u/BBRCCS

Hey! I am a SPED educator who is male, and I am always looking for ways to give back to the disability community, and gain more experience with teaching/caring for children. However, ik that rightfully so, most parents want a female babysitter as opposed to a male one.

However, I have learned that I am (not to brag) awesome with kids, and working in SPED is 100% my passion and dream job (I am also disabled myself, autism and adhd, and I love being able to be the person that my childhood self would have really benefited from).

Anyways, just wondering if I should even attempt to be a babysitter? Is anyone ever open to having a male babysitter? (I am also fully understanding if they just want services while they are home, and I am fully open to just entertain the kids while the parents get household chores done etc).

Or is this a fully female field, and isn't something I should make myself available for. (If so, fully valid and fully understood)

Will be greatful for any advice/input! Thanks!

This is a total shot in the dark, but is there anyone here who is deaf/hard of hearing who would be willing to spend any amount of time (even if its like 30min per week, or 1hr a month) helping me learn ASL? I work in SPED, and my school has many students who are ASL users. I know some sign, enough to struggle bus through a conversation, but the students deserve better than that. I use all the learning apps etc...but thats not the same as 1-1 learning, and actual conversational practice. However, I cannot afford to take a class at this time, however, I could definitely work out some form of payment, just wouldn't be much unfortunately. I could though offer a skill swap if someone wanted me to help them learn say Braille, or some other skill that I have.

Anyways, again I know this is a shot in the dark and likely no one will be down to do this, but i thought id post in the off chance that someone is interested. So if you are interested, please feel free to comment or send me a message! I really just want to learn more so I can provide better support for students at my school who use ASL, as i also feel that all staff on a campus that has a deaf school, should know at least enough sign to hold a simple conversation.