School or Intensive Autism Therapy?
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School or Intensive Autism Therapy?
| Thu, 07-27-2006 - 12:36am |
Hello, I try to get on these boards often but I am way too busy this summer. I do have a question and looking for opinions. My son is next on the waitlist for state funded autism therapy, 35 hours a week of ABA. The problem I'm having is our school dist has a GREAT Early Childhood program 4x a week for 3 hours a day...our Birth to 3 keeps encouraging us for school but then the autism program discourages school. My son is pretty high functioning, his major issue is his lack of speech and communication. His cognitive skills has greatly improved in the last year...I just want to know what other people would do?
Thanks!

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That 35 hours counts overlap time, I think, so it might not be so hard to squeeze in the therapy and the EI. We did a full therapy schedule and basically a full school day schedule with our daughter when she was 6...of course 3 is half that age. i would say just make sure you leave his nap time alone. I lived in West Bend for a couple of years (and will be moving back at the end of this month), and we were with CAI (Pewaukee) and WEAP for awhile. Our very first choice was Dr. Crisco at ABN, but he didn't have an opening at the time. It is worth waiting a little while to try to get the provider you want...my daughter's intensive therapy is over now, but I definitely would have done things a little differently had I known then what i know now.
ABA, if done well, will not seem like work to your little guy. My daughter always ran to the door when the doorbell rang. It takes awhile to get used to..i always used to have one night per week where things would end early enough for us to do things as a family. it is an adjustment to have so many people in and out of your house, but the best opportunity you are ever going to get for your child. I wish you nothing but the best,
Heather
Hey Heather! Thanks for the message! West Bend is close! We should meet sometime when you are all settled! How old is your daugther now? How is she doing? I also feel that the aba won't be too bad for him...
Thank you for all the advise, I really appreciate it!!
Keri
We will be moving back to WI at the end of this month. (We originally moved to WI from OH to get the intensive therapy you are talking about for our dd, who is now 7) We moved back to OH this past April because my Dad was ill and my Mom had passed away 2 years ago and I didn't want him to go through it alone. Unfortunately, he passed away in May, and so we are coming back to WI. My daughter won't be eligible for the autism waiver anymore because once you move, you are ineligible forever (though we plan to apply and appeal anyhow)..she would be post-intensive anyhow. The West Bend School District (actually, the elementary school we hand-picked is exceptional)and I am so excited to get back.
My dd still has a few issues, but she is doing quite well for a child originally diagnosed with moderate autism. Her communication skills continue to develop, and we have a good relationship. Not a day goes by that I don't thank my lucky stars that we were able to get Audrey into a program up there. I mean we packed up everything and moved 600 miles away from family to get her in...because what we were doing here wasn't working.
Anyhow, I am rambling. Sorry about that. Hey, if you have any questions as you are going through this, go ahead and email me at hearengeratyahoodotcom
Best of luck to you,
heather
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