Another quitter here. It's just imposssible to keep up with all the appointments, meds, homework, driving. And it doesn't get any easier when they get older and there is more pressure on them to perform. Then you start getting a glimpse of just how handicapped they will be in the "real world" and realize there are many life skills that need to be taught.

I have 2 children with ASD. For years, I taught full time-- sometimes at one of my dc's schools. That was helpful in some ways-- I was nearby if my dc needed me, or got in trouble. I was able to get to know their teachers and sometimes stop problems before they started. It was really hard in other ways.

Both of my dc have been asked to leave (different) schools. This year, they did pretty well at school (knock wood). I think part of the reason is that I have been working very part time. They didn't go to early or aftercare this year. I chaperoned field trips. I was home to keep homework on track.

They don't have to be in day camp this summer, because I'm scheduling my work around them. We don't have any money, but I don't have to worry about them being kicked out of camp. It's a trade off I can live with, for now. God help me if we have a financial crisis.

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how do you work full time as a parent with a child on the spectrum?
How do you handle aftercare?
Thanks

I work FT with a flexible schedule so I can telework in the afternoons when I have to meet the bus, take DC to therapy appointments, etc. It is a little challenging to manage the schedule both with DC and older DC in middle school, but we make it work.

I have no idea how parents manage it with 3 or more kids, though.

I work full time out of home with an ASD preschooler and an NT 2nd grader. Employer is flexible. Mondays work from 6-1, Tu-Fri work from 6-3:30. No aftercare as will be home before her Bus arrives and takes her to various therapies. When her ABA session is going on, I nap, prepare for dinner, fold laundry and help other kid. It is very hard but don't have a choice as my employer provides better coverage for therapies. DH does morning drop offs. use backup SN nanny for snow days and Summer. DH works from home on Wednesday afternoons as her PAC ends at 12:30. But I feel so glad after DD sleeps as I can rest for the day before starting all over again next day.

To the PP who gets calls from school asking you to pick up child: you know that's not acceptable right? Next time they do that, ask if he is being suspended. If they say no, then just tell them you expect the school to be providing a free appropriate Public education, and if they can't, then they need to refer him to a private school. That should stop the random "pick him up" calls.

It's very difficult but I have help from grandparents and a very flexible in house legal job.

Anonymous wrote:Quit too. I was not ok with child care from about 2-4.5 when my child was not verbal and need a lot of attention. Now hitting 5, things are much better and I could probably go back to work with him in full-time care BUT, we still have speech and OT as well as activities (which help with the social) so it would be very difficult to work full-time (I probably could part-time but financially with the pay cut from being a SAHM, it isn't worth it).

The spectrum is a very large spectrum so some of it depends on where your child is. We were told our child was much worse than he really is and we think we are one of the few with a miss diagnosis or "outgrew" it (I don't think you can outgrow it but those are different issues). Now he functions fine with a bit of extra help in a regular setting.

This is very true. There are several kids with an ASD diagnosis at our school - PDD-NOS and Asperger's who were diagnosed after they started school. Their symptoms are mild and most of their parents work and the kids do aftercare without issues.

Quit too. I was not ok with child care from about 2-4.5 when my child was not verbal and need a lot of attention. Now hitting 5, things are much better and I could probably go back to work with him in full-time care BUT, we still have speech and OT as well as activities (which help with the social) so it would be very difficult to work full-time (I probably could part-time but financially with the pay cut from being a SAHM, it isn't worth it).

The spectrum is a very large spectrum so some of it depends on where your child is. We were told our child was much worse than he really is and we think we are one of the few with a miss diagnosis or "outgrew" it (I don't think you can outgrow it but those are different issues). Now he functions fine with a bit of extra help in a regular setting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how do you work full time as a parent with a child on the spectrum?
How do you handle aftercare?
Thanks

Flexible job and I work from home. I am after-care. I start work at 5. 7:30-8 is my "lunch" break when I take the kids to school. Work is done by around 2pm. Pick up the kids 3-3:30

Op. Here how do you find a job like that what industry do you work in what do you do

I work I'm Consulting. I've been with my current company for 12 yrs. I proved myself before I had kids. When my first was born I asked to transfer to local only gigs. When my SN child was diagnosed, I went internal.

I had to quit work. It's too hard.

I had to quit. I would love to go back to work, but we still can't drop our child off anywhere and he's 9. School calls frequently to pick him up, or they can't get him on the bus and I have to pick him up, etc. There is no way I could hold down a full time job with a child who can't be left anywhere (plus a younger sibling).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how do you work full time as a parent with a child on the spectrum?
How do you handle aftercare?
Thanks

Flexible job and I work from home. I am after-care. I start work at 5. 7:30-8 is my "lunch" break when I take the kids to school. Work is done by around 2pm. Pick up the kids 3-3:30

Op. Here how do you find a job like that what industry do you work in what do you do

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how do you work full time as a parent with a child on the spectrum?
How do you handle aftercare?
Thanks

Flexible job and I work from home. I am after-care. I start work at 5. 7:30-8 is my "lunch" break when I take the kids to school. Work is done by around 2pm. Pick up the kids 3-3:30

It is hard even if your job lets you work from home..
If you can afford, try to get aba private after school...
How old is the kid?

I am curious how do you work full time as a parent with a child on the spectrum?
How do you handle aftercare?
Thanks