(Exceptional Learners:  Introduction to Special Education, 15th edition)

Grief was mentioned in this course module as well.  A flood of thoughts hit me when I saw that.  I’ve written about the effects caregivers face as well as the cycle of grief https://www.ageofautism.com/2012/06/oh-good-grief.html many parents like me go through.  How we manage emotions and grief plays a part in how we manage everything around us.  I was thankful that the authors of my textbook recognized that.  

I wanted to read more, but I find that unless I hide in a room away from my family, I don’t always have the time, nor the attention span to sit through an entire chapter.  That was true again when I sat down to read Chapter 4.  I could read and digest the first two sections but had to get up to check on Ronan before I could finish all of section 2.  When I came back to reading, I remembered that I wanted to check out the website for Unseen.  I couldn’t believe how coincidental the movie’s message, my current textbook chapter, and parts of my life were as I watched the trailer.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-RgSPtjZd0

The documentary is free to watch this weekend and next weekend, according to their website. 

Part of my job has me meeting with families and their young children.  Most have children who are typically developing.  Some, though, are not and will soon have a conversation with me about a potential delay I’m witnessing.  It’s those families that my heart goes out to because those conversations are never easy, especially if I am the first person who tells them that their children may need extra support.  I hope that I can provide guidance and useful resources for those families who are about to embark on a journey that is similar to mine.  Mine didn’t start out so well when I had to get through disappointing assessments, insurance denials and unfortunate delays before securing proper treatment and placement for my child.  Will a new parent fare better than I did in the beginning?  Will they have the tools to navigate a new system they’ve never imagined having to use?  Will that have family and friend support during the highs and lows?  Most importantly, will their child thrive and find successin the process?  Will those parents thrive and find success in their efforts, too?  I wouldn’t want to suggest that they watch Unseen, but I do hope that all parents, no matter their child’s development, understand the perspective and need to share that some of this kind of parent is very difficult.  

Parent caregivers need support just as much as the person they’re tending to.  They experience their child’s highs and lows as well as their own highs and lows.  Focusing on the caregiver’s resilience is critical.  When they get support, so can their child receive proper support.  I am fortunate to have others around me who let me ‘tag out’ and take a break when life gets a bit overwhelming.  I know that others don’t have thatopportunity.  I’ll hope that they will soon or that they have found a way to cope through the highs and lows that are part oftheir life of raising a child with special needs.

Cathy Jameson is a Contributing Editor for Age of Autism.

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