Tag: Balance

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Preparing to Move with a Child Who Has Autism? Here’s What You Should Know

Autism Moving

Moving to a new home can be exciting and stressful. When you have a child with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, there are a few extra considerations that need to be made. It’s important to plan and ensure that the move will go smoothly for everyone involved. From finding the right home to researching therapy options in the area, here are some things to keep in mind before you buy a home and move with a child with autism on board, shared below by ADAutism.

Affordability is Key

No matter what your budget is, it’s important to find a home you can easily afford so that money worries don’t cause undue stress down the road. This means not only considering the cost of rent or mortgage payments but also taking into account other costs like property taxes, utilities, and maintenance costs. If you decide to buy a house, make sure you factor in closing costs as well.

Size and Safety Matter

When it comes to choosing a new home for your family, size and safety should be at the top of your list of priorities. Make sure there’s enough space for your family now and in the future — including any additional members who may join after you move — and consider whether there are any safety issues that could pose risks for children with autism. For instance, does the home have stairs or balconies without railings? Are there locks on all exterior doors? Investigate these safety concerns before making your decision.

Rent Before You Buy

If you’re unsure about an area or neighborhood, renting before buying is often recommended as it gives you time to explore potential neighborhoods without making a long-term commitment. It also allows you more flexibility if you decide later on that it’s not the best fit for your family after all. That being said, renting isn’t always feasible if money is tight — but if it is possible then it’s definitely worth considering!

Neighborhood Matters

The neighborhood where your new home is located can have a huge impact on how easy (or hard) it will be for a child with autism to adjust to life after moving day. Factors like noise level, traffic volume, amount of foot traffic in front of homes at night, and local crime rate all play an important role in creating a safe and comfortable environment for those with autism. If possible, try visiting each potential neighborhood during different times of the day so that you can observe what kind of activity goes on throughout the day and night.

Investigate Therapy Options in the Area   

Researching local therapy options should also be high on your list when preparing for a move with a child with autism. Make sure there are qualified professionals nearby who specialize in treating ASD so that they can provide necessary care when needed without having to travel too far from home. Try talking with other families who have moved recently or are currently living nearby.

Get the Child Ready

With proper talk and explanation, you and your child can both be ready for the upcoming changes. Start by talking to your child about the move early on; explain why you are moving and what to expect in the new house or neighborhood. Let them talk through their feelings so that they know their thoughts and feelings have been acknowledged. By maintaining an open dialogue throughout the process, you and your child will be more prepared when it comes time to move into your new home.

Moving with a child with autism requires extra consideration; however, by doing research on home prices before buying and planning accordingly, families can ensure their transition into their new life goes as smoothly as possible. Be sure to find out what kind of support systems already exist within schools and communities near potential homes; talk directly with teachers about their experience working with autistic students; investigate therapy options available; considering size and safety when choosing between potential homes; avoid areas with extra nose pollution or environmental irritants; and talk openly and honestly with your child about upcoming changes; these steps will make fewer sources of stress when moving day arrives.

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Balancing Caring for a Child with Special Needs and Self-Care

Parents With Children

Caring for a child with special needs can be difficult. Many parents in this situation find it hard to balance their own needs with those of their children. However, it is important to find this balance. If you don’t care for yourself as well as your child, you will become overly fatigued and spread yourself too thin, making it more difficult to care for anyone. Learning to master this balancing act is a must-do for any parent caring for a child with special needs, so here are some tips and resources from ADAutism to help.

Learn to Evaluate You Fatigue Levels and Negative Emotions

Self-evaluation is the starting point for an effective self-care strategy. You need to be able to determine your fatigue levels and identify other challenges, such as negative emotions. The following are a few questions you can ask yourself to start your evaluation:

  • How is your sleep quality?
  • How would you rate your parenting satisfaction?
  • How are your depressive and anxiety symptoms?
  • What is your level of physical activity?

While fatigue is not uncommon among adults, according to the Cleveland Clinic, it becomes a problem when it excessively impacts your life or causes you to be unsafe (such as feeling drowsy while driving). Fatigue can be caused by poor sleep, poor diet, lack of exercise and more. Better self-care starts with self-assessment. Once you know there is an issue, you can take steps to make improvements.

Create a Self-Care Plan

After assessing your fatigue and negative emotions, it is time to create a self-care plan. This should include both a daily routine for general well-being and some strategies for dealing with particularly difficult days. Practicing good sleep hygiene is one of the best ways to ensure that you have full energy.

Additionally, general good health practices, such as eating breakfast, maintaining a good diet, keeping an organized home, and exercising daily can help create an environment where de-stressing is possible. Adding a few plants will also allow you to enjoy the stress-reducing benefits of nature even when you can’t make it outside. You should also have a plan for giving yourself a break. This may be asking a family member to babysit every so often so that you can unwind or finding a little time to sit and read or engage in a hobby.

Self-care should be a part of every adult’s life, even those whose families really need them. However, it is also important to know when something extra is needed. Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children points out that self-care cannot be used as the sole treatment for clinical anxiety or depression. Similarly, it should not become an excessive burden on your support network (although it is a good thing to ask for help). Thus, finding balance is important and seeking professional help may be necessary.

Remember to Invest in Your Personal Goals

Finally, don’t forget to live your life for yourself (at least to a reasonable degree). Just because you have a child who needs you doesn’t mean that you should completely forget your personal goals.

For example, you may want to start a business. You could take your first steps by forming a limited liability company (LLC) to get tax and liability benefits for your new company. Just make sure to check your state’s rules. Then, you’ll want to develop a business plan to ensure everything is well thought out. Many entrepreneurs choose to have a formation service set up their business up as, for example, an LLC. If that is what you are looking into, be sure to first check the best LLC services online to ensure you outsource this task based on affordability and the types of service they provide, such as ongoing support.

Or you may want to pursue a degree online to master a new skill set. Online education can often be relatively self-paced and could help you lay the foundation for a new career.

Get Started Finding the Ideal Balance for Your Family

If you have a child with special needs, it can be hard to find the right balance between self-care and caring for your family. Do your best to create a low stress environment in your home, and never forget to set time aside for yourself, whether it’s enjoying a hobby, starting a business, or practicing yoga. Although there will be challenges, you can now take your first steps toward finding that balance.

Photo Credit: Antoni Shkraba via Pexels

ADAutism supports and helps Autistic children throughout the world by utilizing Cardano (ADA). Contact us today to learn more! [email protected]