{"id":256523,"date":"2021-11-22T08:56:47","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T13:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/?p=256523"},"modified":"2021-12-29T09:44:29","modified_gmt":"2021-12-29T14:44:29","slug":"blog-autism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/blog\/blog-autism\/","title":{"rendered":"Thankful: A few things I\u2019ve learned since my son was diagnosed with autism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s almost Thanksgiving, and as I look back on a rocky, exhausting, sometimes trying, rollercoaster of a year, I\u2019m so filled with gratitude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like most women, I have a few jobs. I\u2019m the director of client success for Ovia Health, so I spend my days making sure families have the support and resources they need to grow and thrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m also a mom of three amazing children. My first two hit pretty much every milestone by the book. But my youngest is on another journey. He learns and processes information differently. Just as we were working to find answers, the pandemic hit, the world shut down, and appointments were delayed. It was only this year, at the age of four, that we finally got his diagnosis. My son has autism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many ways, the diagnosis was a relief\u2014we had a name and an explanation for what we\u2019d been going through. But it was also the beginning of a new, complex, and incredibly difficult phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the diagnosis and into the maze<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019d think, since I\u2019m an expert in healthcare benefits, that I\u2019d know right away what to do with this new diagnosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth is, even those of us in the healthcare system can get lost in the maze. At first, you don\u2019t know what kinds of care are available or what your child needs, and from there, you\u2019re tackling mountains of paperwork, from completion of milestone forms for speech, occupational, and behavioral therapy to diagnostic forms, observations, and assessments, on top of individual education plans (IEPs) and more. You\u2019re hoping for approvals and adding your child to waiting lists that can take up to a year or longer, all while working with your insurance company to understand coverage, copays, and deductibles. As you\u2019re doing all of this, you\u2019re also  managing multiple new care teams\u2014at school, at home, at church, and with healthcare providers. Keeping everything organized feels like a herculean task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s another truth: You shouldn\u2019t have to become an expert, advocate, and administrator of healthcare and education overnight. A true care system wouldn\u2019t ask that of you when you\u2019re dealing with a difficult condition and the emotions that come with a new diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s where I found myself earlier this year. My new world felt like its own full time-job, so I had no space to tend to my own needs, and I was struggling to be productive at work. Even when I wasn\u2019t with my children, my heart and head were with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I learned about asking for help<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overwhelmed with red tape, a confusing healthcare system, and a million questions, and having survived three full-family COVID quarantines, I found myself alone on my back deck in tears. I was at my breaking point. I pride myself on being able to handle anything that comes my way, but at that moment, I realized I had to give myself a little grace. I decided it\u2019s okay not to be okay, and that accepting help doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m failing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once I got out of my own way, I realized how lucky I am. Ovia offers autism support to our clients and to our employees\u2014parents like me. Ovia\u2019s autism support includes a module that helps you learn on your own, discover tips and tricks, and cope with the stress of managing your child\u2019s needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ovia also offers coaching, which I like to call my \u201cmagic support system.\u201d Our coaches are healthcare experts, and many have experience working with children with autism, so they can help you navigate the health system, your health benefits, paperwork, and everyday challenges with your kids and your own mental wellbeing. You can reach out to them directly, from 9 a.m to 9 p.m., 365 days a year. For me, it\u2019s an unbelievable relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what\u2019s it like to have an Ovia coach in my corner? I\u2019ll share a quick vignette from a few days ago. If you have a child with autism, you already know how important it is to have a predictable daily routine. I\u2019m up every morning at 5:00 a.m. to set my son up for a good day. But in the real world, things don\u2019t always go as planned. The other day we had one of those<\/em> mornings. My son wouldn\u2019t settle down and get on the bus, so I had to cancel my morning meetings to help. Stressful as it was, I knew I didn\u2019t have to figure it all out alone. I started messaging the coaches right there in the school drop-off line and they came back with support and guidance to help get me through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I wish employers and payers knew<\/strong> about autism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been telling you a very personal story, but it\u2019s not mine alone. One out of every 54 children is born with autism. If you\u2019re an employer or a health plan, there\u2019s a good chance many of your people are trying to make their way through healthcare mazes and significant distress right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support, especially experienced coaches, can save your employees and members precious time and emotional energy by helping them:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n