Image of a newspaper titled Real-Life Stories, article titled Change is Just a Mindset with E F M P. By Tech. Sgt. Johanna Achey, Air Force Special Operations Command, 7/18/2011. HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- I have always believed that change is synonymous with the military lifestyle. It is not an easy task for a military family to maintain a state of normalcy while juggling moving, deployments and T D Ys. For any military parent, the uncertainty of established programs for family members and the apprehension of adjusting to change can be overwhelming. But it can be especially challenging when moving with a special needs family member. I can strongly attest to the joy and pains of relocating with a child with special needs. My son has autism. A couple of months ago, my husband and I embarked on our P C S journey from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., to Hurlburt Field, Fla., with our six-year-old son Sean. The reality of the move did not register until I was researching doctors, schools and child care centers. Questions of doubt blazed through my mind. I wondered if I would be able to find appropriate accommodations for my son or if the base youth center would be able to provide support or if he would be accepted by other parents and children. A majority of the questions I had subsided once I established contact with Ruthy Srun, Hurlburt Field Airman & Family Readiness Center Exceptional Family Member Program manager. She researched schools and services and established initial contact with Darryl Rice, Hurlburt Field Youth Center School Age Program coordinator. We currently attend E F M P support group meetings and participate in special events, and it helps us to meet other families in similar situations, network, and enjoy ourselves as a family. The valuable lesson I will be able to pass down to my son is a quote by Mary Engelbreit that I have always found befitting: 'If you don't like something change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.' Now, that I reflect back on the anxiety of the move, I can honestly say that change is not bad. It is just a mindset. Original Source http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123264311