Children who have special needs often require extra special care and understanding – something that isn’t guaranteed with just any childcare provider. Apex PROaupair’s Special Needs program is dedicated to helping families find experienced, professional au pairs who are trained, interested and motivated to care for children with special needs. In addition, they understand the unique needs of children without special needs who are part of the same family. Approximately 75% of Apex PROaupair’s host families have a child who has been diagnosed with special needs.
Apex PROaupair’s professional au pairs have degrees in pediatric nursing, occupational therapy, speech therapy, early childhood education, special needs education and more. They have experience working with children with a variety of special needs including autism spectrum disorder, ADD/ADHD, Down syndrome, diabetes, epilepsy and seizures, extreme/undiagnosed disabilities, and other physical and mental delays.
The professional au pairs participating in the Apex PROaupair program have a keen interest in developing their professional experience and broadening their cultural horizons living for a year or two in the United States. Since Apex PROaupair sources professional au pairs through our vast network of European universities, vocational training schools, hospitals and referrals from organizations such as German Red Cross, you can count on an extremely high caliber of live-in childcare for your family.
Special Needs Disclosure from the U.S. Department of State
Apex PROaupair has been designated by the U.S. Department of State as an official au pair program sponsor since June 2011. The Department of State does not define “special needs” and makes clear that host families, and not program sponsors, must identify their child’s special needs and must make the selection of an au pair based on their evaluation of the au pair’s skills, education, and/or training. An au pair is not intended to replace the services of other special care or education providers (such as therapists or teachers).
