Embedded Files
2 Caregiver Parents, 1 child with autism and another neurotypical child
4 volunteers of whom, one is a community artist and another is an educator of special needs children
Circle meetings are online. We will meet on the first Saturdays of each month from 9am to 10.30am (might change to 2.30pm to 4pm)
Circle is about helping autistic child to have greater engagement within the community as well as helping caregiver to get back to the workforce and find her purpose in life again.
mother balances taking care of autistic daugther, being a wife, studying to go back into the workforce while working to create a support group for parents of autistic kids
mother balances taking care of autistic daugther, being a wife, studying to go back into the workforce while working to create a support group for parents of autistic kids
Background
Yvette is a mother of two children. Her eldest daughter, Michelle is autistic. She is 10 years old. Michelle is non-verbal and communicates at a 4-5-year-old level. Michelle's IQ is preschool level. Yvette is currently a full-time Mother and homemaker. She is attending courses sponsored in part by the government with the hope, intention, and goal of rejoining the workforce of which she has been out for more than 10 years. Yvette is also working towards creating a support group for parents of autistic children. Michelle currently studies at rainbow center, at Magaret drive. The family lives in the south-central-west.
Circle Objectives
Circle Objectives
1. How could Yvette find flexible employment or engage in volunteering activities at a more sustained level? Here is what we have learned in our journey of narrowing down her job search: First, Yvette's strengths lie in her ability to bring people together. She is a wonderful people-person. She can be the cohesive glue in a team. Second, Yvette shines in an environment where the people around her are supportive of her. However, she does not want to be entangled in the politics of an organization. She wants work that is intrinsically fulfilling and meaningful. She wants work that benefits humankind/society. She likes to work for a leader whom she admires and respects. Lastly, being financially rewarded for her strengths and contributions can be a nice plus.
2. How could Yvette find greater engagement for Michelle, Yvette’s special needs daughter (aged 10 with severe ASD, mobile but non-verbal with pre-school IQ), in the wider community? "I have some ideas to engage Michelle’s school but have not reached out to the correct personnel. Taking a leaf out of parent support groups in mainstream primary schools that organize to tutor the academically weaker students, I wish to see something similar put in place for students who need more help in socialization, or a social group for students using AAC (augmented and alternative communication) devices," says Yvette.
3. How could Yvette have a Post-school plan ready in place when Michelle graduates from special education? WIP/ No change
4. How could Yvette discover and articulate her purpose in life? What's next after the situation with Michelle has stabilized? There is an existential search or a mid-life crisis or a sense of despair that is worth diving deeper into.
5. How could Yvette cultivate a greater sense of mental and emotional well-being? For example how to manage difficult emotions and feelings like anger. She has experienced some episodes of rage and anger that have been directed at family members.
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