Autism Society of ND
Resources Available for Caregivers
As parents and/or caregivers of autism spectrum children, there are many challenges we face every day. Some of these challenges are described on the Our Stories page of this site. Following are a list of resources you may or may not know about.
- Respite Care - You could receive up to 13 hours per month of
respite care. When's the last time you and your spouse went on a date?
If you can't remember your last date, or simply need a break, contact your
local human services department. Location will vary across the state so
here's a link to find assistance in your part of ND:
http://www.nd.gov/humanservices/locations/regionalhsc/
NOTE: I encourage you to call your regional human services office. They have access to many, many resources, and can often arrange the specialized training we caregivers and parents desperately need. If you need more than 13 hours per month of respite care, ask about Family Support programs (offered through PATH).
- Schools - Even if your child is not yet in school, if they have
an Autism Spectrum disorder, they will qualify for special education
services. This means that thing like speech therapy, occupational therapy,
physical therapy, etc etc may be paid for by the school district, through
their special education department. Call them and ask.
- Local or Online Support Groups - Being able to talk with someone
else (besides your spouse) about what is going on with your child is
invaluable. Parents/caregivers of children with similar challenges will
often be more compassionate and understanding, rather than judgmental.
They've been there, done that. And often they have ideas of other things to
try. Check out our Meetings page for a listing of
scheduled support group gatherings. If you cannot find a local support group, check out the
Links page of this site for more information. And if
all else fails, ask your employer about an Employee assistance program,
where you can receive a few hours with a counselor at no charge to you. Take
care of yourself too.
- Start a support group in your area - You may
use this template to get you started. You just
print it out, fill in the frequency, time, location, and phone number. Then
hang them up around town! Your church, school, or home may be the perfect
location for a support group! If you start a local support group, would you
please send us an e-mail, so that we can send others wanting support your way?
Thank you!
- Got more ideas? If you can think up more items that should be on this list, please email me the details at the email address below.
