Here's a California website that has answers about home modifications, assistive technology, etc. etc.
Assistive technology can be a great help if the kids are nonverbal. Behavior is communication, and behavior problems usually ease up when children are able to communicate their wants and needs effectively.
The kids might also have sensory processing issues. Occupational therapists can help with that, but you can try this online checklist to systematically identify over- or underresponsiveness in all the various senses. When I understood my son's sensory issues, his behavior got much better.
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processin g-disorder-checklist.html
Finally, has the case worker ever mentioned respite care? If not, here are some places that may be able to help you get the information you need:
http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/respite.html
Hang in there, and just ask if there's anything else you're wondering about. I'll be thinking of you.
Hello and welcome. I'm sorry things are so rough for you, you are definitely going through a lot.
They are 4 years old do they not go to school? Is that not helping at all? Just the break for those hours is enough to save my sanity. Do they go to some sort of class for autism? Has anyone even offered that to you? I agree something doesn't sound right if they are getting that much behavioral therapy and there is no change. I agree with moving if that's at all possible. You might find a house to be much better if you can get one. We did live in a townhouse but we lived on the end and ours was 2 stories next to one that was 3 stories. So my living room was next to their garage. So no one complained about the noise.
I don't live in CA but i did a search on Los Angeles county and housing rights for persons with disabilities. this site might be worth a look over. http://www.disabilityrightslegalcenter.org/ It might be able to tell you what your rights are.
Any help please?
My twins are diagnosed with PDDNOS, and can scream/severly tantrum for eight hours at a time on bad days. Our latest apartment luckily is isolated from the rest, sound proof, and has double paned windows. However, we can't walk outside our apartment to the elevator to get into our car during normal hours without getting noise complaint notices - even when the kids aren't loud at all we still get notices on our door. I can't seem to find the right living situation for us due to harrassment from neighbors or management. I get friction and problems everywhere I go instead of support. For instance, the management does not want to do reasonable modifications in our apartment even though I and the doctor filled out their requested forms. Now, the management is trying to find ways to get rid of us, and will not tell us how long the approval for disability modifications may take before the maintanence comes to put some shelving and locks up on the cabinets and front door. I'm getting the run around and a lot of resistance. What housing options or grants do families have with children of autism? Does anyone happen to know what tenant with disabilities rights protect us federally/state/county (we live in Los Angeles County)?
Another issue I'm unclear about is that for over two years we have tried four different behavioral agencies. The one now provides 7 hours 5xs a week which, is a lot of behavioral hours. However, after two months of consistent behavioral therapy there has been very little progress if any. How long do we keep giving this agency a chance to change their behavior before thinking of trying a different one?? They are almost four years old, and it is important to get them to a functioning manageable point as soon as possible. With very little progress for over two years of trying for improvement - I'm afraid they'll be getting more and more set in being the way they are for years and years to come?
Our lifestyle has been severly nonfunctional for some time now. I ended up with a chronic condition being fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue which, the doctor is worried may turn into lupus. I'm feel terrible all the time, but am afraid to tell anyone that works with us just how serious our situation is for fear that my children may be taken away. Can my children be taken away because of my illness? I have fought for them and provided every possible thing I can possibly do for them since day one even when I can barely get out of bed. My doctor prescribed pain medicine because of the intense pain on a daily basis which, is the only thing to help get through the day. I have searched and searched for help from writing to Nanny 911, Dr. Phil, Oprah - you name it - it's been done, but the results have been dead ends. I'm falling deeper and deeper through all this while the children are tougher than tough still. Over the last year, I have asked for them to be placed in a special foster or out of place home until I physically rehabilitate - find a stable home environment, and a fairly understanding/flexible job so, I do not get worse and can put my energy to being stronger for myself and them again like I used to be. This is not what I want to do, but I don't know another way to make it all right. However, I am told that there is a waitlist for special needs foster homes which, may have a year waitlist. That they may only have openings in other states when openings do happen. In the end, the people that decide told me that there could be more home support starting soon. I'm financially broke from paying high rent, buying diapers and pull ups, special dietary food for them... My days are filled with trying to make the home more tailored to their needs, working with managing the team of therapist, school issues, on and on as I'm sure many of you can relate to. I'm meeting with the case worker in a week. The case worker has mentioned already that all in home options must be exhausted before the children are placed in a home which, could take a year. She mentioned having other behaviorist, but as I mentioned this has been done time and time again. I have done all of what they have suggested for the children, but nothing seems to be working. I'm at my wits end, and don't know how to speed up the process or have the case worker realize that the children need 24/7 specialized care for their struggles almost every minute that they face. They do not have awareness of dangers, and are physically exhausting due to their sever tantrums. Therefore, they do need a specialized home, but how do I get through trying to get the workers to understand this and really open this option up? Help??
I can't even imagine the stress that you are enduring right now. I am not familiar with the resources avaiable in California, but hopefully there will be other who will respond who will be able to help with more local information.
If your girls have not made progress in two years with therapy 7 hours a day and 5 days a week, I would say that there is a problem. My son was known to scream for entire days when he was two and three years old, but by the time he was approaching four years, his tantrums were decreasing greatly.
I am so sorry that there is no help available to you for your addiction problems. It is very brave that you admit your problem, and are looking for help.
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What housing options or grants do families have with children of autism? Does anyone happen to know what tenant with disabilities rights protect us federally/state/county (we live in Los Angeles County)?
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