Allow us to Introduce Ourselves...
By Tracy Peterson | October 15, 2024
Hello! Thank you for your interest in Exploring Our World Differently (EOWD) and for allowing us to introduce ourselves. My name is Tracy Peterson, and I am a parent of an adult non-verbal person on the Autism Spectrum (ASD). This is a picture of us shortly after we relocated to eastern Tennessee in 2017, exploring our new surroundings.
EOWD has been part of us for many years, but life continually took me in different directions. I couldn't get myself up and going with it, primarily because with so much going on at any one time, I struggled to determine the direction of what I wanted EOWD to be.
Like so many, none of us is just "one thing." We are multifaceted with different needs, interests, hobbies, goals, and lifestyles. I have spent the last decade trying to figure out who I am and where I want to be, and it has been one heck of a journey! And honestly, I haven't figured it out --- yet. Each day I learn something new and find something else that I want to explore further.
As a special needs parent, most of my adult life choices were made while in some form of "survival" mode. Every day, the big goal was to get through the day with minimal meltdowns while attempting to balance our overall family needs, special needs, personal needs, financial needs, and career with some sort of work-life balance.
When my kids were little, I drove a school bus. For a while, I worked retail while my kid's Dad was their full-time caregiver. Then, I landed a position as a third-shift counselor at a group home for at-risk kids. That is when my eyes opened, and my life began to change.
A couple of years later, I was divorced, remarried, and found my first field-based remote position in 2006, which gave me great flexibility and enabled me to be there for my kids before and after school and for every IEP and PPT meeting. That role led to my first full work-from-home position as a scheduler, which eventually led to recruiting from the comfort of my home office. It has been a tremendous blessing since Timothy graduated high school, as I am his full-time caregiver and support system along with his stepdad, Ted.
It was easier when my kids were in school, which feels like a lifetime ago. Back then, we had a solid support system through the several school districts we lived in over ten years. Teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, and psychologists were tremendously positive resources that carried much of the weight from our shoulders, not only with my child's education but with ongoing testing, therapies, and social activities. They guided us through some of the most challenging milestones, including toilet training, puberty, and post-high school preparation.
Before we relocated to Tennessee, Tim was in a day program that we were less than satisfied with. The program and people were good. They were just not the right fit for us. Tim was only twenty-one, and the next closest peer in age was in their mid-to-late forties. Unfortunately, of the options available for Tim, this was the only one I felt was appropriate to his abilities and safety concerns, and we had made goals to eventually transition him from the day program to a work program.
It wasn't long before Tim started putting on the pounds. In less than a year, he had gone from a fit size 30 jeans to a very overweight size 44. My efforts to pack him a nutritious organic meal and keep him healthy were in vain as every day it was something else. A holiday. A birthday. A well-intentioned staff who rewarded him with his favorite candy and soda. And worse, because he was no longer physically active, as he was in High School, Timothy wasn't working off all those extra calories as he sat at his corner table day in and day out completing his puzzle books.
When we decided to relocate to Tennessee, we decided not to seek out a program for him. At least not right away. For the first time in Timothy's life, he had his own space, not sharing a bedroom with his siblings. Working from home and living in a new environment allowed further development of his daily living skills. While I am present 24 hours a day, Timothy is independent in many ways. And for the better part of the last seven years, it has worked very well for us. However, as we get older and our needs and desires change, we are now exploring options for the longer term. It is time.
Thank you for joining us on our journey. Over time, you will learn a lot about our personal experiences. And I stress -- these are our personal experiences. As Dr. Stephen Shore perfectly stated, "When you meet one person with Autism, you've met one person with Autism." Individuals and families will have different needs or experiences.
My goal with Exploring Our World Differently is to encompass my past, present, and future journey and to share my stories as an individual and as a parent to a non-verbal adult on the autism spectrum. Over time, I will write about how we met or failed to meet the challenges that came our way. I will share with you my personal experiences and challenges in areas of personal and professional development. As a recruiter, I will share opportunities that enable work-life balance. Finally, as an avid reader, ongoing lifetime learner, and a huge proponent of personal development, I will share resources and quotes for positivity and growth.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I look forward to Exploring Our World Differently together. Get your FREE ISSUE of Autism Parenting Magazine!
Best,Tracy If you liked this blog, please be sure to share it on your favorite social media channels!
A couple of years later, I was divorced, remarried, and found my first field-based remote position in 2006, which gave me great flexibility and enabled me to be there for my kids before and after school and for every IEP and PPT meeting. That role led to my first full work-from-home position as a scheduler, which eventually led to recruiting from the comfort of my home office. It has been a tremendous blessing since Timothy graduated high school, as I am his full-time caregiver and support system along with his stepdad, Ted.
It was easier when my kids were in school, which feels like a lifetime ago. Back then, we had a solid support system through the several school districts we lived in over ten years. Teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, and psychologists were tremendously positive resources that carried much of the weight from our shoulders, not only with my child's education but with ongoing testing, therapies, and social activities. They guided us through some of the most challenging milestones, including toilet training, puberty, and post-high school preparation.
Before we relocated to Tennessee, Tim was in a day program that we were less than satisfied with. The program and people were good. They were just not the right fit for us. Tim was only twenty-one, and the next closest peer in age was in their mid-to-late forties. Unfortunately, of the options available for Tim, this was the only one I felt was appropriate to his abilities and safety concerns, and we had made goals to eventually transition him from the day program to a work program.
It wasn't long before Tim started putting on the pounds. In less than a year, he had gone from a fit size 30 jeans to a very overweight size 44. My efforts to pack him a nutritious organic meal and keep him healthy were in vain as every day it was something else. A holiday. A birthday. A well-intentioned staff who rewarded him with his favorite candy and soda. And worse, because he was no longer physically active, as he was in High School, Timothy wasn't working off all those extra calories as he sat at his corner table day in and day out completing his puzzle books.
When we decided to relocate to Tennessee, we decided not to seek out a program for him. At least not right away. For the first time in Timothy's life, he had his own space, not sharing a bedroom with his siblings. Working from home and living in a new environment allowed further development of his daily living skills. While I am present 24 hours a day, Timothy is independent in many ways. And for the better part of the last seven years, it has worked very well for us. However, as we get older and our needs and desires change, we are now exploring options for the longer term. It is time.
Thank you for joining us on our journey. Over time, you will learn a lot about our personal experiences. And I stress -- these are our personal experiences. As Dr. Stephen Shore perfectly stated, "When you meet one person with Autism, you've met one person with Autism." Individuals and families will have different needs or experiences.
My goal with Exploring Our World Differently is to encompass my past, present, and future journey and to share my stories as an individual and as a parent to a non-verbal adult on the autism spectrum. Over time, I will write about how we met or failed to meet the challenges that came our way. I will share with you my personal experiences and challenges in areas of personal and professional development. As a recruiter, I will share opportunities that enable work-life balance. Finally, as an avid reader, ongoing lifetime learner, and a huge proponent of personal development, I will share resources and quotes for positivity and growth.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I look forward to Exploring Our World Differently together. Get your FREE ISSUE of Autism Parenting Magazine!
Best,Tracy If you liked this blog, please be sure to share it on your favorite social media channels!