She is a young mother taking full-time university classes — and at the same time, caring for a four-year-old daughter with special needs.
Jeanelle Mandes admits it can be a daunting and frustrating challenge.
Last June, she learned her daughter has autism spectrum disorder.
Mandes says her first reaction was one of shock, denial and then blame.
Today, she organized a World Autism Awareness Day event at the First Nations University of Canada’s Regina campus, where she is taking Indigenous Studies.
Her young daughter was with her. Sharlize was running around, laughing and, at times, shreaking — but generally having a very good time.
Mandes says her daughter is also subject to outbursts and fits of anger. She says that can bring about some ugly stares from people who just don’t understand.
“And that is when it hit me . . . . I am always going to getting to be getting a lot of stares with my daughter and I have to accept that — because there are times when she has those little episodes and I just got to learn how to deal with it.”
Mandes is dealing with it by tapping into the resources and experts available to her through the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. Her daughter is now attending a special needs day care, while she is doing well in her studies.
She adds there is little help or support for people in a similar situation on her home reserve near Prince Albert.
Mandes says she decided to organize the awareness event at FNUniv because there were no other events being held in Saskatchewan, even though this is World Autism Awareness Day.
Autism affects about 2% of the population — although its numbers have increased dramatically over the last decade, largely because of better testing methods.
It is not a mental illness — but rather, a disorder that affects the way the brain receives and processes information. It often leads to communication problems, repetitive behaviour, and in a few cases, absolute brilliance in abstract thinking and memory.
The 1988 film “Rainman” starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise featured the story of an autistic young man and his brother. The movie won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.