Living with autism

Local couple seeks support group for parents of children with disabilities



By VIKTORIA PEARSON

vpearson@lahontanvalleynews.com

Raising any child with a disability can be stressful and hard on a family. For the Crow family, the word "stress" is putting it mildly.

Not only are Ken and Gail Crow raising a child with a disability, they are raising three children with disabilities without a support group.

The three siblings, Emma, 12, Anthony, 10, and Nicolas, 8, are the couple's grandchildren. They officially adopted them in 2004.

The children each have a form of autism, said Gail. However, each has a different level of severity. The middle child has the most severe form of the three.

"I consider myself lucky when I hear what others go through," she said. "I have learned so much about autism in the last seven years."

Each child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as other disabilities including: bipolar disorder, autism, pervasive development delay, central auditory process disorder, speech and stress disorders and post traumatic stress disorder.

Each also has a special talent.

"Emma is an exceptional artist," said Gail. "Whenever she can't sit still or is bored she draws a picture."

The boys are very smart, she said. Anthony's behavioral issues are hard to handle because there are no behavioral therapists locally to assist the couple.

"If we could get Anthony's behavior under control, he could learn a lot," said Ken.

"I think underneath, he is a very smart young man," said Gail.

The couple said they would like to form a support group in Fallon for other parents who are raising children with disabilities.

"Going out alone rarely happens," said Ken about the couple spending time together. "We know there are other parents who want or need a support group. I know we can't be the only parents in Fallon who feel this way."

Having someone who can handle not only the children's disabilities, but medications and behavior needs, is hard to find, the couple said. Through a support group, parents could swap babysitting for others to have time away as a couple, said Gail.

She said a group could bring in health professionals to talk about different help available and emotional support for each other to help the children.

Anyone wishing to become involved can call Gail at 423-6545 or e-mail her at gailcrow@charter.net