Thankful and angry.

I feel a need tonight to talk about how thankful I am for Brady and our other children. Brady has been nothing but a joy. We love that little boy more than life itself and we'll always thank god for all the blessings he's given us.

I wouldn't say that the actual autism is what's been so hard. What's been hard is getting the proper treatment and education for Brady. We would be able to focus so much more time and energy on loving him and our other children if there was more help available. His pediatrician thinks autism isn't something that can be medically treated. She's still trying to figure out why Brady has had diarrhea for the past two years because of course diarrhea has nothing to do with autism according to her. Whatever.

Then there's the educational piece. If you have the available funds your child with autism may get all that he/she needs. Those without the proper funds are left scrambling. Don't count on the school system to give them what's appropriate. Instead they will try and fit your child in their budget, in their little classrooms whether it's the appropriate placement or not. It doesn't matter if your child can't learn in that enviroment. They aren't going to spend more to give them what's appropriate, what they are legally supposed to do. It's really sad when I look at the surrounding counties and see what services children with autism are getting. I can tell you they are much better services than what my child is getting. The only way he'll get what is legally appropriate is to take legal action. And the schools bank on the fact that most families don't have the funds to pursue such action. It's wrong wrong wrong! They would rather spend the money on an attorney than spend it on your child. Believe it people.

Sometimes in life you have to make a point. You have to take a stand and defend what is right. Sometimes you have to force people to do the right thing. That time in life is NOW! My son will not ignored or written off. I will not be railroaded. I am not scared. I am determined. There is nothing stronger than a determined mother who is defending her child. Lookout.

Ah-kul....means tickle in Bradinese!

I am so excited! Brady has been using two words spontaneously.....go and tickle. It's too cute. He can't articulate tickle too well so it comes out ah-kul. And boy oh boy does he like to be tickled. He said it to me spontaneously today while looking me directly in the eye. I thought I'd jump over the moon with happiness.

Go Brady!!!

Great workshop!

So Stafford County Schools invited James W. Partington, PhD.,BCBA to come present two workshops. Today's workshop was Teaching Language to Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. He is a great speaker. He's capitivating and easy to get. He said some very interesting points today that really struck a cord with me.



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.

Can't you just do your job?

Why can't I get people to call me back? This is life when you have a special needs child. You spend half of it on the phone when you could be spending time with your kid. You call to schedule an appt, a very important appt. They say they'll call you back. They don't. You call and leave a voicemail. Then another. And yet another. Finally someone calls you back. It's ridiculous. I am waiting on 3 different places to call me back with dates. I need to schedule an IEP and I can't because it's contigent on those appts.