Read more about the article Making changes to keep Gavin from hurting himself at night
Gavin / Vivint Gives Back

Making changes to keep Gavin from hurting himself at night

We've been having some issues with Gavin, particularly at night. The other day, Gavin got up about 9 PM to use the bathroom. Lizze was still reading to the kids and I was in the living room. All of a sudden, we heard a really loud thud. I thought Emmett had fallen off the top bunk but Lizze headed right to the bathroom cause she knew it was Gavin. Gavin swears up and down that he never fell. He claims he only put his hands on the floor to keep himself from falling. Everyone in the house head the thud and no one believes it was from him gently putting his hands on the ground. The problem is that for some reason, his bedtime medication is making him very sedated…

2 Comments
April 12, 2018
Read more about the article (Poll) Does your child with #Autism have trouble sleeping?
My thoughts / Vivint Gives Back

(Poll) Does your child with #Autism have trouble sleeping?

Lizze and I are facing a growing challenge when it comes to putting the boys to bed at night and having them go to sleep. Elliott and Emmett went from falling asleep within about thirty minutes of laying down, to being up until midnight almost every single night. This started during Christmas break for some reason, and we can't figure out why. I guess the reason doesn't matter as much as finding a way to fucking fix this because this is getting old. We had finally gotten Emmett through his I have to fall asleep in your bed, and then you can carry me back to mine when you go to sleep phase, around Thanksgiving. It was a glorious time, short-lived as it was. Nothing changed during the break. We…

0 Comments
January 29, 2018
Read more about the article How to easily check @VivintHome Smart Deadbolt battery levels
My thoughts / Vivint Gives Back

How to easily check @VivintHome Smart Deadbolt battery levels

In this brief video tutorial, I show you how to check the battery levels of your Vivint Home Smart Deadbolts. It's much easier than you think, and you can do it from your favorite mobile device.   This super short video is just over a minute, but you'll be checking your deadbolt batteries like a boss. ☺   https://youtu.be/JvhJrpm8hTk If you are a special needs family and need help, please visit Vivint Gives Back. This is a program that provides special needs families with the equipment to make their homes both safer, and smarter. The goal is to limit the ability of your special needs child from getting out of the house and wandering away.  The equipment is free, monthly service is based on your income. Visit Vivint Gives Back and see what you qualify…

0 Comments
June 5, 2017
Read more about the article Using the @VivintHome app to automatically make sure your doors are locked
My thoughts / Vivint Gives Back / YouTube Video

Using the @VivintHome app to automatically make sure your doors are locked

While this will apply to anyone using a Vivint Smart Home, this is aimed at Auto families. As Autism parents, we very often have to go to great lengths to ensure the safety of our kids on the Spectrum. If you are one of the many families using the Vivint Smart Home system, provided to special needs families through The Vivint Gives Back Foundation, this video is for you. In this short, Family friendly video, I will show you how to setup a custom action that checks to make sure your exterior doors are locked at any given time. This is very useful if someone forgets to lock the door. The system will check the doors at the time specified, and lock any that are unlocked. Requirements for this to…

2 Comments
May 25, 2017
Read more about the article How the Vivint Smart Home app works
Vivint Gives Back

How the Vivint Smart Home app works

I want to take a minute and share a video I put together to show how I use the Vivint Smart Home app to manage my home. Please understand that I have limited resources in which to make this video with, so forgive me there.   It's also important to understand that while this will work for any family out there, I'm directing this more to the Autism community.   As Autism parents, we need to take advantage of any tools available to help us raise our kids and keep them safe. Life is always going to be tough, but at least we can leverage technology to help us make some areas more manageable. Perhaps even gain some peace of mind.   The video below shows how the Vivint Smart…

4 Comments
May 9, 2017
Read more about the article How to get the technology needed to help keep your wandering kids with #Autism safe
Vivint Gives Back

How to get the technology needed to help keep your wandering kids with #Autism safe

It's Autism Awareness Month and one of the biggest concerns that Autism parents face is wandering. Children with Autism have a tendency to wander away from a position of safety, only to find themselves in danger. Unfortunately, these situations don't always end well and we know that the faster the intervention, the more likely we are to have a positive outcome. Having a child safely recovered is what matters most. Did you know that there is a foundation out there that wants to provide you with free Home Automation and Security technology to help prevent your child from wandering in the first place? To that end, I was to share a partnership I have built with an amazing company called Vivint Home. They have a charity division called Vivint Gives…

18 Comments
April 7, 2017
Read more about the article How automating the lights in my house helps my son with #Autism to sleep
My thoughts / Vivint Gives Back

How automating the lights in my house helps my son with #Autism to sleep

If you're a regular reader, you know about all the struggles we face in regards to sleep with two of our three kids with Autism. The biggest challenge over the years, has been with Emmett.  We've never been able to really nail down what his issues were related to, and we've only been met with sporadic success until recently.  I've spoken many times before about Vivint and how I've implemented their technology throughout our home, in order to make it safer. Since our initial installation, I've been finding more creative ways of using this tech to help my wife and I better care for our three boys with Autism.  It's safe to say that I've been inspired by my Vivint experience, and bitten by the home automation bug.  As I've made small…

0 Comments
February 24, 2017
Read more about the article #Autism families are sharing about how @VivintGivesBack has improved their lives and given them peace of mind
My thoughts / Vivint Gives Back

#Autism families are sharing about how @VivintGivesBack has improved their lives and given them peace of mind

For a while now, I've been talking about how I use the home automation/security system I received from the Vivint Gives Back Project to keep my kids with Autism safer. You can read all about my experiences by clicking here. I thought it might be beneficial for you to see what other families are saying about their experience with the Vivint Gives Back Project. As a reminder, the Vivint Gives Back Project is devoted to providing Special Needs families with peace of mind. They do this by donating home security and automation equipment that helps parents both monitor and provide a safer environment for their Special Needs Kids. Monthly service rates are based on income and range from $15 - $40/month. You can apply for a system of your own,  you clicking here. Please…

2 Comments
February 8, 2017