I've never felt Brady's preschool class was the right placement for him. The teacher is wonderful however she has other students to teach. She cannot follow Brady around and break everything down into discrete trials like he needs. The other children are great. The peer models are cute and they try to engage Brady. The problem is basic really. Brady lacks the language skills to learn and socialize in the classroom.
Some very key things that I keep replaying in my mind.
- What does he need to learn?
- They tune out when what they hear has no functional value to them.
- Teach functional skills...Why teach him something he doesn't need to know on a daily basis?
- Brady isn't repeating what his peers say. If he can't repeat them he can't learn from them.
- If they're not looking, they're not learning.
- When education providers are taught a little bit of different methodologies treatment gets "watered down". (his words)
- It's not good enough to just sit in circle time.
He brought up the study that supported that children who receive intensive ABA treatments improve significantly more than those who receive an eclectic program. Remember, my county invited him to speak. Also remember that my county has told us that there are studies that claim that eclectic programs are better. He has supported what all the professionals have recommended for Brady yet the school has refused to offer such services. Doesn't the irony make you want to laugh and scream all at the same time?
Let's add to said irony. Last Thursday the Parent Resource Center asked a well-respected developmental pediatrician to speak about autism. he said that the only proven effective method for teaching children with autism is ABA.
Laugh some more. Scream some more.
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