Thank you for your suggestions from the last poster.

Anonymous wrote:Do you state in your listing the exact special needs that your child has? Are there many candidates with OT or PT training? My child has physical disabilities.

Absolutely. It is critical that you be fair and very objective in describing your child. It may mean your search takes longer or you interview au pairs that may turn you down, but you only need ONE candidate that fits your bill. She or he is out there. Trust me. You just need to fine each other. And you want one that really is ready emotionally for not only being an au pair (it is not babysitting!) but is ready for the special challenges your child will bring.

FYI - my child does not have physical disabilities aside from the usual low muscle and motor tone, but a slew of other challenges. Our au pair search has never taken more than about a month and interviewing no more than 4 candidates. We do not insist on a special needs au pair as we don't want to limit too much. Like I said above, what's worked for us to consider only candidates that will at least consider a SN placement and that demonstrate maturity through indications of independence and maturity (own their own car? Have had a full time job at one employer for more than a year? What's their relationship to their parents? What do they do at home to earn their keep? I could write a book let me tell you). We've had a great experience thus far (knock on wood) and it's been 6 years with au pairs. Being honest and direct is critical to the search process. I highly recommend your child have at least one Skype interaction with any serious candidate. Even if they cannot or will not talk, at least so the au pair can "see" your child and get a good view. I've found it very much calms them especially when our application can be sort of "scary" compared to perhaps some other families with only NT kids.

Yes, when you create your family profile you describe your family fairly fully including any special needs your children have and the type of person you are looking for to help with the kids.

Do you state in your listing the exact special needs that your child has? Are there many candidates with OT or PT training? My child has physical disabilities.

I agree with PP. We are with Cultural Care and have never had an issue finding solid au pairs. In fact, we don't limit ourselves to only those with SN training, but rather ladies that have serious work experience and demonstrate they have the life skills to come here and the maturity. This has been a better indicator of tolerance, maturity, and commonsense that we find our priority skills sets for any caregiver and particularly SN caregivers.

I would encourage you to sign up with Cultural Care and Au Par in America and do some looking before committing to Pro Au Pair. We had a fine au pair from Pro Au Pair but our experience with the agency is less than steller and they are significantly more money than the other agencies and their staff has been less than helpful at times. I am currently talking to an OT through Cultural Care and a couple of teachers through APIA. Both have much more actual childcare experience than many of the girls I saw from Pro Au Pair. Also, you can sign up with the other agencies and search girls for free but Pro Au Pair makes you pay up front.

It is a higher cost, but we had FABULOUS success with Pro Aupair which specializes in special needs au pairs. It is a small company, but the owner knows each candidate and can point you in the right direction. Also, since everyone is working with special needs children, the other aupairs within the cluster understand each other. The au pairs are well trained- anything from special ed teacher, OT, nurse, etc, so you can find someone who will be right for your child.

GL

I'm new to the Au pair world. Can anyone suggest an agency that they've found good candidates with (i.e., have candidates interested in working with special needs children)?