We talk About Autism.

Okay, that is a bit confusing. By daycare asking Jeanne to leave, that move gave us a heavy, powerful fact in getting healthcare professionals to listen as we continued our battle for getting help.

We continued to send two of our three kids to the same day care. We love the daycare team. We respect each professional and still recommend the daycare to friends and family.

Still, no words will capture the panic, stress, worry, and sadness of the months leading up to and during this time. How long until we get a phone call from daycare today? What will we hear when we check in or when we pick Jeanne up?

Our daycare team did not have the training required to care for Jeanne. It is not possible for daycares to provide the financial cost, training opportunity, and staff time for each and every employee to be trained in caring for autistic children.

Jeanne was not safe. Jeanne would try to escape when she was triggered, at daycare and at home. Jeanne could not control her body or communicate anger appropriately when she was triggered. Jeanne was unsafe during this time. Jeanne needed safe, professional help. We needed professional help.

Granger and I changed our work schedules to make sure Jeanne and our whole family could get the help we needed. Granger took a chance and applied to a job that offered more flexibility.

Major change was inspired by unfortunate and emotional circumstances.

Jeanne’s next care team consisted of a Doctorate and a Master level healthcare professional. This level of care requires YEARS of specialized education, financial investment, credentialing, and personal passion. Daycare centers are already in a pay and hiring crisis that obliterate any chance of training for staff during a demanding and time-crunched workday.

But we love our daycare teams. Jeanne goes to kindergarten now while Axel and Maeve attend different daycare providers.

Maeve also has autism.