Nikki, I did something to the website.... there are several rectangular boxes at the top.  I have no idea where they came from or how they got there but I think I am the only one who has been adding things.  Can you check it out to see what creative action I have taken? Thanks

Hey Nicole, I just found your site, I live in the Allentown area. The church that I attend has started a ministry for children with autism about 3 years ago, in the last year from that program we have started an autism respite program. We hold a respite every six weeks and the event lasts about 4 hrs. You can check out our website, www.autismrespiteprogram.shutterfly.com . We have an average of 30 kids that attend, ages 3-18.

Thanks Nicole,
My first question - does anyone know of a good pediatrician who has experience with children on the spectrum?
Thanks for any information.
Jenny

Thank you Nicole, It wasn't hard to do the paperwork and the clerks of the court were very kind. When I get some time I will put together a step by step of what I did. The cost to do it myself was under $200 to hire an attorney ranged from $1,500 to $2,500. I'll be checking out the website more and more. IT is really well put together.
Susan

Thanks. I appreciate the information.

Hi Nicole, and thank you for the welcome message. I am still navigating through the website and hope to get up to speed quickly. I am a very busy, single mother of two beautiful, teenage sons, (my son, Connor ((autism/PDD) is going to be 17 next month!) and would love to facilitate/support a program locally here for our kids.
I'll be posting soon, and would love to share some thoughts and ideas.
Donna

Hi, Nicole,

I am amazed you have the ability to welcome everyone individually as you do! I am studying the threads of the site, and am wondering if you share phone numbers, as I would be interested in talking with whomever has the most knowledge and time to share about what has been done to date with your childcare efforts. I know it is not easy ... the accredation, finding a building, liability issues, etc. Have you ever considered starting at someone's private residence. I see your members are pretty widely spread out. I am assuming the only childcare available currently are those providers who come into a person's home for a few hours? Thanks for your time, Nicole. Have a great night,
Christine

Hi, Nicole,

Too late? :-) No, I hope I have something to offer, being a seasoned parent of an older child.

I was intrigued by this site because I too have wished to implement the idea of a childcare coop or special needs site for family respite. I have lived in this area for 3 years. Prior to that, I lived in State College, PA, home of Penn State Univ., and parents were indeed meeting there to bring such a dream to fruition. I remarried after over a decade of being single, to a wonderful untiringly selfless man, and thus moved to this area, and am now beginning to find the energies again to explore how I might help others in the community struggling to embrace the diagnosis of autism.

Of all the myriad of challenges I have faced as a single parent raising an autistic son for nearly two decades now :-), I have found the greatest, most difficult to overcome long-term, to be that of pervasive fatigue. I believe a respite care setting for special needs kids, especially servicing autistic families, would have profound impact on the joy and love those families can spread out to their own members having found a bit of refreshment in their long journey.

It is not the complexities of this journey which overcome us; we can research and learn and adapt to the newness and sometimes puzzling mystery of autism as a diagnosis; but it is the unabated demand on our human energies as a mother, as a father. We just need someone to offer a hand up, a tiny reprieve as we recharge our bodies and re-energize our souls. Sometimes that means a husband and wife get-away, even if just a quick night out for dinner, sometimes it means a couple hours to share coffee with a friend. Sometimes it means connecting to family outings like attending a wedding celebration without all the complications of an autistic child in tow. :-)

At any rate, I am eager to see how I might be a part of this respite care dream you have fostered here. I would love to open communication, and am eager to hear more of your past inspiration and journey to this point.

God bless your efforts,
Christine