So after we received our son's diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Receptive speech delay, and sensory integration disorder, we began the process of finding the right fit for our son to receive intervention. There are so many "therapies" out there it seems to choose from, but when we actually were investigating all of our options they seemed limited. Our son did qualify for 4 days of preschool with all intervention services provided (OT, speech, behavioral intervention, social skills) in the classroom. Our experience for the past 2 years has been amazing! We are fortunate to have a group of therapists, teachers, and specialists that I can obviously tell have come to love our son. He goes to his preschool class 11 hours per week. He has thrived in this environment. We have had some setbacks with some changes that brought about some regression in the classroom, but the team has intently focused on those areas with my son.
The world of private interventions was even more difficult to navigate. As I have said in the previous post, I am a therapist that works with Autism Spectrum Disorders. I have given many families resources for intervention. When I began navigating this world of insurance, etc.. I found it daunting. Our insurance happens to be self-funded which means it does not have to follow state mandates for mandated services. For example, ABA therapy in Colorado is supposed to be covered (mandated) by insurance companies; however, our insurance because of the stipulation above will not cover any of it. ABA was the top recommended intervention for our son. I had done a lot of research into the different therapies, and at his age and developmental level, it seemed like our top priority as well. However, without insurance coverage we were looking at 2,000/per month private pay. Who can afford that? So I looked into several other options, child specialist counselors, programs, etc.. I have not been able to find a good fit for my son on the individual level yet. Then someone mentioned to me about an ABA certification program at University of Colorado/Denver. I looked into it and decided I was going back to school to learn the therapy/intervention that is backed by research and effectiveness. So I am in school again.
In the midst of that whole process, I began taking my son to occupational therapy. I never knew much about OT until we began. It is an amazing therapy that focuses on the neurological system and regulation in order for a person to participate in daily functioning successfully. My son and now my daughter have benefited so much from their "sensory diet." Click here for a short description.
We have also began looking into other developmental therapy models and found the Rocky Mountain Autism Center. They work from a SCERTS model. We are beginning this in the Fall. They provided group and individual therapy. The individual therapy is great because the desire the family to be included in all sessions (even siblings).
And then there are the things we have been implementing in our home to help our little guy be more comfortable with life. We have implemented picture schedules, teaching play dates (with our very supportive friends), structured outings with lots of preparation, etc... "I am Jake: My Life on the Autism Spectrum" has some of these things included in the book.
So for the past almost 2 years we have been trying our best to navigate the early intervention world. My husband and I are always questioning the balance (how much to be doing at one time, Not enough vs. too much). It is hard to determine. We have read the research on the success of early intervention for long term adaptability, but in the day-to-day it is still difficult to balance.
What has been your experience in navigating the therapy world with your child? I would love to hear from you!
2 things parents desperately need in a situation like this are education and patience. As a Father with no knowledge of anything related to the Autism spectrum (except for having watched Rain Main), its hard to know what to do. I will tell you one of the biggest dangers is thinking that every behavioral issue is just something that needs to be addressed with discipline. Nothing could be further from the truth, and that is coming from a parent who believes passionately about the concept of discipline. So job #1 is getting educated about your child's condition and working to understand what is going on inside your child's head!
ReplyDeleteAt times it has been frustrating, but I can say that my journey with Luke (really our family's journey) has also provided me a wonderful opportunity to get to know Luke better. I have realized, maybe too slowly, how much I need to invest in learning about him. But what a joy this has been! What greater blessing can there be but delving into the innerworkings of your child and seeing how he or she ticks! And then learning to respond and help in more appropriate, beneficial ways. I love every moment with Luke, and if it were possible maybe I even love him more because of his diagnosis. His is an extraordinary, amazing little man and I treasure Him so much as God's gift to us.
Thomas Paine once said, "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only that gives everything its value." Having difficulties in life makes you appreciate things all the more. Putting work and blood and sweat and tears into something makes it way more valuable to you. I think thats what Paine was getting at, and he was referring to the American Revolution. Life with Luke has maybe caused me more work, but I praise God for that. And he is that much more dear to me because of it.