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My daughter ViviAnn is the smiley cutie in the photo. 2 years ago, Viv was diagnosed with ASD-3, the most severe type of autism disorder. She is able to enjoy many activities and loves her family very much, but she is nonverbal and struggles with emotional disorders, a common comorbidity with autism disorders. She also loves to escape and run away.
She has helped herself to running out of the yard any time she could for years. She is unfortunately big and strong enough that our old rusty chain link fencing cannot contain her. I have had the police bring her home when she escaped out of the yard without my knowledge. I have called the police to help me look for her when she snuck out while I was in the bathroom and was nowhere to be seen. She is very smart and quite cunning, so she will wait until we are preoccupied before launching an escape attempt.
Why can’t I keep better track of my child or pay for my own fencing and doors? These are valid questions. I have also struggled with mental illness, and over a 4 year span had to take medical leave from my career in enterprise information systems consulting. This eventually resulted in the loss of an excellent job. Devastating for a single income family.
After a significant recovery period, I was able to return to the workforce and was employed as an IS analyst for several years. When my manager announced he would be leaving, he recommended that I manage the department when he left. I was excited about this opportunity, but my illness flared up again. I went through counseling and psychiatric specialists. I missed so much work that I had to claim FMLA and eventually file for disability.
After 2 years, my life insurance company through whom I had purchased long term disability insurance terminated my coverage. With no income, I liquidated my 401k to support my family while hoping to be approved for Social Security. I was denied 3 times and appealed 3 times before being awarded benefits. Meanwhile, my wife Andrea struggled to find work after being the primary caregiver for years.
She has been working since then, and I do have social security but that is meager compared to the salary we budgeted our family around, we are frugal and still cannot afford major purchases. My investments and savings were cleaned out. I hope to return to work someday, but it likely won’t be soon.
We are worried that ViviAnn will escape and something bad will happen to her. Kids get snatched off the streets every day in this country, and she’s an easy target. I read about autistic kids getting hurt when they escape because they don’t have any concept of personal danger. She can’t tell anyone her name, phone number, who her parents are, or even that she needs to use the bathroom or eat, should she get lost.
We are seeking help to finance installation of a high, sturdy fence around the perimeter of our property and to upgrade our two entrance doors. ViviAnn can easily climb out of our yard and she is able to defeat the security on our doors. This will only get worse as she gets older and stronger.
We could really use the help, and any you can provide will be much appreciated.
She has helped herself to running out of the yard any time she could for years. She is unfortunately big and strong enough that our old rusty chain link fencing cannot contain her. I have had the police bring her home when she escaped out of the yard without my knowledge. I have called the police to help me look for her when she snuck out while I was in the bathroom and was nowhere to be seen. She is very smart and quite cunning, so she will wait until we are preoccupied before launching an escape attempt.
Why can’t I keep better track of my child or pay for my own fencing and doors? These are valid questions. I have also struggled with mental illness, and over a 4 year span had to take medical leave from my career in enterprise information systems consulting. This eventually resulted in the loss of an excellent job. Devastating for a single income family.
After a significant recovery period, I was able to return to the workforce and was employed as an IS analyst for several years. When my manager announced he would be leaving, he recommended that I manage the department when he left. I was excited about this opportunity, but my illness flared up again. I went through counseling and psychiatric specialists. I missed so much work that I had to claim FMLA and eventually file for disability.
After 2 years, my life insurance company through whom I had purchased long term disability insurance terminated my coverage. With no income, I liquidated my 401k to support my family while hoping to be approved for Social Security. I was denied 3 times and appealed 3 times before being awarded benefits. Meanwhile, my wife Andrea struggled to find work after being the primary caregiver for years.
She has been working since then, and I do have social security but that is meager compared to the salary we budgeted our family around, we are frugal and still cannot afford major purchases. My investments and savings were cleaned out. I hope to return to work someday, but it likely won’t be soon.
We are worried that ViviAnn will escape and something bad will happen to her. Kids get snatched off the streets every day in this country, and she’s an easy target. I read about autistic kids getting hurt when they escape because they don’t have any concept of personal danger. She can’t tell anyone her name, phone number, who her parents are, or even that she needs to use the bathroom or eat, should she get lost.
We are seeking help to finance installation of a high, sturdy fence around the perimeter of our property and to upgrade our two entrance doors. ViviAnn can easily climb out of our yard and she is able to defeat the security on our doors. This will only get worse as she gets older and stronger.
We could really use the help, and any you can provide will be much appreciated.
Organizer
Michael Schadow
Organizer
Springfield, IL