Respite and Safety

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What are respite services? We can all agree being a caregiver can leave you feeling depleted and sad sometimes if you feel like you're missing out on activities you used to enjoy. It's so important to take care of ourselves so we feel at our best to keep caring for our loved ones. Respite services are safe places you can leave your child/young adult with trained staff. They are meant to be fun. And you will have the peace of mind to truly do something fun for you too.

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Sometimes, providers can't give you the respite you need, when you need it an you need to find a babysitter who is more flexible. This article will help you being to find the right person.

The Top 3 Challenges to Finding a Babysitter for Your Special Needs Child — and How to Overcome Them.​

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Providers:

​A New Direction, What's Next?

Services: Transitioning into Waiver Funding and helping families obtain services through Waiver Funding and build long term care plans. Personal centered supports, long term planning, self-directed life choices, behavioral supports, recreational activities, community based activities, alternative care through respite and in-home community supports.

Where: 7069 Hunt Drive, Macungie, PA 18062

Call: 610-421-8412

Email: info@anewdirectionwhatsnext.com

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Bayada Pediatrics Home Health Care

How does it work? Each child's unique needs are assessed by a registered nurse clinical manager who orients Bayada caregivers to child's care and writes a plan of care. The manager makes regular in-home visits to reassess care needs and teams training. Medical conditions include allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, feeding disorders, sleep disorders. Other services include medication administration, assistance with toileting, respite services, respiratory care, care during/after seizure, and assistance with bathing and grooming.

Call: 610-776-7000

Website: www.bayada.com

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​Easter Seals Respite Services

We have two 6-hour Saturday respite programs so that families can enjoy a full day of respite.

We offer respite programs in Reading, which meets the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month (in general), and in Allentown, which meets the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Both programs run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids age 5 and older (plus their potty trained siblings) enjoy a mini-camp day. They play games, make and eat snacks, play sports (weather permitting), watch movies and have fun together while their families enjoy a day of respite.  $84 per session first child, $55 for second child.

Where: Allentown Jewish Community Center, 702 North 22nd Street, Allentown, PA

Call: Emily Gonda at 610-289-0114 x209

Email: egonda@esep.org

Download full application: www.easterseals.com/esep

 

Family Support Services (ARC)

The Arc administers Family-Driven/Family Support Services programs for eligible families in Lehigh County. The Arc employs an FD/FSS coordinator for each county to help families better understand how they may use their allocated funds which provide eligible family member(s) with goods and services to improve their quality of life. The FD/FSS program provides families with direct involvement in choosing services and goods.

Website: https://www.arcoflehighnorthampton.org/page/fss

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Lehigh County Children's Mental Health Respite Opportunties

Website: https://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Human-Services/Mental-Health/Children

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Special Recreation Services, Inc

Services: Monthly events throughout year for people in Northampton, Carbon, Pike, and Monroe counties. Recreation activities for adults with disabilities.

Where: PO Box 1031, Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Call: Debbie Smith, Director at 610-751-7692

Email: specialrecreationservices@gmail.com

Website: https://www.specialrecreationservices.org/?gclid=CPz-mIXuptQCFUtYDQodsOwPmw

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Caring Grace Home Care Agency

Services: Professional caregivers that are trained to provide the best services for elderly and physically disabled clients. Staff is fluent in English/Spanish.

Where: 881 Third Street, Suite B-2, Whitehall, PA 18052

Call: 610-443-1850

Website: http://www.caringgracehomecare.com/services.html

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Sitter City

A website that will help you finding a sitter for your special needs child locally.

Website: www.sittercity.com/

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Step By Step, Inc.

Services: Respite Services can be short term (hourly) or can be provided for one or multiple days (daily). The individual’s participation in community activities and day or employment services continues as normal while receiving respite services.

Where: 623 West Union Blvd, Bethlehem, PA 18018

Call: 610-867-0688

Website: www.stepbystepusa.com

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Water Safety

 

Water safety should be a part of your child's therapy program to keep them safe. Swimming lessons can be costly but you can click on the following link to apply for swimming scholarships to help pay for them. https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/grants/swimming

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Autism Friendly Swimming Instruction according to Lehigh Valley parents

​Aquatics Academy (specializing in fear of the water)

Where: 1220 West Main Street Stroudsburg, PA 18360 (located within the Quality Inn)

Call:(570) 664-1716

Website: http://www.aquaticsacademy.com/PA_Pools.html

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Aquaticsacademy/

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Bethlehem Township Community Center-**also offers open swim

Where: 2900 Farmersville Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18020

Call: (610) 332-1900

​Website: http://www.bethlehemtownship.org/btcc/

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Cindy Miles Aquatic Fitness (adults and children)

Where: 3721 Crescent Court West, Whitehall, PA 18052

Call: 610-820-7667

Insurance: http://cindymiles.com/insurance-forms/

Email: staff@cindymiles.com

Website: http://cindymiles.com/aquatic-fitness/

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Five Star Swim-**also offers open swim

Where: 1597 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA 18103

Call: 610-351-0017

Website: http://www.fivestarswimschool.com/swim_school/

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Good Shepherd

Services: Individualized swim lessons are scheduled on availability of the therapist.

When: The Pediatric Swim Group Program is held on Wednesdays from 3:45-4:45 p.m.  

Where: All classes are held in Good Shepherd's Health & Technology Center on the south Allentown campus.

Call: (610) 778-1006

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Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley-**also offers open swim

Services: Typical swim lessons and special needs swim for their Adaptive Swim Program. Offer many options for students of all levels and abilities. Goal is to incorporate basic lifesaving, social and learning skills necessary to be more independent in and around water. Days/times flexible.

Where: 702 N 22nd St, Allentown, PA 18104

Call: Jodi Lovenwirth, Director of Aquatics 610-435-3571 x118

Website: http://lvjcc.org/swimlessons

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​Swim-In Zone (specializes in non-verbal/children with limited verbal skills)  **also offers open swim

Where: 4355 Saucon Creek Rd. Center Valley, PA 18034

Call: 610.625.4848

Form for special needs: https://www.swim-inzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Special-Needs-Questionnaire-5.20.pdf

Website: https://www.swim-inzone.com/

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Valley Youth House-Camp Fowler

Swim lessons are based on age and ability. Lessons are held in late spring/summer.

Where: 5851 Horseshoe Road, Orefield, PA 18069

Call: 484-223-1724

Email: pgalie@valleyyouthhouse.org

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If you are looking to participate in an informal swim, check out the following places.

Bethlehem Township Community Center

Where: 2900 Farmersville Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18020

Call: (610) 332-1900

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Wandering and Elopement

​​The dangers with wandering include falls, traffic injuries, accidental drowning, exposure, etc. Unfortunately, parents have expressed they've received little guidance from professionals on this life/death issue. Some children wander because something catches their attention like water or they are over stimulated and seeking to escape.  The nicer weather presents a higher chance for elopement as families spend more time outside, away from home, on vacation in unfamiliar settings/routine, etc. When considering camps, ask the camp about staff to camper ratio and openly discuss safety concerns. Even under the best of circumstances, it can happen at a moments notice.

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Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

1. ​Be ready to implement an emergency family wandering plan, click here to print a copy.

2.  Invest in a tracker if you feel your child needs it.

3.  Create an ID to keep in your child's wallet.

4.  If you have a non-verbal or child with limited verbal skills, order the Yellow Dot sticker and attached to your window to alert emergency crews in case of an accident.

5.  Create a Child Profile that is Amber Alert ready with Community Partner 4 Kids.

6.  Invest in autism friendly swimming lessons.

 

Autism Friendly First Responders

Upper Saucon Fire Department-PAAC Approved

Se-Wy-Co Fire Company in Lower Saucon Township-PAAC Approved

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Safety with First Responders

​The Premise Alert System was created in 2004 to provide a uniform method to alert first responders to the special needs of individuals in their community and support families and individuals with disabilities in the event of a crisis. The service is provided for free. www.disability.gov/resource/pa-premise-alert-system

Additional info at www.papresmisealert.com or by emailing Susan Rzucidlo atspeaksusan@gmail.com.

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Yellow Dot: This program assists citizens in the "golden hour" of emergency care following a traffic accident when they may not be able to communicate their needs themselves. After filling out the online form, PennDot will mail you a packet. Placing a Yellow Dot decal in your vehicle's rear window alerts first responders to check your glove compartment for vital information to ensure you receive the medical attention you need. For more information, please click on http://www.penndot.gov/TravelInPA/Pages/Yellow-Dot.aspx

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Angel Guard: As your child gets too big for car seat but is strong  enough to unbuckle the seat belt, Angel Guard is a plastic cover that goes over the seat belt to prevent them from releasing the seat belt while you drive. In an emergency situation, it can be remove easily by an adult. See the demonstration by clicking here.

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Tracking and Monitoring Safety

​AngelSense has a pending patent GPS technology for tracking and monitoring children with special needs. This company only hires parents with special needs to do their customer service. This is a device that physically gets attached inside a pants pocket or around the waist will allow you to monitor where your child is at all time. It can be disabled during school hours. The AngelCall is a two way voice in which you can contact your child to check in without having them to pick up the phone.

For more information, go to https://www.angelsense.com/about-us/

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Amber Alert GPS is an award winning GPS technology. They provide a number of states with their Law Enforcement Alerting Portal (L.E.A.P.) technology to issue AMBER Alerts at no cost. It's a wearable product that is water resistant and compatible with Android and iOS technology.  For more information, go to http://amberalertgps.com/

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I can't afford it, what are my options?

Reach out to your primary care physician's (PCP) office, developmental pediatrican or whomever follows your child's care. Ask for him or her to submit a letter of medical necessity to your insurance company so the patient can be reimbursed.

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Identification: Teach your child carry a wallet and how to use an ID card.

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Through a group effort in Pittsburgh, these Autism ID Cards were designed to be kept in the person's wallet and help with identification for First Responders. For more information, click on this link.  http://autismidcard.com/

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If I Need Help is a company that sells tags that attach to a child's shoelaces for kids that don't carry wallets. For more information, click here.