My work approved of my girls condition, and I qualify for the Family
Medical Leave, in California.

Lots of questions. :confused: I can use it when a serious condition. Well, sometimes, when I leave her to go to work, she gets herself all worked up, and makes herself physically sick, and her face gets all puffy, probably anxiety. :confused: Can I use it, it is not all the time, but she does have her moments. When can I use it?? When we don't have a babysitter?? She only allows 2 people besides us to babysit her? :confused:
Her I.E.P. appointments? Dental appointments? Dr. appointments? :confused:
When can I use this, I don't want to abuse it. Today, she has a
dental appointment, and I 'shudder' about it, I know we will have to
strap her down, last time it took 2 nurses, me and a dentist for a
check up....

I want to use the FML whenever I can for her. People at work,
aren't as understanding about Autism, they don't know. When I try
to tell them what it is...always comes up differently.

How would you tell others about Autism, something that is short, and
to the point?? I know it's hard to tell people, 'cause it is such a broad diagnosis.

Any help is appreciated...

Yvette

You should go to your human resource or someone that serves as this person & request guidlines for its use. also try looking it up on the net. my understanding is you have 12 weeks a year that you can take (a day at a time if necessary) without worrying about your job. This can be for anything pertaining to whatever the dr filled out on the FMLA papers, such as: if your child had a headache & you called in 5 min. before time to clock in, your child has a dr or dentist appt, anything that concerns the child if it was filled out on the autism, I would think. I also don't think you have to have a dr excuse everytime you take off with her, for instance: she is vomiting as you said she would do at times, you call in & say she is sick but you don't take her to the doctor, she's been so many times for the same thing there is no reason to, what will he do anyway, so you just tell them she is vomiting, this should be all you need to do.
Don't take my word for law, ask for some guidelines. Your employer should have some or know where you can get them. hope this helps some & good luck

sorry I don't know how to answer the rest of your questions. they are hard ones for someone that only has textbook (very little) knowledge about autism. Maybe you could get some information on this and put in on a message board at work. good luck

Thank you, that is how I understand it also.....just wanted to make sure I'm not overblowing the issue.

Thanks for the input.

Yvette