Savvy

As the mother of a child with autism, Scott knows what families today go through from diagnosis to education to worrying about their child’s ability to function in adulthood. She said the outlook of parents, family members and other people within a child’s support group is the most critical success factor in navigating the challenges of the condition. 

“Students cannot learn if they feel invisible, disrespected or unsafe,” Hall said. “When we discuss any classroom issue, we pass it through the lens of safety. For example, if we have problems with unkindness or disrespect, we talk about how it contributes to people feeling unsafe, and we revisit our commitment to making school a safe place for everyone.”

If you’re a parent or caregiver who isn’t able to take off more than a day or two from work, or who simply wants to let the kids sleep in, play with friends and decompress from the daily grind of the school year — this guide is for you.

For the Wasson family, caring for a child with special needs is about more than hardship.