I have a 19-year-old son who falls somewhere on the autism spectrum and another son, now 21 years of age, who has severe attention deficit disorder. We raised our boys in a School system where challenges presented themselves daily both academically as well as socially. I am well versed on the demands of raising a special needs child. I worked in an office for much of their earlier years which taught me how to find and to manage the support services needed to help the boys thrive. I can't deny how exhausting the process can be but if one is resourceful and tenacious, the rewards are great. My boys do still struggle today; but they are able to cope quite well because they understand their illnesses and have found ways to manage the the challenges of work and school. I am good at helping special needs children. I can be firm and I can also be silly. I can provide the direction and the structure the child needs to manage his/her world. I talk their language and can help parents find the resources and the strength to support their child.