I’m a high school special education teacher who teaches in a substantially separate life skills classroom for students with profound autism and multiple severe disabilities. I regularly interact with the post graduate teacher (who works with students ages 18-21) and she always tells me how much tougher it is now for students and families once they turn 22. Dayhab programs don’t have enough staff to fully operate. Waitlists are extremely long for dayhab and community residential/group homes. My interactions with DDS (Department of Developmental Services) in the past to support my students’ families have always been a mess. There is so much turnover there and I felt like I talked to a new family case manager and supervisor every 6 months. I highly suggest everyone read this article which highlights the struggles families face with young adults who have profound/severe autism.

I will DM you, but I highly suggest you continue to remain a vocal advocate for your children during their IEP meetings at their school. Make sure your children are working on functional academic, life skills, and vocational goals/objectives. Are your children verbal or do either of them use a communication device? Make sure they continue to gain exposure out in the community whether it be ordering food at a restaurant, purchasing groceries, or interacting with others.

I’m a teacher and the two districts I have worked for in Metrowest offer daycare programs for teachers. It’s around $2000 a month for full time infant day care (no discounts for teachers of course LOL).

My child was also briefly at a private daycare in Metrowest while we were on a waitlist for my current daycare- it was about $2000 as well. I feel like $2000 is the average rate for most daycares we checked out except some really scummy home daycares we visited.

One benefit though to a daycare for the children of teachers is that we don’t have to pay for the summer months! I found that most private daycares will require you to keep paying summer tuition even if you won’t need it to remain in their program.

As a teacher, being in a dual income household with my SO is the only way I survive here. If not, I would need to have a ton of roommates or join the rest of Reddit and work in tech.