you @Mamabean but honestly working with them was a huge privilege and I was lucky I had the opportunity. Such a privilege and truly I adored and loved working with them.:kiss2:
 
I've had the pleasure (and at times challenge) of teaching children with Autism for over 12 years, nothing has been more rewarding and it has given me a real purpose.
 
Luvallgems said:
It is indeed a pleasure working with Autistic children, with early intervention,
I’ve seen miracles:mrgreen2:
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My son’s 34th birthday is coming up in two weeks...He has come a long way..and for him the miracle is that we are able to take him out in the community without the meltdowns he had when he was young. He still needs direction but it’s a way of life for me now and easily handled. I’m very grateful..
 
Mamabean said:
My son’s 34th birthday is coming up in two weeks...He has come a long way..and for him the miracle is that we are able to take him out in the community without the meltdowns he had when he was young. He still needs direction but it’s a way of life for me now and easily handled. I’m very grateful..
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My son is 36 and wasn't diagnosed until his 20's because he was on the high functioning end in many ways. But he is truly disabled because of the extreme social anxiety. He was diagnosed with many of the individual symptoms over the years, but finally someone recognized that all the symptoms fit one box. My biggest concern is what will happen to him after we are gone, but we are working toward having him set up in a house and someone handling his financial needs. I do not compare myself to a mother of a severely autistic child at all because I am not sure I could handle that, but this has been by far the most difficult part of my life.
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
My son is 36 and wasn't diagnosed until his 20's because he was on the high functioning end in many ways. But he is truly disabled because of the extreme social anxiety. He was diagnosed with many of the individual symptoms over the years, but finally someone recognized that all the symptoms fit one box. My biggest concern is what will happen to him after we are gone, but we are working toward having him set up in a house and someone handling his financial needs. I do not compare myself to a mother of a severely autistic child at all because I am not sure I could handle that, but this has been by far the most difficult part of my life.
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I’m sorry @diamondseeker2006..We have the same worries...I have to move to live closer to my middle son, S, when my husband retires. S will have to oversee D’s care when we pass. He asked us to have D in the same state so it will be easier for him to keep an eye on him. My job is to make sure D has a job and safe housing..and his care a well-oiled machine before I pass so I don’t leave that to S. He’s an attorney..so can handle anything legally for him that comes up in Virginia or Maryland. He’ll also be able to have him over to his house for family visits. D lives with us now..and it would break my heart to have him live in a home separately from us..but I have to have all the kinks worked out before we get too old. I’m not wanting to do that for a long time though..I know many men like your son that live in group homes..whether private or funded by the state..They live full, happy lives with great staff...I could buy D his own home and hire someone to look after him..but I feel there could be the potential for abuse because they are alone. I want him to be with other people so he’s not alone with a person and they are accountable to someone...I also don’t want him to be lonely. He likes to be with people but not engage. It reminds me of parallel play when children are little. We can do it.. :kiss2:
 
My son is 22, high functioning but with an uncertain future. Will he ever be on his own? We don't know. For now we too are doing what we can to secure his financial situation once we are gone, wills and special needs trusts , etc. It is difficult to find much help for these young adults. As children there were resources, but I'm finding there is little available for over 18s. Perhaps as more and more of these children reach adulthood there will be more available assistance for them.
@Mamabean and @diamondseeker2006 hugs ((())to you both! I wish we could have lunch together sometime, so much to talk about!
 
CHRISTY-DANIELLE said:
My son is 22, high functioning but with an uncertain future. Will he ever be on his own? We don't know. For now we too are doing what we can to secure his financial situation once we are gone, wills and special needs trusts , etc. It is difficult to find much help for these young adults. As children there were resources, but I'm finding there is little available for over 18s. Perhaps as more and more of these children reach adulthood there will be more available assistance for them.
@Mamabean and @diamondseeker2006 hugs ((())to you both! I wish we could have lunch together sometime, so much to talk about!
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That would be wonderful!
 
My favorite part of my job is working with children, teens, and young adults with ASD. I mostly screen/diagnose, and being able to give a label to something (to make sure families can get services) is why I do my job. I could not possibly love my work more. Thank you to all of the caregivers, parents, teachers, friends, and others who help and support these individuals daily. I appreciate you all!
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
to @Mamabean and @CHRISTY-DANIELLE

Yes, it would, because honestly, most people do not understand high functioning people and just expect them to snap out of it and go work, etc. If only it were that easy!!!
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My son is lower functioning so his intellect is also affected..He’s like a young child with the behaviors of Autism. I definitely understand your problems with high functioning sons. I think it would be much harder to get the services they need. D has a low IQ so he gets better services. They keep evaluating him every year to see if he still needs services...Yup..He’s still Autistic..:think:
 
lovedogs said:
My favorite part of my job is working with children, teens, and young adults with ASD. I mostly screen/diagnose, and being able to give a label to something (to make sure families can get services) is why I do my job. I could not possibly love my work more. Thank you to all of the caregivers, parents, teachers, friends, and others who help and support these individuals daily. I appreciate you all!
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:kiss2:
 
As a mom of a son with autism, I can’t even tell you all how meaningful this is to read here. :). I’m sending each of you lots of love! I’m a pile of happy tears today, because we had a breakthrough regarding help for him today, and I feel like it’s a turning point for him. Nothing like crying in a school meeting.
 
Not to derail, but I'm curious if any of you moms can tell me if your ASD child has really strange sleep habits? For years my son has tried to be on a "normal " sleep/wake cycle, but then he goes right back to up all night, sleep all day.
 
CHRISTY-DANIELLE said:
Not to derail, but I'm curious if any of you moms can tell me if your ASD child has really strange sleep habits? For years my son has tried to be on a "normal " sleep/wake cycle, but then he goes right back to up all night, sleep all day.
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My Son did, at age 4 he would sneak out of his room in the middle of the night, watch TV and eat a snack... then he was exhausted the following day. When we heard him we put him back to bed, but as much as I don’t want to admit this, we didn’t always notice. It lasted about a year. As a baby, despite all my efforts he was a night owl.
He is 13 now and much better. Now he loves sleep.
 
My SO's youngest daughter is high functioning autistic and moderately ADHD. She will be 21 years old in May and has aged out of the school district's programs SO is in his 60s and starting to worry about what she will do when we are gone. She is able to hold a job as a waitress but unable to manage money or a household on her own. Thank you for mentioning special needs trusts. We will look into them.
Hugs to you all.
 
Sunshinelab said:
As a mom of a son with autism, I can’t even tell you all how meaningful this is to read here. :). I’m sending each of you lots of love! I’m a pile of happy tears today, because we had a breakthrough regarding help for him today, and I feel like it’s a turning point for him. Nothing like crying in a school meeting.
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I’m so happy for you @Sunshinelab..:kiss2:
 
CHRISTY-DANIELLE said:
Not to derail, but I'm curious if any of you moms can tell me if your ASD child has really strange sleep habits? For years my son has tried to be on a "normal " sleep/wake cycle, but then he goes right back to up all night, sleep all day.
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When mine was young he was like this..I was young then so I would run with him during the day. The only safe place to run with him was in the cemetery..There was one a few blocks from our house. It sounds creepy but I didn’t have to worry about him running into traffic. It made him tired enough to sleep at night. Now that he’s older he loves to sleep..so he outgrew it. Try to get him in an activity that’s tiring..but not too close to bedtime because it would work the opposite way and keep him up. Keep him moving during the day and don’t let him nap if you can.
 
@princessandthepear my husband did a lot of research and found out about the special needs trusts. We worried about willing money directly to him. He's naive and someone dubious could easily take advantage. With the trust, an assigned person chosen by us, would oversee his inheritance, a trusted middleman between my son and the world. Definetly gives us peace of mind knowing that is in place.
 
Thank you again for mentioning the special needs trust, @christy-DANIELLE> We will talk to an attorney. His youngest is very generous and tends to give her and family items away to people in need. We also worry about unscrupulous people taking advantage of her nature. She has numerous internet acquaintances and once attempted to mail a dorm refrigerator and beds to one overseas!
 
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