I have a question. I have a son with moderate functioning autism and epilepsy. He was on the EMU for two weeks last year and they discovered that his seizures are multifocal both sides if the brain so an operation won't help. While he was in the EMU his heart stopped for 10 seconds and then restarted and he also had a ventricular tachycardia in his sleep. He is 17. I have lurked on the list for several years off and on.
He is a senior in high school and as part of his education he goes into the community to work in various stores and restaurants three times a week to get work experience. The school supplies an nurse to accompany him in the event that he has seizures while working. The nurse has been helpful in those situations.
Now that you have some background I guess my first question is how I go about letting him try to get a part time job eventually. I first want to look at him as a young man with epilepsy and then make further adjustments as a young man with autism.
How do I let him go into a work environment alone. How do you ensure his safety in the community when I know he will have seizures and may be on the ground alone for considerable amounts of time. And his post ictal period can last as long as an hour? Last year, without my knowledge he left the house and took a bike ride in our neighborhood. He had a seizure on the bike and while post ictal walked into the nearest house. He was unable to speak to them - or the police who were summoned- for about 30 minutes. Then the police called us. The people in the house did not know him. They only noticed he was wearing a heart monitor at the time. I am concerned about something like this happening when he gets a little older and someone could shoot him as an intruder. How do you begin to allow someone with autism out of your sight?
Thank you,
Janet
Sent from my iPhone
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