May 2015 is proving to be quiet an unpredictable month. We started the month with a bit of rescheduling of therapies for Avani, introduction of a new speech therapist and finding a swimming coach. After much hard work and help from a few friends, I managed to find a coach who works with children in the spectrum, had an informal discussion with him and almost fixed a time to start. But destiny was playing its part at the same time.
All of a sudden, our landlord decides to sell off the house we are staying in and serves us the notice to vacate within a month! Shock, confusion, anxiety, panic attacks follow. Shock - because we had no prior warning of this. Confusion - where to go next? Close to Avu's school and therapy centers or far?
Anxiety - What happens to our settled/structured life? Panic - will this uprooting affect Avani negatively because there will be too many new things to cope with?
While Avani has not really shown discomfort with new situations and new places in the past, am still a little skeptical about how will she take to our new home. From July onwards, she starts with a mainstream school as well - another new situation and through out June, her therapies may suffer because of our shifting.
We have been lucky with a lot of our therapists being extremely helpful and considerate. Going on to help us in shifting and helping us find new therapists near home. But then there are other 'types' too. When there are a multiple things crowding your brain and sending shivers to the parent in you, the least you expect from your child's therapists is not to scare you further. But there are a few who are perhaps more concerned about the financial loss they would suffer because of a child pulling out, so they try there best to highlight as many challenges in your child as possible.
I know Avani needs all of the current therapies whether it's special ed, speech or Occupational Therapy. I know there is a very real possibility of she slipping a bit on the progress we have made, particularly in the last one year. I know it is a dangerous step specially coming just ahead of her schooling. But how many options are you really left with when your landlord decides to take his house back? Am I supposed to beg him to allow us to stay a little longer because of my child's special needs (which he is aware of anyway)?
However, now that a change in accommodation is inevitable and our new place is going to be quiet far from current therapists and centers, things will require fresh planning. Am doing that already, am open to becoming a full time therapist for my child. And we are also going to try a new therapy approach called - RDI (Relationship Development Intervention), that aims to train a parent in helping the child overcome several social and communication deficits. More on RDI later and hopefully from our new place :) wish us luck!
All of a sudden, our landlord decides to sell off the house we are staying in and serves us the notice to vacate within a month! Shock, confusion, anxiety, panic attacks follow. Shock - because we had no prior warning of this. Confusion - where to go next? Close to Avu's school and therapy centers or far?
Anxiety - What happens to our settled/structured life? Panic - will this uprooting affect Avani negatively because there will be too many new things to cope with?
While Avani has not really shown discomfort with new situations and new places in the past, am still a little skeptical about how will she take to our new home. From July onwards, she starts with a mainstream school as well - another new situation and through out June, her therapies may suffer because of our shifting.
We have been lucky with a lot of our therapists being extremely helpful and considerate. Going on to help us in shifting and helping us find new therapists near home. But then there are other 'types' too. When there are a multiple things crowding your brain and sending shivers to the parent in you, the least you expect from your child's therapists is not to scare you further. But there are a few who are perhaps more concerned about the financial loss they would suffer because of a child pulling out, so they try there best to highlight as many challenges in your child as possible.
I know Avani needs all of the current therapies whether it's special ed, speech or Occupational Therapy. I know there is a very real possibility of she slipping a bit on the progress we have made, particularly in the last one year. I know it is a dangerous step specially coming just ahead of her schooling. But how many options are you really left with when your landlord decides to take his house back? Am I supposed to beg him to allow us to stay a little longer because of my child's special needs (which he is aware of anyway)?
However, now that a change in accommodation is inevitable and our new place is going to be quiet far from current therapists and centers, things will require fresh planning. Am doing that already, am open to becoming a full time therapist for my child. And we are also going to try a new therapy approach called - RDI (Relationship Development Intervention), that aims to train a parent in helping the child overcome several social and communication deficits. More on RDI later and hopefully from our new place :) wish us luck!
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| Am banking on crayons to keep us engaged and happy! |
