‘An impossible situation:’ Mother of autistic child crying out for a return of in-person services
Posted Apr 20, 2020 02:45:00 PM.
An Ottawa mom is calling on the government to deem autism services essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jade Mason says a lack of routine and no support services has left her 11-year-old son feeling anxious and aggressive.
“I ended up having to call 911 after he physically assaulted me,” she explains. “It took four police officers to break down our front door — it was just an impossible situation.”
Mason says virtual services do not work in their situation. The only answer for her family would be returning respite workers to one-on-one, in-person care.
The mother adds, she also feared for her younger son's safety and has sent him to stay with his grandparents during the pandemic.
Mason says situations like theirs are hard to discuss, but she knows other families are also struggling so she is speaking out on behalf of them all.
