Managing Special Needs During Pandemic
With Autism Awareness Month being upon us, this episode brings an opportunity to discuss how the global pandemic and other world changes impact the special needs community and those who love and support them.
“The impact for the families we know and love here at Turning Pointe has been profound,” said Carrie Provenzale, Executive Director of Turning Pointe Autism Foundation. “Our families oftentimes find themselves living extremely isolated lives from the greater community. So the global changes we’ve lived through this year have just further isolated these families and their caregivers.”
Guests on the Show
- Carrie Provenzale – Executive Director, Turning Pointe Autism Foundation
- Dr. Lisa Konick – Clinical Psychologist, Konick & Associates
- Tarek Fayoumi – Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Graduate
- Joe Hammad – Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Parent
- Gia Pizzoferrato – Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Parent
- Marisa Zirlin – Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Parent
“A lot of our families have a lot of services in place and they really rely on that and a lot of that has been abruptly pulled back and unavailable to them,” said Konick. “So we’re seeing a lot of families struggling socially, emotionally, behaviorally.”
Doing Their Best to Adapt
Hammad, parent of a 23-year-old with autism, recalled his reaction to the pandemic when it first began and talks about how no one can ever truly be prepared for something like that, especially when you have a special needs child.
“But you try to improvise, do what you can and try to make some routines at home,” said Hammad, who explained how his son Adam has done rather well at home.
“It’s all about thinking what your passion is and then making your environment around that passion,” Fayoumi added, suggesting to others that continuing to attend to your hobbies can be a coping mechanism during this difficult time.
For host Dana Davenport, this topic is one that is personal, as her son Trey was diagnosed with autism at the age of seven. Like many other families, the two have navigated school and activities remotely during the pandemic.
“I could not be prouder of my child,” Davenport said while closing out the show. “That being said it is a very difficult time for many and I hope this episode brings awareness to this very important aspect of our community.”
Turning Pointe Autism Foundation
1500 West Ogden Avenue
Naperville, IL 60540
Turning Pointe Autism Foundation
1500 West Ogden Avenue
Naperville, IL 60540
Turning Pointe Autism Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Turning Pointe Autism Foundation's Foglia Family Adult Services is a Certified Autism Center by the IBCCES.
Our organization does not discriminate in employment or the provision of educational services on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.