June 21, 2013

  • From an intervention worker's perspective

    I work with Autistic children as what they call, "Behavioral Interventionist".
    I entered the field because I really enjoyed working with children, and believed in research behind behavioral science that it could make a difference for an autistic child.

    When I first entered this community, I was warned that being a BI is a very tiring and challenging job, and the burn-out rates are very high. I thought to myself, I'll give it the best shot I can possibly do. If I can't last, at least I tried.

    Today, it is a little bit less than 1 year since I started working.
    And I realized, the children are not the most challenging ones to work with. 

    It's the adults that are involved with the children.

    Parents that expects miracles, demanding "If I ask you to do something, you better make it happen"
    Or those that demand us to ignore research literature and change things to make "the child's life easier"
    Or those that tell me, "You should be honored to work for my child, please treasure this very special experience" - while paying me LESS than minimal wage because I lacked experience.
    Supervisors that are reluctant to give training, blaming it on the lack of funding even though the parents shows initiation to invest to the team.

    I sincerely thought, there should not be much work drama in a field where we primarily work for special needs children. I mean it's not an easy job to start with. Why would you enter the field if you don't have the heart for this.

    I guess, as a recent college graduate, I was extremely naive.

    I'm sorry if this sounded like a vent of frustration.
    I understand parents have their tough times not only being a parent, but also being a parent for a child that has special needs. But while you submerge your child into the best care you believe you can possibly provide, could you please take a few minutes aside and realize those that work their bums off for your child, are not just robots but also human beings?

    I'll be honest in one thing - I'm not here to volunteer. I am not some kind of saint. I am just another normal person trying to survive in society, which means I have bills to pay and a hefty student loan to pay off. Except that I really do love my job of working with children. I do want to help, and do what I can to make a difference...

    But even if I want to make a difference for your child, paying me less than minimal wage would not encourage me to stay with your family after my one year commitment expires. And  just because you pay me, doesn't mean I am your slave. I am not your child's maid.

    Nor am I here to engage in indepth conversation about how you think the program would work better, disregarding all protocols and reasoning. When I am off from a session, I expect to take my leave to my next client, or to return home... not staying for another 30 minutes "just to chat about things" ...

    To Parents, I know you are probably frustrated by hiring many many workers who are just here to kill time for 2 hours, may not really care for your child, may leave after the 1 year commitment, may even disappear before that 1 year commitment is over,...etc.

    But I am certain there are those of us out there, who are really interested to make a difference.
    I want to stay in the field. But some of the parents out there are giving some workers such a hard time, making me wonder if I am better off to just go work as a barista at a local coffee shop instead.

Comments (2)

  • I am sorry that you feel this way. I am not apologizing for the parents who have given you are hard time, however, I want you to be aware that parents of children with special needs (of which I am one) are carrying an immense load (especially when their kids are small). The heartache of knowing that your child has special needs and may need life long care is horrendous. The financial burden is also horrific. As parents we are told to get as much therapy for our kids as possible but it does come at huge financial cost. I firmly believe in the whole team approach and keeping open lines of communication. Perhaps the parents you are working with are just in a bad place at this present time. Living with special needs 24/7 is not easy. We can't wave goodbye to them after two hours! I hope you manage to rectify the situation.

  • Just as not all workers are the same and there are very band and very good ones, not all parents are the same and there are very band and very good ones.  If you are finding that all the parents are terrible - maybe it's not them.  Maybe it's you.  Quite honestly saying this is "venting  frustration" is putting it mildly.  This is a sanctimonious rant in which you have given a pretty awful impression of yourself.  Perhaps you are with a particularly difficult family, but that is not how you have presented this piece.  You have addressed it to all parents as if we are all doing this to you.  We aren't and quite frankly after reading this, most of you wouldn't want you anywhere near our kids. 

Comments are closed.

Post a Comment