Moving to the beach was always a dream and 9 years ago we made it a reality! We only had two young kids at the time and we dropped everything to make a change…a change we hoped would be great for our family and I’ll say 98% of what we hoped would happen…DID. We found great friends, great schools, added another kiddo (SURPRISE!) and we started to settle in.
But what happens when one of your kids is diagnosed with ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder and eventually Autism? How do you navigate this information in a small town with limited resources? Well, I’ll never know if I’ve done all the right things but all I knew to do was to read all the books, find the therapists/doctors, travel to appointments, change schools, circle the wagons and start a nonprofit to help others. Maybe you’re dealing with something similar, or you know someone who is. Here is how I found the best way to help my child in a town that just isn’t fully equipped to help kids like mine.
- Calling all the Parents. Hear of a family with a similar story? Call them. Find a local support group? GO. Community is going to be what keeps you learning and feeling LESS ALONE. Cry with them, laugh with them…it’s incredibly important. Don’t be afraid to share your story. Having a neurodiverse child can feel isolating, not only for you but for them as well. Look for families that embrace every aspect of your child. Join our Private Support Facebook Group HERE.
- ADVOCATE. Push for the help, find the scholarships, ask the hard questions. A Mom or Dad’s intuition is there for a reason. If your pediatrician won’t hear you, find a new one. I have an arsenal of an amazing Pediatrician, therapist and a school with beyond caring teachers in our corner because I PUSHED and THEY listened. Teaching your child to advocate for themselves has been one of the greatest challenges with the greatest benefits we’ve seen.
- Use the Neurodiversity Resource of the Panhandle! I started this non-profit to compile and find all providers along the Panhandle, offer monthly Educational Seminars and provide grants to those that can not afford services. Find us HERE!
I used to be afraid to share. What if people judged ME based on my child’s behavior? Then I found so many other parents who silently struggled like I did. I wanted to not only be an advocate for my family, but help others navigate our small town’s limited resources. Who knows, someday our small town might be a Autism-Friendly destination, just because parents like us chose to advocate for our local kids.
Full Contact Details:
Neurodiversity Resource of the Panhandle
www.neurodiversefl.org
www.facebook.com/neurodiversefl
