Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Bartscher

Emily, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

I grew up in Brandon, South Dakota, with my parents and three siblings. We were a typical middle-class American family in the Midwest. At the age of three, I received support from the early childhood special education program to address speech and motor skill delays. When I was attending the program, I met Megan. Megan had multiple disabilities, was non-speaking, and needed assistance with all daily living tasks. I quickly bonded with her and took on a caregiving role from a young age. We went through grade school inseparable, and I loved taking her to school events and helping her participate in activities with our peers.

After graduating from high school, I spent one year at the University of South Dakota before completing the rest of my college education at the University of Sioux Falls and Augustana University. I wanted to be closer to Megan, so I moved back home and balanced my time between college and being with her. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, general education, and special education. I knew I wanted to become an early childhood teacher and work with young children.

After graduating from college, I bought my first townhome and moved out of my parents’ house. I was excited to have Megan over as often as possible, so I made sure the home was accessible. However, Megan unexpectedly passed away just weeks before I closed on the house. I was heartbroken and felt like I had lost a part of myself.

As I began my teaching career, I decided to start a small side business offering respite care, where parents could enjoy a date night while I cared for their children. I started small, as my townhome could only accommodate a limited number of kids. I opened my doors for six hours, once or twice a month, and hosted up to seven children. Three years after Megan passed, I met my now-daughter, Phoenyx, who was living in a children’s hospital where I had worked during college. She was a victim of shaken baby syndrome and was in need of a forever home. As a single woman, I was hesitant but felt a strong pull to move forward with adopting her. When Phoenyx was four years old, she moved in with me, and we began our life together as Phoenyx and Emily.

We eventually moved into a ranch-style house, and my family helped us renovate to make the home more accessible. Over the years, we’ve removed walls, updated the flooring, added wider doors, and installed a ceiling track system for easier lifting. I’ve loved advocating for Phoenyx and helping her become the strongest person she can be. She has made tremendous progress in mobility, communication, and developing her personality. It’s been a beautiful experience watching her grow into a sweet, funny, and caring young woman.

I continue to provide respite care in my home once a month. With our bigger house and a sensory gym in the basement, we can now accommodate up to twenty children. Our respite nights fill up quickly, and parents have been grateful for the break. In addition to our regular respite nights, we often offer care for individuals on weekends or during the summer. We met another child through respite care, and we are now in the process of adopting her. Soon, we’ll be a family of three, and while I feel both scared and excited, I am confident that we will be okay. This child is deserving of love and attention, and I can’t wait for Phoenyx to become a big sister.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

The biggest obstacle I faced was losing Megan. I had to learn how to live without her and start a new chapter completely on my own. Starting my teaching career was also intimidating, as there’s so much you don’t learn in college—real-life experiences are what truly help you grow and learn. Over my thirteen years of teaching, I’ve gained so much knowledge and feel far more confident than when I first began.

Adopting Phoenyx came with its own challenges, especially as a white woman adopting a Native American child. I had to learn how to advocate effectively and navigate a system that required extra diligence. Phoenyx became my daughter, and with that came the responsibility for her health and overall needs. It was a huge adjustment for me—planning her educational path, making important healthcare decisions, and managing a new schedule while focusing on someone other than myself. This experience has made me grow tremendously as a person.

There will always be bumps in the road, but I’ve learned to trust my instincts. I know I am strong, capable, and able to handle many things on my own. Leaning on our family and friends, and knowing we have support from so many different people and places, has helped our family thrive.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I work full-time as an early childhood special education teacher, serving children aged three to five with a range of disabilities, including developmental delays, autism, and cognitive impairments. I have a morning and an afternoon group, and our primary goal in the classroom is to help children learn to communicate. We are a multimodal communication classroom, meaning we use various methods: some children use communication devices, some sign, some use gestures, some point to symbols, and others use words. We honor all types of communication and love seeing students make connections with language. Over the years, I’ve also become familiar with basic braille and American Sign Language.

Typically, I work with children from the time they turn three until they move on to kindergarten, which is usually 2-3 years. I cherish the relationships I build with families and love seeing each child’s progress, not just in communication but also in adaptive behavior skills and academics. I specialize in working with children who have more complex needs, and I enjoy finding creative ways to give them access to activities. I’m passionate about learning and using augmentative and alternative communication methods, such as switches or communication devices. I also love to sing and make sure to incorporate a daily music time with my students.

What sets me apart is my dedication to supporting children with complex needs. I believe in every student and hold them to high expectations. I build strong relationships, get to know each child individually, and understand how far to encourage them. With the right support and tools, I believe every child can achieve incredible things! I collaborate effectively with my team to ensure we provide repetition and consistency, which are essential in helping these young children thrive.

I am most proud of how much I’ve grown, both as a teacher and as a mom to a child with a disability, as well as through my respite care business. People often ask how I manage it all, but when you’re following your passion, it doesn’t feel like work. I love helping individuals become the best version of themselves, regardless of their disabilities.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?

In my classroom, I have two educational assistants who are essential in keeping everything running smoothly each day. I love mentoring them and collaborating on strategies to help our students succeed. I’ve built lasting relationships with all of my former educational assistants because we share a passion for working with individuals with disabilities.

I often consult with friends to help bring my ideas to life. I’m always thinking of new projects and creating things, so it’s helpful to have friends who can either slow me down or point out aspects I may have overlooked. We’re always seeking volunteers to support us during our respite nights; the more volunteers we have, the smoother the evenings go. For those interested in working with individuals with disabilities, I offer invaluable experiences that help them grow personally and develop lifelong skills.

Pricing:

• 18.00/hr

Contact Info:

• Website: https://especially4you.wixsite.com/especially-4-you-chi/register
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Especially4YouChildCare/

Image Credits

Noel Sunne for professional photos