Someone please answer some questions

[sjvetter]

My name is Jodi. I have a 28 month old son named Ryan and a 4-month old daughter named Sophie. We live in Minot, North Dakota, and my DH is a pilot in the Air Force (flies B-52s). Anyway, about a month ago, my son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS. The doctor we spoke to told me that this is a preliminary diagnosis, that he will probably end up with a high functioning autism or Aspergers diagnosis. He has been enrolled in EI since he was a year old because he had developmental delays. Today, I called my clinic wrt a support group for people with autism. The clinician told me that most Air Force personnel whose children are diagnosed with autism are moved out, because of lack of services in the Minot area. There are only 2-3 children with Autism here, most others are denied assignment here. Right now, we have the following therapies, and since I am so new to this, I would like to know if they are adequate, and if there is some way to find out what therapies should be getting. I'm trying to get my DH to move to Barksdale AFB, because I'm scared for my son. Here are the therapies:

* 15 hours of respit care through Easter Seals
* Speech Therapy 1 hour every week
* EI Speech Therapy in home 1 hour every other week
* OT 1 hour every week

Thanks,
Jodi

[Deester]

Jodi,

Welcome. Not knowing your childs needs it's hard to say what is right. Any child on the autism spectrum can be so different from one another.

I have 2 children on the spectrum. My 6 year old girl is moderate functioning and verbal but has great difficulty expressing herself.

My son on the other hand has a mild maybe even aspergers form of autism. He is very social and very verbal at this point...it wasn't always this way.

It sounds pretty good. Most early intervention is mininal. I had it with my daughter and after she was diagnosised at age 2 it increased a bit but just that. It took along time to get 'proper' services more than a hour a week of therapies. Eventually we did get her 12 hours a week. All kids are different and depending on what the issues are??

My son has been getting early intervention since 3 months old. Started with O/T then speech was added at 10 months. He's in preschool now and still only gets 2.5 hours a day in his special education environment.

Of course it depends on what services are available to you. You can't get them if they are not available. Moving is a big consideration. Talk about all the pros and cons and check out where you would like to go if possible.

With a diagnosis you should get further.

Hope to see you around the board.

Denise

[sjvetter]

Thanks for the information. Unfortunately, there has been a MAJOR turn of events, and it looks like we may have to leave Minot and have the military move us somewhere else. My son was dropped from occupational therapy completely. Now we only have an hour a week of speech and that's it.

[Deester]

This will be your first lesson in advocating for your child. Life isn't perfect. I'm the first to tell. I think I could write a book with all the 'wrongs' of my life.

Get to know your child well. Know what he needs, a skill not learned overnight. Then when requesting say he needs it not that you 'want it'. Key words here.

Spend some well earned money and get independent evaluations to back your son's needs.

my 2cents.

Denise

[Lisa S]

Why was he dropped from OT? Did the occupational therapist drop him or did insurance not want to pay for it any longer?

[sjvetter]

The only pediatric OT working ASD in my area children was fired/quit suddenly. He was evalled by a psychologist and it was determined that he needed at least an hour of OT a week. Right now as it stands, he will not get any OT services until he turns three (in January), or until they hire a new OT (could be months, could be years). He's getting 3 hours of Speech a week, and the Speech therapist said he definately needs OT to progress with Speech.

My Dh is in the military, flies B-52s. I can live here, in ND, or in Shreveport, LA, and here's the question I have to weigh/answer:

Which is better, staying put (where we have a routine, a home, and everything else), and not getting any Occupational Therapy until after he's three (and there is a waiting list for that OT, so that's not even guarenteed)

OR

Moving to Barksdale AFB, LA, where right now there are 5 contracted OT offices, getting services right away when we get there, but causing a major disruption in our lives?