A Natick family is connecting parents and sitters caring for children with special needs in a creative way. Wife and husband team Seana Kilcullen and Jeffrey DeLuca launched SpectrumSitter, a database and messaging service enabling guardians and caretakers to find each other, in 2016. As membership increases, the couple is working to establish SpectrumSitter as an aid throughout the Metrowest.
Inventing a Resource
Kilcullen, DeLuca and their two children have been residents of Natick since their move in 2014. “We found Natick to be a very warm and welcoming place,” Kilcullen recalled. “We love it here because there is such a wonderful sense of community. The town center is always buzzing with activity!”
Kilcullen’s work matches this air of hospitality. After years of employment as a special education teacher, she transitioned into more personal, one-on-one work with students in schools and homes, which has been her focus for nearly a decade. During this time, she noticed a recurring trend among her clients.
“A lot of families reach out online with no success in finding experienced caregivers,” Kilcullen explained. “Jeffrey and I thought there had to be a better way to connect families looking for specialized care to sitters with special needs experience.”
SpectrumSitter was established to help families requiring specialized care to connect with those who have the skills to provide it. Because the couple had a specific vision for what they wanted to offer, they chose to develop and code their own website from scratch, putting in countless hours of work to make it a reality.
Seeking Sitters
and Parents
As a longtime teacher, Kilcullen understands that having multiple ways to support oneself financially as an educator is critical. SpectrumSitter can serve as a supplementary income stream, providing direct connections to local parents without the hassle of searching online or relying on in-person networking.
Through sitter profiles, individuals can search job postings lists and communicate with guardians. The profiles are free and never incur a fee.
“We are continuously looking for qualified sitters to join our sitter database to keep up with the demand for care,” Kilcullen said. “If you have experience working with children with special needs, we would love for you to join as a sitter.”
The nonprofit will consider individuals with nontraditional experience, and Kilcullen and DeLuca encourage anyone who believes they have applicable skills to sign up and create a profile. “Even if you are not a teacher, you may have the experience we are looking for,” Kilcullen said.
The site is also designed to make the process of finding sitters easier for families who require specialized childcare. There is a small annual fee to join SpectrumSitter ($39.99 per year), which is paid upfront when the parent or guardian creates their profile.
“By joining our site you will have instant access to our sitter database that is made up of experienced sitters looking for jobs specifically in the special needs field,” Kilcullen described.
Getting Involved
Kilcullen and DeLuca are focusing on building their database, as well as participating in local events to network with other organizations, sitters, and parents in Natick and the surrounding towns.
This year, SpectrumSitter has participated in the Autism Alliance Kite Day in Framingham, the New England Center for Children 5k Walk/Run for Autism in Southborough, and the Crossroads 5k and Family Fun Day in Natick, and look forward to continued participation.
“We are always looking for amazing events to sponsor or be a part of in the community,” Kilcullen said. To contact the nonprofit about upcoming events, email events@spectrumsitter.com.
To learn more about SpectrumSitter, visit www.spectrumsitter.com.
Issue Date:
July, 2017
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