Support Teddy's Need for a Secure Sleep Environment

We are working to raise funds for my daughter and grandson, Teddy. Teddy is a vivacious 6-year-old, non-verbal, autistic child with additional special needs.

Teddy came to live with my daughter at 10 days old as a foster child. He has lived with her since and was happily adopted this past summer.

My daughter is a single parent with a 14-year-old biological son and an adopted daughter, who is 9 years old.

Teddy is a beautiful child. He is happy and full of boundless energy. He is so many wonderful things, but he can also be extremely destructive, having broken many, many things in their home. He has broken numerous TVs, baby gates, heavy metal gates, phones, computer screens, lamps, and just about anything in his path. Teddy throws things and he is also very strong. He does not know he is being destructive and we have been unable to make him understand due to his special needs and his lack of understanding cause and effect. Teddy typically finds everything funny.

He is medicated during the day while at school and daycare. The issues we have primarily take place during the night.

My daughter sleeps on the couch where Teddy falls asleep. She needs to be able to wake up when he wakes up. He takes a nighttime medication to help with sleep, but he rarely sleeps through the night. He is up at all hours and randomly gets into things. He will break down gates, turn on lights, try to open the door, turn on water in the bathroom, throw things, break things, move furniture around, and cause havoc all in the few minutes it takes for his mother to be back up with him. She will often be up with him the rest of the night to keep him safe and hopefully the house intact.

His mother works a full-time job and deserves to have a good night's rest. For Teddy's safety and hers, they are in desperate need of a sleep-safe bed for him. This type of bed will keep Teddy safely enclosed in his bed and not allow him to travel and destroy the house or get out of the house at night.

Teddy requires 24/7 adult supervision. He has no concept of safety and is developmentally very below his age.

Teddy's doctor has submitted requests to the insurance company numerous times asking for the approval for a "Cubby sleep-safe bed." At least 4 times that I am aware of, and each time the request has been denied. It is a shame that someone somewhere behind a desk has the power to decide whether or not this is needed without hesitation and with no understanding of the safety concerns for Teddy and his family.

There are many things a special needs child needs, but first and foremost is a safe environment to live and sleep in.

I want to share a little bit about the sleep-safe bed. This bed is designed to help children like Teddy. It helps with sleep issues, prevents nighttime injuries, prevents wandering and elopement, and helps with sensory issues and stimming.

The bed has an electronic component that allows the parent to see the child with camera access and has a 2-way speaker so they can hear and speak to the child. There is also a circadian light to help with sleep. It has strong mesh doors that close to keep the child from wandering in the night.

We hope that you will consider donating towards a safe sleeping environment for Teddy, and thank you for taking the time to read our story.