Hello everybody

my lovely 6 year old boy was recently diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He has always been exceptionally lively and unable to keep still and focussed, and I have always found parenting him totally exhausting, however until recently 'the professionals' (but also, I have to confess, myself) assumed that, as a disabled parent, I was bound to find parenting particularly tiring (i.e. it was me, not him). I would be very interested to know whether any other disabled parents are in a similar position to exhchange experiences and ideas, as I found that some approaches to ADHD require more physical resources and energy on the part of the parent than I have.

Paola

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

Answers

I am a single mom with fibromyalgia and I have a 13-year old boy with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dyslexia, Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders. I've applied for social security disability for myself. My son gets SSI and child support. His dad lives in North Carolina and we live in Wisconsin so I have my son most of the time. I get worn out and have to take a nap every afternoon. There are so many occupational, speech and listening therapy appointments and doctors appointments that I couldn't hold down a job. It hurts my arms, neck, shoulders and upper back to do any office work. I will be spending every morning and afternoon at my son's school for awhile. Possibly whole days to observe him. I also drive my parents to doctor appointments and My mom hasn't driven for over 10 years and will soon be 80. My step-dad falls asleep driving if he leaves town. I feel like I'm suppose to make money because it is hard to survive on child support and my son's SSI. But I read articles of other single parents that are disabled and have a disabled child, and realize that starting my own business might be too much for me. I don't know if I will get social security disability so I'm worried about the future. And child support will run out in 5 years.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2003