We moved here from Ft. Riley, KS and Jesse was a little under 3 years old when he received his dagnosis. Moving here we had to search for all the therapists, get on waiting lists for services, go through EFMP/ECHO paperwork so we could get ABA for him. We are very lucky we are allowed $2500 a month because most private insurance companies do not pay for ABA. Right now, Jesse is in a 2 hour a day class that we are VERY happy with. We moved from Columbia to Lexington just for their preschool program for children with special needs. Jesse gets 2 hours a week of ABA and that averages about $1000 a month. We have more money we can be spending, but my lead therapist can only fit in 2 hours a week in her schedule and we have yet to find another therapist that will bill Tricare directly (SCEAP will not). Jesse is receiving a range of services from ST, OT, early interventionist, ABA, his school program, and two "social" groups. He will be starting another social/therapy group in February.
Jesse had zero spontaneous language when he was 3 years old. It seemed he could not comprehend the words we were telling him; like nothing was going in. I pushed for 40 hours a week of intensive ABA Therapy because I was sure that was the only method to recover my child from Autism. You will see, in my opinion, these kids can not handle to sit there for 8 hours a day of therapy. I wanted results, and I wanted them fasssst. However, it was Jesse who made that call because he would only work sometimes 20 minutes a day and he would shut-down because he was on overload. I was frusterated and thought we were going no where if I could only get 20 minutes of GOOD work time in. Slowly, he began to sit and work through longer and longer therapy sessions and was happier when his therapists came. (First, he would just cry and tantrum.) I decided to watch him and I would know by his actions how much he could take -- and we would take it slow.
Jesse is 4 years old now and I have completely erased all the stimming from his daily activities, he has over 150 words he uses AND understands, he is happy, bouncy, bright-eyed, and will look at you when he talks to you. He is doing absolutely wonderful and surprises me every day with his language. Even if you can't get all the therapy you may want, right away, you son will come around. It'll take a lot of hard work, but so very, very worth it when my little boy looks right in my eyes and says, "Mommy, I love you too." There is hope for these kids and it's good you caught it early. Some parents may be in denial or wait for a diagnosis because they are afraid and if those kids don't get help early or right away, they may be at a disadvantage later on in life. You have the power now to help your son because he can't help himself for now. I took it one day at a time, was always thinking about the next step, and never gave up on hope.
Good Luck,
Yolanda Bushong
P.S. If the school does not provide ABA, it is very hard and takes a long time to try and fight that school (from what I heard). I didn't think it was worth the time for me to fight them and months or years could go by with my son still not receiving those services. He was losing out not anyone else, and time isn't a luxury we can take. Instead of fighting the school, we picked up and moved to another (better) school district. It's all worth it.
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