Autism and a Career Path

It's been awhile.  I've been working a whole lot more than when I started, and when I'm not working I'm doing household chores or just relaxing with my hubby and puppy dog.  Life is great right now, we are blessed beyond words here in Wisconsin.  Friends to hang out with, a church family to be involved with, and jobs we both love.

I realized just the other day I wouldn't want to be doing anything other than what I'm doing right now.  I'm a therapist...sounds strange, so "professional," but it's me.  Working one on one, teaching kids even if they learn differently than other kids.  I am blessed with the gift of teaching and patience (I still need to rely on the Lord for that sometimes though).  And I absolutely love seeing the progress each of the kids make.  Working with kids on the Autism spectrum is not easy, but when a kid masters a task I am overjoyed for him/her and his/her family.

I also find myself getting upset when others are ignorant or just plain disrespectful of an autistic child.  I don't even like to use that label.  Because Autism shouldn't define who the child is.  It is my hope that the kids I'm working with are seen as who they really are...B with her love for animals and make believe, D with his desire to learn how things work and build, and R with her sweet smile.  Each child is unique and I love seeing them learn and play and giggle and have fun just being a kid.  I've found a new passion in working with kids I think, mainly because of the negative comments/reactions I've seen from others who just don't understand.

Over the summer I've been going to a special needs camp with one of the kids I work with.  We went to our county fair last week.  It's always an adventure taking a group of 10-15 kids with various special needs out in public, but it's even worse when you hear comments from teenagers none the less about how the kids are "retarded" or that "all of them have mental problems."  Yes, those were some of the comments I heard as we were walking to the van after the visit to the fair.  Kids who had nothing better to do than to sit in the parking lot and make fun of the group.  It irritated me, and I really wanted to say something to them, but I kept my cool.  I realized then, that this is not just a job for me, but that it is a cause I am willing to speak up about.  To work towards bringing awareness about Autism spectrum disorders.

Let's face it, Autism is definitely on the rise.  I'm sure most of you have seen that commercial of the boy with a friend who has Autism and he grows into a man with an Autistic son.  While the reason behind the growing numbers may only be more diagnoses, the amount of children with Autism is increasing.  And while I don't know if there will ever be a cure, I want to do as much as I can to help these kids lead normal lives.  Like I said earlier, Autism shouldn't define them.  They have many more talents behind the diagnosis, and who knows what a little therapy can do for them.  

In my experience, the kids I work with have responded well to the things we throw at them.  It takes the right person with patience and love to see what lies behind and beneath the Autism.  I finally see what others have been trying to tell me all along; I do have this skill and I am ready to continuing serving these kids and to see them through the struggles they face.  But it is not by my power alone, but through the Lord that he has given me these gifts, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity he's given me to work with children with Autism.  I really don't think I want to be doing anything else as far as a career.  I've found something that fits, something that I'm proud to be a part of, and something that I want to continue to have an influence in.  

Working with kids with Autism has been at the back of my mind for a few years now.  I never thought I'd actually be doing it, but God had other plans.  I couldn't be happier with where he's brought me on this career path, and I'm excited to see where I he leads me as well. 

I Think I've Found My Niche

Today, my work day consisted of 4 hours with a group of 11 kids ranging from age 6 to 14.  This is not a normal work day.  My days so far have been no more than 3 hours with 1 child age 6.  The difference today?  I got to go to camp with the little girl I am working with.  

This is day camp that occurs 2 days a week for kids who have special needs.  Today, the kids got to go on a field trip.  They all are higher functioning, able to converse with others and understand most of what is required of them at their age level.

Now, I have always loved being outdoors.  Working at camp (BLBC) was a fantastic time for me and I miss it dearly.  I miss the adventures, the team building, and the leading and guiding of young minds.

This field trip put two of my passions together.  We went to a team leadership center and got to go rock climbing.  Well, I didn't exactly climb, but I helped and I encouraged and I conversed with many of the other kids besides the little girl I was there with.  (Note: I was supposed to engage with the other kids, I am not there to be a hawk over the little girl I work with because camp is for her to socialize and interact with the other kids).  It was a blast.  Combined with working with kids who had special needs (which in my own mind most of them seemed like typical kids) and seeing them interact and even encourage each other.  Simply amazing.

So that brings me to my point, I like working with kids in a small group setting.  I miss camp, I miss the small groups, I miss belaying and seeing kids work together to accomplish a task; I love helping, I love encouraging, I love seeing kids step out of their comfort zone, and I love seeing kids succeed at whatever it is they're doing.  I don't mind the one-on-one therapy, it is fun but I think I miss groups too.  Though 20 preschoolers is a bit much.  Give me 10 -15 kids (special needs or not)  with another adult or 2 and I'm all set.  I'm going to be looking forward to my Thursdays the rest of the summer for sure.

On another note, I found out some other exciting news today.  One of the other ladies (who also worked with the same little girl at school last year) with the camp asked me about the hours I work during the week.  I told her I was only on 2 cases now, but didn't know what the fall would look like when school started again.  She told me they are always looking for subs for teaching associates (I assumed these are like teacher's aides because she told me I'd always be with another teacher...or they could be those who help with special education, I'm not quite sure.)  But she said to just go to the high school and fill out a sub application and that I could be specific with what age groups I'd want to work with.  I thought that was pretty cool because it's something I was thinking about doing when we moved here.  Unfortunately we moved at the end of the school year, so I didn't see the need to fill out a sub application or inquire about teacher's aides then.  Now, I will most certainly take up that opportunity when school gets back underway because I don't know how many hours I'll have doing therapy.

So we'll see where all of this takes me.  I've been having a hard time trying to figure out what I want to do exactly, especially with having to move so much, and wanting to be at home with our future children as much as possible.  There aren't many careers that I am interested in that can handle those kinds of things.  Prayers will be said, and are much appreciated by others for discernment in going back to school, finding the right master's program and/or just being satisfied with what I'm doing now and could also do in the future.  I know God has great plans, they just aren't all that clear right now. 

Back to Work

Well, I got through my first week as a line therapist.  It was only 3 days.  But it would've been a short week anyway with Memorial day.  It went ok.  I'm pretty sure I'll like it once I figure out all the "lingo" and structure of the programs and such.  It's just a lot to take in.  Fortunately the longest shift will be 3ish hours.  Though I will be starting with another child in a few weeks, so then I might have back to back shifts.  That's ok, I still won't be working as much as I was in Michigan.

There's pros and cons to starting a new job.  

Pro #1 we're getting another paycheck every 2 weeks.  

Pro #2 I have something to keep me busy on the days Steve works

Pro #3 I have weekends off, and will probably only be working about 20 hrs/wk

Con #1 I don't get to sleep in anymore (it's crazy how getting up only an hour and 15 minutes earlier has left me exhausted in the afternoons)  

Con #2 I'll have to work on the days Steve has off

Con #3 I might miss out on CG wives' get-togethers due to my schedule

Oh well, I'm looking forward to being around kids again.  Even if they're on the Autism spectrum, I love working with kids.  Plus, this might be a chance to see another career option for myself.  I know I want to stay at home once we start having babies (NO NOT ANYTIME SOON!) and I would like to get my Master's degree, but those 2 things don't seem to go hand in hand right now.  It'll take 2 years (fewer if I decide to go the online route in a completely different area then I originally intended after I graduated from IWU, but more on that in another post) to complete a program, then getting licenses/doing internships will take another year.  By then Steve will hopefully be done with A-School and we'll have to move again.  AND we'll be in our 5th year of marriage and that was our original "baby plan."  So as soon as I get my degree then we could have a kid and I'd be wanting to stay at home, and in my mind getting the degree now might not be worth it in the long run.  

Therefore, working my way up as a therapist might be a good way to go.  It's experience I'll always have.  I could easily go back to doing that after our kids enter school.  Yeah I'd love to be in a school system at that time so we'd have the summers and other vacation time to spend together, and Steve would be the only one taking off work, but time will tell.  I must not put the cart before the horse.

I like to plan, but this might be going way too far into the future.  Though really, 2.5 years from now...it's been 2.5 since we got married and it seems like only yesterday we were walking down that aisle hand in hand.  Time goes so quickly.  Only God knows the plans he has for us, and what our future will hold.

For now though, I am back to work.  And I am joyful to have a job.  I am praising God for the provisions and blessings he's given us with both of our new jobs, and I know that whatever comes our way, He will always provide.

New Friends and New "Teaching" Job

This weekend we went to a barbeque at one of the guys' houses from the station.  I was a little nervous about meeting new people, but it was a lot of fun.  I got to meet 3 of the guy's wives (and their babies too) and it's definitely nice to be making some new friends.  It's tough moving to a place where you know no one, and don't have a job right away to be busy with.  I've spent a lot of days home alone with just the dog.  I'm so grateful we have him or it would be so much worse!  So hopefully over the next 2-3 years I will develop some close friends here.  I definitely have a good feeling about this now that I've actually met some people.

The whole job situation will be changing tomorrow too!  I was told last week that the family I would be working with didn't want to start until after school gets out.  Here, that day is June 9.  So I wasn't expecting the phone call I got today.  My senior therapist called to let me know I've been put on a case with a little boy, and I need to be there tomorrow morning at 8am.  She apologized for it being such short notice, but I told her my schedule is free so it wasn't a big deal.  Now I'm super nervous though.  I've never done this kind of work.  

Yeah I've been in early childhood education for 2 years, but this is different.  I don't know what to expect with the little boy I'll be working with. 

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are just that...a spectrum of symptoms and behaviors as well as at times other diagnoses.  But he's just a kid whose parents want him to succeed.  As do I.  I love teaching and seeing how children pick up on the lessons and apply them.  No matter the subject.  

So really, I've done this before.  I've been a teacher for years if you look at it like that.  Sunday school.  VBS.  Softball.  Kindergarten (I was a mentor/tutor for a year with a kindergarten girl).  Youth group.  Basketball (Super Streaks).  Devotions.  Small group.  Toddlers.  Track (leading by example, and encouraging my younger teammates).  And most recently Preschool.  Looking at the things/activities I've been involved in since high school, a lot of it has to do with teaching.  So I can do this, I'm excited to teach this little boy, and I'm even more excited to see how he learns (because I know the "what" can take a long time to see in ASD kids) so I'll be able to help him the best I can.

Now I've got myself psyched up for my new job tomorrow.  The one who loves psychology and knows the power of the mind often has to remind herself of the positives.  Oh well, as long as I do what I say in my head.  Plus it's only 3.25 hours.  I can handle that.  It's a time to get to know him and his family, as well as my senior therapist and the one other therapist who will be there as well.  This is a good thing, a new "teaching" job is all it is.

I also must remember that God will not give me anything more than I can handle.  He is clearly at work in this whole move and job situation and I need to continue to trust in him.  He's given me the abilities already to work with children, the passion to see them succeed, and the patience to deal with whatever situation comes my way.  God is good all the time!