They
say to make a blog “successful” you need to have passion for what
you write about.
Well,
I'm not too considered with the success of my blog – in fact, if
this blog can bring a smile or a moment of reassurance to one person
I would be content.
I
started this blog not to become interweb famous but because I saw a
huge gap in resources for the therapists I work closely with on a day
to day basis.
Sure
there are spectrum blogs for parents and care providers and even some
for teachers but we (the underdogs) are left out. We often are
forgot about throughout the articles, videos and news reports –
though the families we work with often consider us their personal
saviours.
Our
job is not an easy one – the behaviours alone can cause some to
leave the field. I have been bitten, kicked, punched and spit on as
well as cleaned up every bodily fluid imaginable. All the while
trying to teach social skills, school readiness, life skills and self
help skills. The job can be mundane yes- going over the same
letter, number, shape or action what feels like thousands of times in
a few hours is mentally exhausting and at times its tough to be
creative or find a new way to teach said skills. The long hours of
prep time and the cost of materials weighs on us as our kids need
constant changes in materials and reinforcers to keep life and
learning interesting and the motivation to continue strong.
However,
through all the struggles of the weekly grind we find solace in each
other and in the families and children we help. Watching from the
front lines as a six year old child says “mama” after months and
sometimes years of practice or as a sixteen year old young adult is
able to go to a store and purchase a new shirt independently is
beyond words for most of us. The hint of a smile in a client can
instantly erase the prior moments tantrum or undesirable behaviour
and remind us to find joy in the smallest moments. The families we
work with – the moms, dads, grandparents and siblings- unite us as
one and leave us in awe most days. These are the true unsung hereos
of our field – yet they are constantly reminding us how much we
mean to them and to the family. A moment of understanding from
another therapist can help you carry on through the week. The times
of brainstorming and idea sharing can reignite your ability to
create. The shared coffees (the third or fourth of the day) and
stories of pride for your client leaves you feeling as if we are all
fighting this fight together and we all understand each others
battle.
I
am writing this blog for us. All of us. The teachers, the families
and of course the children – but mainly for the therapists. This
is a place to share ideas, stories and motivation. If passion is a
way to succeed when writing then theoretically this blog will burn a
trail through ASD blog sites everywhere.
Let
me close this by saying I am not a doctor or a psychologist. I have
no PhD, Masters degree or BCBA certification. I am an instructor
therapist. I have been one for six years. This is where I belong
and this is where I will stay. I won't be offering any medical or
clinical advice and am not entitled to give any sort of diagnosis.
I
must remind all of you to please practice confidentiality for all
clients and families you work for. As I will too be following this I
have chosen to only use first initials to name clients (if necessary)
and will not disclose my name or specific location.
Thank you all for
reading,
P
(for passion)
