WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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11-year-old Breanna sits in her bed with her IPad and workbook in hand for another day of schooling. Breanna is a fifth-grader attending University Elementary School. She was diagnosed with Autism or ASD at three years old. She is becoming accustomed to fear and anxiety whenever she messes up on a problem while viewing her teacher in real time with other students looking at her emotions from a different reality. Her teacher is using Canvas to facetime checking in with her students at three pm every Monday through Thursday. The desire for attention while adding a changing day-to-day schedule has become the new norm for parents and students faced with disabilities during this stressful time as Indiana has shut down school for the rest of the academic year due to COVID-19.
Breanna has thrown several temper tantrums while doing her work later in the morning than at the normal time of nine o’clock. Her teacher explained her printed schedule framed to the refrigerator to keep tabs on her work. The changes have beared the brunt on her mom who has to take over many tasks from keeping up with her schoolwork, to connecting with therapists and school counselors through Zoom and Google Hangouts. She said she is learning how to use those sites for the first time and she keeps tabs on a schedule that is changing from week to week.
Kids with disabilities right now are having a tough road to pave with COVID-19 now impacting everyday life around the world. Those especially with Autism are more at risk of struggling with online classes in the first three weeks while not having the same routine of going to school and coming back home on a scheduled diet. According to the website Applied Behavior Analysis.com, those with Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder need a QUOTE, “restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.” END QUOTE. The activities need to be structured to match how the mind often fills with sensory details, but having too much causes sensory overload. Whether it is the type of soap used for a bath, the type of voice used to calm you down, a fuzzy touch from a sweater, or the exact words used in a book — It can positively impact a daily structure of someone living with Autism.
An example to structure, Donna Cohan who was interviewed by the CT Mirror Magazine in the United Kingdom said her 27-year-old daughter who has Autism was used to an everyday routine of feeding the horses, participating in community activities at a Jewish Community Center, and going to the aquarium. With the schedule change, she has been impacted greatly with the ripples from coronavirus not just impacting her daughter and impacting her mom but their entire way of life. She isn’t getting the help she needs with doctors scouring for answers with the coronavirus pandemic taking public focus away from those who struggle with mental and physical disabilities. Her daughter is left with periodic temper tantrums, reminders to play with mommy, and screaming… lots and lots of screaming. QUOTE “Her world has been rocked and I can’t offer anything to her. All I can say is: We’ve changed your schedule.” END QUOTE
In the early days of self quarantining, Breanna became scared when her mom picked up her school supplies from the long line of parents waiting to pick up their kids’ supplies, notebooks, and IPads two weeks ago as the change to having online school be taught came into effect. Breanna’s mom, Amy said on Facebook she found countless stories of other parents struggling, for instance, a mother that had two Autistic kids currently going to MCCSC schools was having trouble with her kids both of which were special needs. QUOTE “The kids ran around and could barely do the online work. She made me realize that I am not the only one struggling either.” END QUOTE.
Confusion mounts of the various news reports on when the coronavirus will end. Canceling school for the rest of the year leads to a lack of daily caregiving. Parents like Amy who are protecting their kids, especially with compromised immune systems, are becoming overwhelmed with their kids, trying to remain hopeful. According to ABC News, there are parents who are worried about their children being exposed, the routines changing, and the therapists, teachers and home health nurses to not be there to de escalate situations. Parents are now at home becoming their children’s teachers and mentors. Some parents were laid off, some took care of their kids while working from home. Melissa Winchell from Massachusetts works from home as a professor tutoring hundreds of students while taking care of important needs to take care of her daughter who has Autism and Downs Syndrome giving her a word of the day and educating her with lard put in a cup as a science experiment.
Amy recognizes the trails of having her two kids both with Autism at home now for twenty-four-seven attention. However, a favorite song can be heard through the pain. “Changes” by 2Pac Shakur echo off the walls for Amy to cope with her struggles. She is grateful compared to other moms despite the ordeal she has been loving. QUOTE “I am glad that my son graduated from school and that we can’t stress about home health care for my mom, but for me this was unexpected, there are times when I am numb and times I am overwhelmed but I love my kids, it will all work out.” END QUOTE
For WFHB I am Braydyn Lents, stay safe.
