Hi!
question for parents of kids with higher functioning forms of autism:
How did you come to the point when you relaized that you needed in-home help?
Were you nervous about having strangers in your home with your child?
What kind of criteria did you use to find the help that you needed, and how did you arrive at those criteria?
How has your experience been?
Hi Jan.
Liam slowly worked through all his issues at his own pace. He "relearned" his letters and numbers (which he seemed to forget after his regression.) He learned colors and shapes, songs, finger games, etc. However, his verbal abilities were minimal. I had initially thought it would catch up as well. We did flashcards and videos to try to help him develop language to no avail. When it bacame clear that we could not address this issue ourselves, we contacted the school district.
I was nervous about the team coming to my home. I was worried about being judged for calling so late in the game. I was more than pleasantly suprised by the folks who came. I was impressed. They laughed when they first walked in our door as our living room has become the kids room. We have a self inflating jumper, tricycles, feathers, a large tool set, a piano and a small set of drums. They said that it looked like a PT therapy room with a little music therapy added in. There was no judgement. In fact they complimented us on the progress Liam has made. I showed them a video of the "darker days" a little less than a year ago....and they were shocked at the progress. They even asked what therapies we had done with him. We simply engaged him as much as possible.
Laim will begin school in the fall. It has been a harrowing emotional experience for the rest of the family. We worry about our little man being on his own at school at 3.5. But I think it is best for him. In fact....I kick myself every day for not defying his doc and calling the school district sooner.
Good luck with your decision. I can relate. I was there...and still am.
PS. Edited for typos...and lots of them!