Hello and thank you for visiting my profile.  My name is Amy Auberger, and I have been working with people with disabilities/autism for more than 20 years. I hold an LISW-S in the state of Ohio and maintain certification in Trauma Responsive Care through the Tri-State Trauma Network. If you look at my attached Curriculum Vitae (CV), you will see that I have quite a bit of experience working with many different populations of people within my career as a social worker. While my work has provided many rich opportunities for me to engage and learn from others with disabilities, my greatest experience is the privilege I have had raising my daughter, Addie, for the past 15 years.

 

Addie was born to my husband, Carl, and me at 23 weeks gestation and spent her first 119 days of life in the NICU at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. The uncertainty of not knowing if she was going to live for her first 8 weeks of life (in addition to watching her undergo painful and uncomfortable medical procedures) created overwhelming feelings of helplessness and fear that eventually lead to my husband and I both being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This experience opened my eyes to how a traumatic introduction to the world, coupled with daily life-saving medical procedures can create barriers that impact the development of a child. This inspired me to begin my journey to become trauma-informed so I could not only better understand my daughter, but also educate families.

 

Currently, Addie is a smart and sassy teenager who uses a wheelchair to ambulate and a device to speak. While she has never been formally diagnosed with autism, she possesses many similar traits that include difficulties with social interaction, repetitive behaviors and sensory processing. She is completely dependent on her environment to regulate her mood, which can be very stressful for those supporting her. Having a child with a disability has provided opportunities for me to learn the system and what resources are available in the community to provide support and offset financial costs associated with a child who needs a lot of extra care. This interest and expertise led to me pursuing my current position as a social work care manager supporting patients (and their families) with medical complexities and other disabilities. Having a job that allows me to engage with patients and families daily while using my strengths, knowledge and expertise to make their lives better has been nothing short of a blessing. It is a privilege that Tom has given me this opportunity to consult with parents/caregivers to help promote the ability to embrace your children/loved ones with autism and find their strengths so they can lead meaningful and healthy lives.  

 

Some fun facts about me include my love for entertaining people in our home, planting flowers and making what I refer to as “my famous mostaccioli”. I routinely make this dish for others in celebration of something good as well as to provide comfort during times of need. My favorite season is Fall where I plan every Sunday around watching the Bengals with my husband, daughter, Lucy (our dog) and our neighbors. I love to karaoke and have a good time with family and friends. On the weekends, you will find me on the field at the Miracle League as Addie’s “buddy”. I am also a proud dance mom as I watch Addie participate with her Wonders on Wheels dance troop where we are surrounded by other dancers who use wheelchairs and enjoy the comradery and celebration of their abilities.   

 

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. Take care!