Bill Abate

Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to proceed in the face of it. Being a parent of a child with special needs often requires courageous action daily.
I always liked the quote below…

As caregivers we have to keep this in mind. From personal experience, I always struggled with self-care as a single parent and provider. I would get the guilts. If life has taught me anything, it’s that our kids need us showing up as healthy (mentally, physically, emotionally) as possible, even if that means we have to actually have to do our best to schedule some time daily for ourselves.

Came across a book I read about 5 years ago that completely changed by thoughts on breath work (a topic to which I was fairly ignorant on at the time). Breathwork is now a normal part of my daily routine that helps with stress and anxiety.
Negative emotions, often arising from subconscious associations, can create significant autonomic nervous system and biochemical imbalances that can wreak havoc on your overall health. If you’ve experienced this, especially as a caregiver, you know what I’m talking about.
Breathing exercises, especially when paired with a positive emotion shift, have been proven to be beneficial to heart rhythm patterns and heart rate variability, all of which have a calming and restorative effect on the body and mind.
There are many different styles, and while I’m far from an expert, I’d recommend looking into it if you’ve never tried it or are looking to incorporate something more into your meditation ritual.

I’ve found all of these to be valuable both as a parent of a child with autism and as a friend to those on the spectrum.

Emotional turbulence can sink many a ship. Emotional sobriety is key to navigating the waters of your life.

Please join The Law Office of Randy Hope Steen, Ltd. and Leahy Life Plan where we will be discussing, navigating SSI, SSDI, waivers, OVR, working while receiving benefits, Power of Attorney vs. Guardianship, Special Needs Trusts and how to fund them.

FREE WEBINAR - MAY 15th @ 6pm

REGISTER HERE:
https://forms.gle/GYC592jXNZtKPYh66

I highly recommend attending this free webinar for anyone who has a child on the spectrum close to or older than 18. It is extremely informative and will offer a lot of insight into what actions you need to be considering as a parent or caregiver as your kids enter early adulthood. I was glad I met these folks!

Please join The Law Office of Randy Hope Steen, Ltd. and Leahy Life Plan where we will be discussing, navigating SSI, SSDI, waivers, OVR, working while receiving benefits, Power of Attorney vs. Guardianship, Special Needs Trusts and how to fund them.

FREE WEBINAR - MAY 15th @ 6pm

REGISTER HERE:
https://forms.gle/GYC592jXNZtKPYh66

Some common symptoms for parents and caregivers to be aware of. Self-stimming activities like excessive hand-flapping were common in my daughter. Early childhood interventions/therapies can definitely help make a huge difference so don’t delay in having your child evaluated as soon as you have concerns.

Very important to address the level of support needed when getting assessment completed for applying forbenefits or services like waivers. Think of the level of independent function if you were not providing support.

Gratitude…the sources for it are often all around us if we stop and take a good look.

Children struggle with Executive Functioning Skills that affect all areas of their life, not just academics. Addressing this area in IEPs is a must but there needs to be a plan for the home and community life too. This was one of the most informative courses I attended over the years!
I highly recommend checking out Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking website as well as Sarah Ward’s work on www.practice.com
Anyone have suggestions for resources in this area?

Glad to see this change coming.
Effective September 30, 2024 - Social Security to remove barriers to accessing SSI benefits.

Life is about all the memories you make along the way so make them count!