Autism, Meltdowns And Windshield Repair Services: How To Manage These Challenging Moments With Finesse
As any parent of a child with autism knows, meltdowns can occur just about anywhere and without much warning. Over time, you may be able to recognize some of the warning signs before your child goes into full-blown meltdown mode, but if you are tired, frazzled or behind the wheel of your vehicle, you may miss those little cues. In the event that your child has a meltdown in the car and throws something at the windshield, hits or kicks the windshield and leaves it quite badly damaged, here is how you can find windshield repair services and manage this challenging moment with finesse.
First, Pull Your Car over to a Safe Stopping Point
What just happened is terrifying enough and not only does your autistic child need a moment of calm, but you need a moment to breathe and think too. If the weather and road conditions are nice, pull over a safe distance from traffic so that you can calm down, your child can calm down and you can assess the damage he or she has done to the windshield. If the damage has resulted in a crack that clearly goes from top to bottom of the windshield or from one side of the windshield to the other, your car is not exactly safe to drive right now anyway.
Next, Do What You Need to Do to Help Your Child
Since he or she needs to be calmed before you can do anything else about the windshield, take a moment to find out why your child had the meltdown and try to help him or her relax. You can save the explanations for the windshield issue until later (if your child is verbal and understands what you tell him/her). Once your child is calm, you can place a few phone calls to address the windshield repairs.
Finally, Make Four Phone Calls for Help
The first call you need to make once you and your child are both calm is to your auto insurance company. It is possible that they may cover the cost of a windshield repair or replacement, especially if you have extra insurance for instances such as this one. The next phone call should go to an auto glass repair specialist. Some of them are willing to drive out to you and install the new windshield right away or make temporary repairs so you can at least drive home or to the repair shop safely. The third phone call should go to a tow company, if you feel that there is no way you can drive the car in to the auto glass repair shop and/or you do not want to risk it because of the emotional state of mind that your child is still in. Finally, your last phone call should go to someone who can come and either pick up your child so you can deal with the car and the windshield, or someone who can pick both of you up if you have a tow coming for the car.
For more information, talk to a company like Ming Auto Beauty Center.