NeuroDiverse Insight

Children Come First Conference Welcome to the registration page for the 2024 Children Come First Conference! We're excited to have you join us for this impactful event. Please choose your registration type below to get started.

When the rest of the world 🌎 doesn't quite understand your unique caregiving situation, rest assured you have an entire caregiver community that does and will respond with the urgency you expect for the situation, with no excuses or delays.

A school centered around meeting the needs of neurodiverse students and supporting behavioral issues? Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?

Actually, the Richardson School does exsist. Hopefully they continue to expand their campus locations.

Contact Us - The Richardson School Contact The Richardson School.

Honestly, we will take all the help.we can get to ensure our loved ones can reach their full potential. Do you have any suggestions that this list missed? 🤔

A fellow caregiver wrote: I am burned out! My husband took some days off work due to family visiting. He doesn’t help me with the kids when he is home. I can’t enjoy anything even if it’s fun because I have worry about the kids. My husband even said he’s ready to go back to work already. It upsets me because I’m with the kids all day with minimal breaks. What do you do when you feel overwhelmed with everything and are you lucky enough to have the support you need?

My thoughts:
As the primary caregiver of the children and my husband in the role of financial provider, it is easy to forget the day-to-day exhaustion of each role.

I get burnt out; over the years, I have found having time for myself and the things I like to do is critical. After your children are grown, you still have much life left. You don't want to lose your identity completely when your nest is finally empty. With my hobbies, I leave at least once a year for a week to attend a national conference out of state. I specifically tell my husband months in advance to take time off of work while I am gone, and I fly off. During this week, he gets to walk in my shoes and do everything I do daily. It is a learning opportunity for him to empathize with my children’s needs. I come home after that week very refreshed, and my entire family is thankful and understanding of all I do for their benefit. It's my self-care time.

The time I am gone honestly has strengthened my relationship with my husband. It grows appreciation between us both for each other. Raising neurodiverse children and nurturing a marriage is a huge undertaking. It sounds like you are doing incredible at making things so flawless that they don't realize the toll it takes on you. Schedule some time for you, mark it on the calendar, and disconnect. Join a club or something that gives you a sense of accomplishment from participating. Extend your spouse the same level of patience as he learns hands-on with taking on your role. Its a big learning curve and he will need encouragement as he builds his skills to help you more.

Good luck to another modern-day Durga mom goddess. ❤️

Book signing, fishing, new freinds, what more could a boy want on a Sunday afternoon?

My son Brody was invited to Fishing Inspires Special Hearts (FISH), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing children with a wide range of unique challenges and a chance to fish and spend quality time with their families.

Brody was invited to have a book signing with 30 of his books for each new freind to enjoy. We had a blast getting to know other families and community members. The best part was that Brody shared the day with his aunt and uncle, who traveled from South Dakota, and his great-grandma and grandpa.

This memory post popped up in my Facebook memories from a few years ago today.

Logan is growing up. He is patching the holes he punched and the walls he kicked in when he was younger. They have been there for years already.

Logan is on the autism spectrum and has oppositional defiance disorder that makes mood regulation a struggle. He has had years and years of mentors, psychotherapists, and social workers to help his mood Dysregulation, which often resulted in him hitting the walls. Now, having taken a shop class and a great deal of guidance from his mom, he is taking responsibility for his actions. He is learning how hard it is to fix those holes.

This goes beyond just holes in a wall; it’s also about relationships. Relationships are easily damaged and difficult to repair, but many life lessons exist today. We picked new colors for his room and will sand down the drywall mud to paint in the next few days. He is super excited. Logan’s making changes. No more being embarrassed when friends come over to hang out.

A member wrote of a challenging situation with their 8-year-old semi-verbal neurodiverse child who self-harms. Following a month-long hospitalization, the child returned home but is now very clingy and in need of complete security by having their caregiver at their side. Unfortunately, the situation is severe to the point that the careguver can't use the restroom alone. Understandably they feel overwhelmed and frustrated with no longer being able to work due to the situation.

My thoughts: My sons and I have had many of the same challenges. I usually lay in their bed at night until my child falls asleep so I can go back to my bed and have my space to sleep. No matter what I have never let my child co-sleep in my room as they never seem to want to be alone in their bed again. Benadryl makes them sleepy but also works as an anxiety reducer to aid with sleep. I found melatonin is helpful for bad nights, but I am careful using it too much, as there have been studies that it changes sleep patterns and thought processing.

I suggest using a walkie-talkie as an instant line of communication so he knows you're available without being right there. I noticed following a period of time apart they are scared, and until they have that reassurance you are not leaving and they are safe, they will stick to you like glue.

I also ended up having to quit working and fully support my child in the aftermath of a traumatic experience. I'm homeschooling as he wasn't ever at school and falling farther behind. It is difficult, and no one can replace the safety you have illuminated in their lives.

Continue to make small strides, find ways to do what you want, and incorporate your child into what you do. Two weeks ago, I brought my 9-year-old son to a surgical conference and vendor fair that I ran. He had fun, and every attendant was very understanding of the situation. My son of course felt the vendor fair was the best because of all the free things and the robotic cameras used in surgical procedures he thought was amazing. Keep filling your cup so you can continue to fill your child's. ❤️

Happy Mother’s Day

Being a mother or caregiver of a unique child or individual can be rough on holidays such as Mother's or Father's Day. These days are much like any other day; you cannot go to restaurants or community events due to the environment. The focus continues to be on meeting the needs of your loved one(s), who often seem oblivious to the sacrifices and immense love that come with giving away your energy.

Mother, Father, and grandparents' days are filled with chores; getting up early to make food, they probably will refuse to eat. You are listening to screaming or being punched and hurt during a meltdown. Have the neighbors call the police due to the screaming of your child as you try to shower them because the water bothers them. It still needs to be done, and honestly, you appreciate your neighbor's care enough to investigate screaming when they are unaware of your child’s struggles.

On a day that seems very much the same, you feel unappreciated. It is not very comforting, but know you're not alone; others with the same feelings are stepping up to put others they love before themselves. You are appreciated for all you do by those who face the same challenges. We wish you a happy, nurturing individual day. Thank you for meeting their needs, and enduring because you are selfless.

Join us for the FREE Virtual Autism Parenting Summit Help your child thrive!

Near or far these parenting courses and workshops are being offered by the UW-Extension. These are regional offerings as well as virtual offerings. Take a peek and share with a pal!

Parenting and Family Relationships Family Relationships Matter. Your source for research-based information about parenting and relationships for families and the professionals who serve them. Fatherhood in Wisconsin Fathers want to be fathers. The dads in our lives play a crucial role in our children’s development and the well-bein...

Hello friends, it has been a busy week. Not surprisingly, nothing seems to have sprouted from my conversation with the local senator I spoke to about two weeks ago.

Tomorrow, another district representative, Scott Krug, will be at the local library to engage the public on challenges and positions. Well, I will put that to the test and see if he is all talk, no action also. 🤷‍♀️

I don't have high hopes; I think just being a neurodivergent parent or caregiver, we automatically place our expectations low as it’s harmful to our spirits to continually be let down by those who offer hope and a helping hand with no results for the promises made.

Regardless, we will persevere because someone we love depends on us. We will shelter them from life's disappointments and advocate because that is what we do.

👇challenge accepted. I am bringing up the issues That matter most to me and my family; let's see if he does his part. 🤷‍♀️

https://www.wsaw.com/video/2024/04/30/nine-year-old-becomes-published-author/

Nine-year-old becomes published author Nine-year-old becomes published author

As a parent to two neurodiverse children, I had the opportunity to discuss my experiences with children's mental health with Senator Patrick Testin, my district-appointed senator. We talked about the challenges and barriers that exist and I proposed solutions based on my perspective.

I believe it's important to not just complain, but to also offer solutions and ask for change. That's why I shared 8 years of documents with Senator Testin to support my position and help him advocate for change. His time and support is appreciated beyond measure of all parents or caregivers striving to give the best resources for our future through all children.

Let's continue to work together towards better mental healthcare for our children.

I am very excited to have been asked to have my son, Brody, and his book featured in the Kaleidoscope autism support magazine. Of course, we said yes! Those who ordered his book should get it shortly via Amazon. We hope you enjoy it. Could you leave a review about Brody's book "Emotionally Ever After: A Journey with Feeling Too Much" on the Amazon book page? We would appreciate your time in doing so.

Brody and I are thankful to Wen Publishing, Janet Bristeir, and Hank Balch for helping me get Brody's dream into the hands of those who needed support.

Don't miss it! Transformational speaker Tim Markle shares insights on working with children in an honoring way.
Register to attend live or to receive a link to the recording afterward: http://tinyurl.com/3va3e986.
March 13, 2024 | 12 PM

Don't miss this educational opportunity!

Has someone mentioned that your child might qualify for a 504 plan? What exactly is it? And how is it different from an IEP? Learn about Section 504 and how it can help students with disabilities in various stages of their lives.
Register: http://tinyurl.com/44scek2e.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | 12 PM

Unseen autism: Kids deprived care when they need it most Child care providers are expelling children for perceived poor behavior, but the real culprit in many cases may be undiagnosed autism.

Brody got the first copy of his book today! He was so excited!

https://www.amazon.com/Emotionally-Ever-After-neurodivergent-over-sensory/dp/1990599079

Emotionally Ever After: A Journey with Feeling TOO Much: A neurodivergent child's over-sensory perception Emotionally Ever After: A Journey with Feeling TOO Much: A neurodivergent child's over-sensory perception

North Central Health Care explains its transfer of services to Opportunity Inc. Clients, guardians, former staff, and supporters of the developmentally disabled share their experiences from the transition of North Central Health Care to Opportunity Inc.

A mom or any caregiver knows that life as a child is already full of scary challenges with a full range of emotions. Their ability to communicate and regulate those emotions and their perception of the world can be overwhelming and confusing. A typical day of a neurodivergent child can be downright trauma-inducing, from scaring the friends they struggled to make to worrying about what others think of them after an aggressive, emotional outburst. It is a priority to refill the cups of caregivers of neurodiverse children with a safe community understanding every child is unique; therefore, the caregivers ’s challenges/wins/stress/tolerance and everything else is unique.

This organization supports the viewpoint of a neurodivergent child’s daily emotional struggles. We are dedicated to Advocacy, Continuity of Care, Reducing Stigma, and Navigating resources for a neurodiverse child through a partnership with Education Institutions, Healthcare Systems, and Government Agencies.