Base EFMP program promotes special-needs as a way of life

  • Published
  • By Dan Hawkins
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  April is Autism Awareness Month.  Championing the military support system for autism and other special-needs conditions is where Anna Dumont, Sheppard's EFMP Family Support Coordinator, comes in.


In the last couple of years, the Air Force has recognized the need to change the focus of the EFMP from a system mainly used for base assignments to one that assists the special-needs families with community support services, referrals and other services, along with community awareness.


Dumont joined the Airman and Family Readiness Center last year after the EFMP was revamped to begin the process of altering how special-needs families were being helped from a total package perspective.


Helping families cope with the stress of caring for a family member with special needs and ensuring they get the resources they need to be successful in everyday life is Dumont's primary job.


"My goal is to help families connect with resources in the area, no matter what type of special need we're talking about," Dumont said. "We want everyone to know there is support out there for any kind of situation."


For Staff Sgt. Sean McLain, a scheduling instructor with the 363rd Training Squadron, and his wife Jessica, having a not-quite six-year old son with autism can make a date night out on the town nearly impossible.


"No one really wants to watch a child with autism," McLain said. "I can't remember the last time we went out alone."


McLain's son Dylan, who was diagnosed with autism at age two, has been in the EFMP since his diagnosis. With help, he has been attending regular school since he was three years old.


Learning exactly what special-needs are can also be a challenge.


"People think autism is a disease," McLain said. "Understanding what special-needs actually means is important."


Dumont has helped bring support services to the base such as adding babysitting services for special-needs parents for the "Parents Night Out" program, swim parties and opened a book resource room at the A&FRC for special needs children, their parents and even siblings.


"A lot of times in the past, all the events were based around talking about the particular special need, like in our case, our son being autistic," McLain said. "The reality is we talk and hear about it enough. The help for us is in the actual event itself, such as babysitting or the swimming parties."


Helping EFMP families make permanent change of station moves is also on the list of services, especially in the partnering with medical services to ensure a seamless transition from one base to another.


McLain, who is about to return to the field with his upcoming move to Hill AFB, Utah, is happy the Air Force is serious about ensuring families like his are taken care of.


"The Air Force has definitely shown a lot more support over the last few years for EFMP," McLain said. "It's a big change from when we first got enrolled with the program, where we kind of felt like we were on an island. The challenge now is to get the support in the community."


One of the common misconceptions about EFMP is that it only applies to disorders like autism, Down's syndrome or muscular dystrophy. Asthma, speech and even food allergies also fall under the program and the list is expanding all the time.


"Most of our EFMP families at Sheppard are due to asthma believe it or not," Dumont said. "Autism is right behind though the second largest need for the program."


Upcoming events for April include World Autism Day on April 2nd and an informational workshop on the differences between autism and Asperger's syndrome on April 11th at 11 a.m. at the A&FRC (Bldg 962). The guest speaker will be Mr. Frank Delrio from the Helen Farabee Center and the event is open to everyone.


For more information, contact Anna Dumont, base EFMP-Family Support Coordinator at 676-4358.