The Foreign Service Journal, November 2021

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2021 77 Karem R. Ensley is a child behavior specialist, international educational consultant and certified special education teacher. She has worked with families and schools worldwide to find the right educational placement and resources for special needs children, as well as providing specialized instruction to supplement each student’s needs. Karem is an advocate for a more inclusive environment for children with disabilities in international schools, as well as a Foreign Service family member. She can be contacted at KaremEnsley@gmail.com. P arents of children with special needs have an especially bumpy path when trying to find their next job. When bidding for a post, they have to jump through hoops to get medical clearances for their children, find a school that can provide the services the child needs, apply for extra funding to cover these costly services that would otherwise be free in the United States, and so on. In some instances, they may find themselves moving into a society that views their child as “less than,” or they may even feel that they are an unwelcome addition to the U.S. embassy community. Supporting SpecialNeeds FamiliesAbroad Special needs families have a lot on their plate. Learning to connect with them will help the whole Foreign Service community thrive. BY KAREM R . ENS L EY FS KNOW-HOW These families have a lot on their plate. They have no family support close at hand, and most are still trying to figure out the best way to understand and help their child. Raising a special needs child is an ongoing process of discovery, regardless of where you live. The types of difficulties that each child must navigate range greatly—a speech impediment, an autism diag- nosis, medical device needs, physical disabilities, inattentive- ness, emotional struggles—and every child with special needs is different. Even if they have the same diagnosis, their needs, their personality and their interests can be worlds apart, just like any other child. Chances are there is a family going through this at your post right now. Many of us want to help and connect, but do not know how. Below are some thoughts and observations from Foreign Service parents of special needs kids that might help us better appreciate their journey. With a little understanding, we might be able to connect and become an ally to our fellow offi- cers—enabling them, ourselves and our community to thrive together as we carry out our vital mission. 1. Please keep inviting us to social events. We might not always say yes, but we still want to be included. Being parents of special needs kids can be a lonely journey. Without immediate family and other special education parents to rely on, or relate to, they can feel very isolated when reaching a