ASD will I ever work again?

[Anonymous]

hi I am a parent of a child with ASD. I was on top of my career, that is, until I had a child with asd five years ago. I have not been able to go back to work, I feel trapped no after care, still getting calls for work. Parents who have kids with ASD how did you do it?

[Anonymous]

Hire a nanny.

[Anonymous]

op here, can you please let me know where to find a good nanny. thanks so much

[Anonymous]

Put ads out, talk to other parents, look on list serves.

[Anonymous]

I work reduced hours bc I have to cart my child around to therapy appointments, etc. sometimes I wish I didn't have to work. Are you sure you need/want to add another commitment to your life? Work + special needs child is very tough.

[Anonymous]

Believe it or not we've had luck with Craigslist. Just be honest about your needs, but tons of people read those listings and you never know who might be out there--for example a young woman who just graduated from college and needs something to do while looking for her dream job, and grew up caring for an autistic sibling. There are a lot of people out there looking for jobs if you'll pay well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Believe it or not we've had luck with Craigslist. Just be honest about your needs, but tons of people read those listings and you never know who might be out there--for example a young woman who just graduated from college and needs something to do while looking for her dream job, and grew up caring for an autistic sibling. There are a lot of people out there looking for jobs if you'll pay well.

That is the key- be upfront and pay well.

[Anonymous]

We hired a nanny to pick my son up from preschool and take him to ABA, OT etc. we found our nanny/shadow (she also attends works as his shadow in a setting 2 days a week) through fscebook (friend of a friend thing. She is a graduate student and we pay a lot ($17 an hour) but it works for all of us.

[Anonymous]

op here thanks for the information will look into it.

[Anonymous]

I've taken time off from work due to special needs child. It's hard to manage therapies and work. I have a great nanny but not sure it's enough, felt need to be more involved. On the same note, husbands income supports family comfortably. But I would like to go back to work one day when things are more settled, child is three.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a nanny to pick my son up from preschool and take him to ABA, OT etc. we found our nanny/shadow (she also attends works as his shadow in a setting 2 days a week) through fscebook (friend of a friend thing. She is a graduate student and we pay a lot ($17 an hour) but it works for all of us.

Same poster again, I spend my entire pay on nanny and therapies. My job is flexible so I can step out for meetings with teachers and therapist as needed. I really feel like going back to work helped me mentally. I was so consumed with researching everything ASD.

Good luck with your decision.

[Anonymous]

OP, I feel for you. I worked for one of the Big4 companies and then boom, we got the ASD diagnosis. Within a few months I realized that my company would not accommodate me, they still wanted me to travel like crazy, no flexible schedule at all. So I joined a small women owned company. Sure I took a paycut, but I am no longer traveling, I have a strict 9-5 schedule despite being on the customer site most of the time. Company owners were extremely understanding, one of them has 2 SN children. While DS was attending FCPS preschool, we had a nanny to pick him from school, drive him to ABA, OT, SLP. He's now finishing 2nd grade, we have a nanny who now takes him to activities. Yes, nannies are expensive, we pay $20/hour but I come home to a happy, non-stressed child, who are thriving.

[Anonymous]

Op here thanks for the wonderful responses, it has made my day, I will look into the options discussed. A nanny is very vital. Thanks again