53yrs

female

Speaks English

I adore all children but my most favorite are children with any special needs. I grew up with an older uncle that is mentally retarded. He would come home for visits and my family pitched in to help take care of him. It made a big impact on my life. So, throughout my career of caring/educating children, I have been attracted to children that have special needs. I truly respect them and believe they do have a place in our world. We can learn a lot from them. I have learned through on the job training about special needs children in preschool settings and going to workshops. This lead me to be involved with a new pilot program in the public schools in Spotsyvania, VA. That's when I fell in love with autistic children. I was also led to work for a community service board, caring for and educating a school-aged child that had Aspergers Syndrome. I helped her with self help skills at her home and took her to a local after-school program for social skill practice. It has been a few years since I have been in that kind of setting. I have been home with my daughter. She is 9 years old. She is also very attracted to special needs children and has a special way with them.