Special Needs Children
Hi Edina - I love your website and blog. I have used au pairs for 2 years now and it is so difficult to find the right au pair for our family. We have a special needs child and the agencies tell you that they can offer you an au pair who worked with special needs, but you still have to interview each girl carefully. Most of them do not have any real experience working with children generally and only a small number actually have any experience or knowledge of special needs. My first match was a disaster - the agency said all the right things about sending me applications that would be flagged "special needs" and being a first time host mom I trusted the agency (Au Pair in America). However, my au pair arrived and knew nothing about mental retardation and how to handle a Downs Syndrome child.
I requested another au pair and this worked out somewhat okay but I switched agencies and I have a girl who is studying child psychology and she is great. But, I had to interview the girl myself to find out this information - it was not in the application. So, your Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid when Choosing an Au Pair is right on!
I would like to see an article or post/comments on au pairs and special needs children - families like mine are out there and I would like to meet them!
Happy New Year and thanks for a great resource - will be checking in periodically as you continue to post more content and blogs.
Sarah Jones
Hi, I'm an aussie au pair.
Hi,
I'm an aussie au pair. due to be placed with a wonderful host family in July. However, I encountered problems with the company I am with conveying accurate information to prospective host families. I continually highlighted to them that I have hundreds of hours experience as a disability support worker in children's respite houses, caring for children with numerous physical and intellectual disabilities; and would be perfect to join a family with a special needs child. However, my australian agency had to continually ask the company to update my profile and highlight my experience. They never did so, and while I was (by fluke) interviewed with a family with a special needs child, she was unaware of my experience! I did not place with them, and have placed with an amazing family, but am saddened to here that there were families out there who could have used my experience!
Hi Aussie Au Pair!
Well, I am very sorry to hear this!
I don't see why this agency wouldn't highlight you as a special needs au pair since they are in such high demand. I am very happy to hear you were placed. Let us know how your year is going - we love to hear from au pairs.
What agency are you with?
Edina
Special Needs
Many families have special needs children and finding appropriate childcare can be quite a challenge. To keep costs in line with the family budget, many families are attracted to au pair agencies who advertise au pairrs who are described as having "special needs experience." This description varies from agency to agency and from country to country and since there is no valid way to measure these descriptions, you have to do your homework carefully when selecting an au pair for a special needs child.
The first thing you should do is choose an agemcy that is on the list of the 12 designated agencies that is monitored by the US Department of State (DOS). Start with our Top Three Industry Leaders and interview each agency. Make sure they outline and explain what their definition is of an au pair who "has special needs training or experience."
Once you choose the agency and begin the matching process, you can customize your search by adding a "special needs child" heading to your top three "needs" in your search request (other top needs can be English, Driving, Infant Qualified, etc.). Make certain you are on a first name basis with your placement counselor as she navigates the search and that she fully understands your child's needs and what your family expects from the au pair.
Once you zero in on a few applicants that have been identified by your agency as having "special needs" experience, interview the au pair carefuly and find out what kind of experience she has had with children like yours. Always explain what kind of special needs your child has and what she can expect and what her duties will be once she arrives at your home.
Au pairs do not like surprises and if she does not get full disclosure before she arrives, she may become very unhappy with the match and ask to find another family. So, don't hold back important elements of your child's needs during the phone interview! We find that this usually works against you, not for you.
Good luck and look for an upcoming article on Special Needs Children.
Special Needs Children
Hi Edina, I find your website very informative. I have a special needs child and know how importatnt it is to be upfront with the exact nature of disability that an Aupair is to be able to look after. Because children with learning disabilites require much more time and patience, their caregiver needs to have the right experience and knowledge in this area. I was fortunate enough, after 3 interviews, to find the right person so far. But, had I not been upfront in disclosing my son's special needs, I may not have been so lucky. Thank you for all your helpful and informative information on your website! Christy Powers
Special Needs Children need Special Care
Hi Christy,
Thank you for you comments and I am happy to hear you enjoy our website!
Special needs children do need special care and if a parent hires a childcare worker without full disclosure, the relationship will start off with a lack of trust between parent and worker. We have seen many au pairs ask for another family once they arrived and, to their dismay, they discovered an autistic child or a child in a wheelchair. They are so overwhelmed and frightened they leave the family. If the parent discussed upfront the problems the child is struggling with very often the au pair will try her best to learn how to care for the child and to make the match work.
You did the correct thing by disclosing upfront your son's special needs and, as a result, you hired the best person for the job.
Parents who are considering hosting an au pair for their special needs child must do the same thing - very often they hesitate to say much about the child's condition, afraid they will scare the au pair off. However, it is very possible to find an au pair who not only wants to work with special needs children, but has some experience in this area. We have worked with au pairs who had degrees in Special Education or Child Psychology, so they are out there! It is true that the demand exceeds the supply and it may take much longer searching for an au pair who is willing/experience/educated in this area.
Thank you again for you comments and I hope to hear from you soon regarding your son and your childcare needs!