when I found out I was going to have my first child I was excited and happy just as most are. A little nervous about work (assisting in physical behaviors), but I knew my employer had precautions in place. I could work at a different building with less behaviors or stay and try not to partake in assisting with physical behaviors. Knowing I had a great team working alongside me I stayed. I also couldn’t help but feel like I would be abandoning the individuals I was taking care of.
Stating some truth’s here. Caregivers to Individuals with more challenging behaviors are let’s say like a Revolving door. I think some take the job not knowing the full details and duties it entails. Some leave to other sites/ buildings or quite during training.
So here I was a first-time mom with all the usual hopes and dreams most parents have. At five months I started having complications. Remember I’m a petite person so not a lot of room for a growing baby. At first my doctor thought I was having Braxton Hicks contractions (false labor). Then realizing with an exam I was in fact in labor. I was put on meds to stop the labor intel further along and safer for the baby.
Bear came into the world at thirty-seven weeks as healthy as a full-term baby. I started noticing some delays (speech and OCD tendencies) when he was two years old. Being told by doctors it was normal for a Premi, and I was just over thinking it because of work. After all he already could identify the alphabet and numbers. At three I started talking to my coworkers about my concerns. They gave me information to get him evaluated. It was determined that he had delays in speech, hand grasp, and some characteristics of Autism (outburst, hand movements, lights and sounds sensitivity). He was put in an early intervention preschool.
Bear was doing great just within a few months. His speech was improving, and the outbursts were less frequent. At five years old he was put on a waiting list to be evaluated for Autism. After a very long wait due to not many doctors in my area familiar with Autism. He was Finally diagnosed with Autism and ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactive disorder) at eight.
During the waiting period he was placed in regular public school for kindergarten. Within just a few months was put in a different school with programming for children with special needs. Until I learned of a new program starting that was directed for kids with Autism. It was not in my school district.
I started doing my own research and learned the schools here had to provide transportation elsewhere if they couldn’t meet his requirements. That is when I first learned this would be another challenge for me. Luckily for me I had family and coworkers to help support me and give me advise. Which in turn put me at a disadvantage most parents that have a child with a disability don’t have.
So, using the resources available to me. My journey began as a parent standing up for my son in getting what he needed from the schools and from doctors. Alongside being a caregiver for individuals with disabilities. Remembering even back then people would ask me “How do you do it?” Especially with another baby on the way.
Never give up looking for the other side of the rainbow.
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