self-isolating at home with kids during the pandemic is tough enough. now imagine you’re susan cosgrove, a toronto-based single mom, who is self-isolating at home and has three kids on the autism spectrum. the experience has left her yearning for the supports each child had in place while in school before covid-19.
“my life is [being] a case coordinator,” she says. “you try to convince yourself that everything is going to be okay.”
for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as adhd, obsessive compulsive disorder (ocd) or autism, the change in routines brought about by covid-19 has been dramatic. many have seen the carefully-maintained consistency of their daily therapy sessions and programs upended, and their access to physical fitness virtually eliminated. many are showing signs of anxiety and distress as the news outside becomes worse.
“we’re seeing kids who are coping well,” says dr. melanie penner, dr. melanie penner, developmental pediatrician and clinician investigator at holland bloorview’s autism research centre, and “those who are having problems.”
cosgrove’s eldest son, who is 16 and has autism, adhd and anxiety, has moved in with her parents during the pandemic so that he has more room, as well as emotional support — and she has some extra space in her two-bedroom apartment. previously, her son had moved between her apartment and that of her parents several times a week but fears of infecting cosgrove’s parents put a stop to that.