SAFETY STRATEGIES
How to Prepare a Child with Exceptional Needs for a Hospital Stay By Bea Moise, MS, BCCS
IN A PERFECT WORLD, SICKNESS WOULD NOT EXIST; IN AN ALMOST IDEAL WORLD, ILLNESS WOULD HAPPEN TO INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM AND APPROPRIATELY ASK FOR HELP. HOWEVER, NEITHER OF THE TWO EXIST, AND CHILDREN WITH NEURODIVERSE BRAINS GET SICK, AND SOMETIMES THOSE SICKNESSES LAND THEM IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ONE NIGHT OR LONGER. As a mother of a child with autism, I have conversations with myself about how autism is enough, and nothing else should occur along with that. But the reality is sometimes dual diagnoses exist. Individuals with neurodiverse brains are sometimes diagnosed with co-morbidity, which means two things are happening together at the same time that are not identical. I have had the privilege of being able to help families with these co-occurring conditions. At times these issues are mental health and medical. With a child with limited ability
to understand medical health concerns, how can you explain what is happening? PRACTICE AHEAD OF TIME Practice what you want to say to your child. Think about the message you are planning to convey and what emotional state you want to leave your child. The main reason for practicing is to prepare you. As the parent, you have to know about the personal bias that you harbor that your child will experience.
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