A guide for parents raising children with
Autism and other disabilities .
Please take a moment and complete our survey.
Your specific answers are kept confidential and will be used to develop the survival guide
Your information will be used to develop a working guide for parents raining children with disabilities.



We are currently in the planning stages for "Caring for the Caretaker workshop."
If you have a special need for workshops or speaker in your area please let us know.
Inspirational & Motivational Workshops and Guides
Survey

Are you the primary caretaker for someone with a disability?

How many other people assist you in the care taking responsibilities?

How many hours a day do you spend in helping this person?

Do you have other children in the home?

How well your other children understand the disability of their sibling?
1 very well, 2 fairly well, 3 they do OK, 4 have problems, 5 don't understand, 6 no kids

How often do you overlook your own needs to care for your Autistic child?
1 all the time, 2 sometimes, 3 depends on the day, 4 hardly ever

Do you find it hard to ask others for help?

Do you feel you need help with your own mental health needs?

How active is the father in the child / adults life?
1 very active, 2 somewhat active, 3 sometimes, 4 not at all

Please list which area of your life do you often neglect due to overwhelming need to help?
1 Health, 2 social, 3 shopping, 4 sleeping, 5 time alone to unwind, 6 going to church, 7 family gatherings, 8 outings,
9 just taking a bath.
Thanks for your
interest. Parent
response has
been good.
Your answers
count toward
helping others.
If you want to be
included in the final
preparation on the
guide. Please send
us your e-mail
address.

Thanks
What have you found that helps you get through the day when dealing with times of great
stress ?
Please list additional areas that would help you the most. Example, education, better
communication with family, time away, sibling understanding, etc.
What do you deal with your stress level?
Did we miss a question that you feel should be included in a survey for a survival guide
for Parents?

Would you like to take part in developing  the
parents guide? Parents are needed to provide  
input for of the guide.  Your opinion is needed on
various pages of the forms.

Be the first to have a say in the guide.
All responses are confidential.

Please fill out the form to the right and
we will add you to our list.
All survey responses are sent anonymously. If
you want to be on the mailing list, You must
submit your e-mail
Some actual responses so far
All people responded are the primary caretaker in the home.
55% of responses do have someone in the home to help them. 45% have no one to help.
55% of caretakers spend 7 to 10 hours a day caring for their child.
70% of non autistic siblings in the home have a good understanding of Autism.
98% of care taking parents overlook their own needs to care for their child.
100% have trouble asking others for help
100% need help with their own mental health needs.  
The majorities of caretakers neglect their own health, isolate from social activities, and go without sleep.

  • What helps people get through great times of stress? Music, prayer, friends, trying to reach out,
    websites with parents/caregivers who understand as the majority of public really doesn't, try and
    exercise, Zoloft, taking a five min break and reminding myself that i wouldn't want to live without him,
    FACEBOOK, GAMES, smoke,

  • Those who responded feel that help is needed in: Education, for people to initiate contact with us, it
    is hard to reach out when your life is pretty full and overwhelming sometimes, educating the school
    system, community acceptance vs. Awareness, community involvement, better sibling understanding
    (workshops?), more time alone, more $, better school system, time off, good daycare for autistic
    children, respite. I have several families that the grandparents and other family members don't
    understand the disability and think that the kids are spoiled and they just need some discipline.  That
    is very stressful for the parents.

People use different things to help them get through stress: Anti depressant, baths and talking with my
husband and prayer, I have learned meditation and I like walking, I now work with others special needs
families, just deal with it - the medication helps,

Messages from people who responded wanted to say: Please mention the importance of finding others in
similar situation as they AREN"T alone.  
A truthful call for help?

The following came in as anonymous. They responded to the question
Please list additional areas that would help you the most.?
Their response was: THE FEELINGS OF FUTILITY, GIVING UP, OVERWHELMING DESPAIR, THE CRUELTY OF
STRANGERS IN BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN CAUSING OVERWHELMING URGES TO BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF ONE
OF THEM (MOSTLY THE RAGE THAT BUILDS TOWARD OTHERS UNCARING, SELFISHNESS)

Yes, we have all been here at times. Please, if you need help, if you feel that no one is there, if you
don't know where to turn, WE ARE HERE.. Please e-mail us! WE will respond quickly!
We will help find you find resources in your area. Remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

We are working on a solution! The guide is designed for you! You choose how you develop your own
life plan. You choose what areas of your life that need balance. You choose which direction to take
and when to take it. The guide is also a great resource for parents to find other parents and families
who are experiencing the same thing.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Please e-mail us. The survey responses are just answers on a form. If you need additional help Please
e-mail us so we can find you help in your area!
Your name:
Your email address:
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