A mother in central Israel has asked to place her autistic daughter in foster care so that she herself can start "a new life" with her boyfriend, Holon Mynet reported Wednesday.
The six-year-old girl, who was given the name "Re'ut" in the article is nearly nonverbal but understands simple instructions. She says a few words and expresses her wishes by means of an ipad and gestures. She eats independently and showers independently every day, and sleeps well and through the night.
Re'ut is described as a pretty, smiley, energetic, well-behaved girl who is in first grade in a special ed school, where she has integrated into the student body and made friends. In school, Re'ut receives music therapy and meets with a speech therapist. At home, she is able to play by herself and keep herself occupied with games, drawing, and lots of television.
Her parents divorced when she was very young, and Re'ut's mother kept full custody of her, while her father chose not to involve himself very much in her life. During the past two years, Re'ut's mother met a new boyfriend, who she now wants to marry.
Re'ut's mother explained to Holon Mynet that even though Re'ut is a well-behaved child who does not ask for much, she fears that caring for Re'ut will mean that she does not have enough free time and energy to build a new family, and does not want to pass up an opportunity. To this end, Re'ut's mother has asked her father to agree to place her in foster care, and he acquiesced to the request.
Social services are seeking a family in the lowlands of central Israel, so as to allow Re'ut to remain in the school where she is thriving and close enough to her mother's family to maintain a relationship with them.