We have a special needs au pair through ProAupair. We have had 12 au pairs over the last 8 years with 3 different agencies and this is by far the BEST fit for us. Everything in the submission below about integration with therapies is our experience too. We have an OT trained au pair, but her professionalism and training means that our daughters PT, ST and educational therapies are also understood and worked in seamlessly. It’s remarkable the progress that our daughter has made this last year, and just as important that it hasn’t been through ‘therapy sessions’ but from a loving, caring au pair that has the training to fold the therapeutic process into daily life and having fun. We are absolutely overjoyed that our au pair is staying with us here in DC for a second year! We have had good au pairs and bad au pairs over the years. There is no silver bullet to the challenges of finding the right person to fit into your house, be professional, but also be loving and caring (and clean up their room). But ProAupair makes the best effort of all the companies we have dealt with to get it right through personal attention and active au pair recruiting.If this sounds like an ad for ProAupair, it sort of is. We feel so strongly about this service that we provided endorsements to the State Department to help them get their certification. The other companies’ ‘special needs’ programs are set up with people who are ‘willing’ to be placed with special needs families and just screen for prior exposure to special needs, not any real metric for capability. We have found some good ones and some real disappointments through this approach; it really came down to the individual being a good au pair or not. With ProAupair, the process actually targets people who have made the decision, and made a professional commitment, to working with special needs. There is still the challenge of finding the right match, but it means that if you find a good au pair you also have a great therapist and caregiver.
Really support this. There is nothing like looking out the window and seeing your au pair patiently encourage and create a game to get your child to step up a stair without a handrail, starting to tear-up with happiness when you see your daughter succeed, and then crying outright with joy when you see the cheers and hugs that your au pair shares with your daughter because she both loves her and understands the immense challenges that they overcame together.”
Ed E. Host Dad, Washington, DC
Having Konnie in our family has made a huge difference in our lives. Her Occupational Therapy background helps us tremendously. Not only does she monitor all of the therapies (Speech, Physical and Horseback-riding therapies) our 4.5 year-old daughter receives, but comes up with additional activities and exercises to complement what she’s already getting.Konnie works closely with our daughter’s US therapists and carries over the exercises day to day. I get added comfort from her training and experience in these areas — and my daughter’s US therapists like it as well because they can communicate with Konnie as a professional and she gets it.Honestly, Konnie helps me to be a better mother. I am better able to focus and be more patient because I have another person there who is invested in our children’s care and well-being. My son is certainly happier to have more of my attention. Before he tended to lose out on account of my daughter’s special needs. This has opened up possibilities for me and my family that were not there before having a special needs-experienced au pair.
We are very grateful for Konnie’s contributions and the loving, dedicated help she provides our family.”
Catherine C., Host Mom, Florida
ProAuPair was very helpful in helping us find the best Au Pair for our family. We chose this agency because the Au Pairs are qualified to work with children who have special needs. This was important for our family as our daughter has special needs. Our Au Pair is fantastic. She is smart, helpful, loving and a wonderful addition to our family.”
Evelyn G., Yoba Linda, CA
The girls that ProAuPair finds are of the highest caliber. We get the feeling that if the girl is not good enough for Susan’s family, then they are not good enough for any of her Host Families either. We love how her team helps hand-pick which of the girls would match best with the Host Family.”
Roman, O. San Diego, CA
Our Au Pair is exceptional. She is a pediatric nurse with infant experience. Beyond her excellent qualifications, she is also a kind, energetic, and caring person with high integrity. She takes excellent care of our kids and has become part of our family. We are grateful to ProAuPair for finding her.”
Julie M., SVP PIMCO, Redondo Beach, CA
ProAuPair solved our childcare problems and has allowed me to return to work full-time. With two special needs children, I was unsure I would be able to find an Au Pair with the right qualifications. But ProAuPair put us in touch with two highly qualified candidates right away. I particularly liked being able to review information about the available Au Pair candidates online at the beginning of the selection process. I also thought the process was relatively speedy.”
Alison, Journalist, NJ
One of the biggest strengths is the level of maturity, knowledge and concern that their Au Pair Agency exhibits. Our Au Pair is committed to doing a great job and the occupational therapy training she received in Germany has been a God send. I am confident that my daughter is receiving the support she needs.”
Katherine, P. Chicago, IL
ProAuPair has been able to provide us with very qualified candidates that match the needs of our family. For our family it is very suitable that ProAuPair is focused on Au Pairs from German speaking countries.”
Kristina L., Architect, Los Angeles, CA
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