College of the Mainland Leisure Learning not Autism friendly

Summer is almost upon us and many moms are now scrambling for things for their autistic kids to do this summer. Many parents with special needs kids do face perpetual work / childcare dilemmas, and the summertime or post school years can be especially fraught with challenges if kids cannot, or ought not, stay home alone unsupervised for hours on end. Our adult children need something productive to do each day. Creating a life for them can be very hard, especially in the suburbs, where there are not a lot of programs to begin with. What can be done? I do have one small suggestion.

In our area, College of the Mainland is the main provider of Leisure Learning type classes. They offer all sorts of classes: fishing, cooking, exercise and art. For the last few years–literally years–I have petitioned them to allow adults with disabilities into their daytime leisure learning classes. Are they discriminating? Yes and no.

You see, all of their daytime classes are reserved for 50+. I asked can you allow my son to come with me to a class, or else allow him to take classes with me? It’s become a thing now between me and COM. All of their daytime arts and crafts courses, most others he could do, are for 50+. I am, but he is not 50+. I said in frustration, “Do you have any idea how many moms had to retire early to take care of their adult children and how isolating that is? Why are all of your daytime classes for 50+? Just let anyone take the classes! Seems like a win/win. Are people beating down the door to take acrylic painting on a Wednesday afternoon? I doubt it.” I was told, “Well these classes are less expensive because they are for people on a fixed income.” OMG! “So then make them for all 50+ and / or  drawing Social Security. Our adult kids are on SSI/ SSDI. That’s a fixed income! Really fixed. Do you want to try living on SSI? It’s less than what seniors live on.”

I was talking to the wind. She was apparently clueless that our adult disabled kids are also on fixed incomes, and earning much less than what a retiree makes. It is frustrating, especially as I have mentioned it each year, presented with the same reasoning and promise of running it up to top management. You might think they would say, OK, as long as you buy pay for his seat or as long as you supervise your son . . . but no. “There would be liability issues,” she said. “So . . . you will let a disabled person take your night classes but not your day classes? Wouldn’t there be the same liability issues at nighttime?”

If others think, “You know, I’d love for my adult child with autism to come with me to a COM Leisure learning class,” please help! Reach out to them and complain. It would be great if they heard from someone other than me for a change.