update on everything

[hootyhu1]

Hello all,

It has been crazy here the last month or so. My flare has seemed to die down some. I have been switched to Methotrexate.   My daughter has infact been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum and my husband is deploying in the next week or so for about 7 months. I am in the midst of a paperwork nightmare for the Navy, the school system, the insurance company and everyone else it seems too. I am trying to get my daughter into special ed program but she doesn't qualify.....she does very well on tests. That is a good thing I guess.

My big stressor is getting the stupid IEP for my daughter. Her therapists, insurance ect says that she needs it to open doors for a lot of early intervention. She can't qualify for one due to the school psychologist saying she doesn't have an educational need. Maybe I have lost my mind but if she has a hard time communicating her wants and needs, cant answer or ask questions, doesn't that have an impact on her learning?

On a brighter note, my daughter and my 6 month old son is happy and healthy. My son is hitting his milestones right on time, he also is "talking" a lot....my daughter never did that so all of this is new to me and I love it.

ok, vent over
-hootyhu

[Cheryl]

It's good to see you again Hootyhu!  It does sound as if you are buried in paperwork.  Pop in when you can and let us know how you are doing.  In the meantime, best wishes in getting your daughter's IEP, and enjoy both of those precious children while your husband is deployed.   

We have all been honoring our military personnel this week.  Sometimes we forget to honor the families like yours, who are sacrificing along with the dad or mom who is in the military.  I know it must be hard for you to manage with him away so much of the time.  We appreciate you!
Cheryl

[engy]

Oh hooty, phooey on the school psych! I'm a teacher & fight with them for kids everyday!!

If you have a doctor diagnosis she/he cannot deny your daughter an IEP! My niece is austistic & extremely bright- reads 4 years higher than her peers. Shes on anIEP for speech/lang. to work on communication and social issues. Get your paperwork from doctor, call the psych. & principal & get IEP meeting or tell them you are showing up with a child advocate.

PM me if you need to. It irritates me when some people give educators a bad name when they don't do what is right for kids!!!!!

Good luck on your new meds & of course the stress of your hubby leaving.
Glad to hear from you, Carie

[Ark mom]

Hootyhu, sorry to hear that things are not easy for you these days. 

My 3 yr old daughter just aged out of early intervention with an expressive language disorder, not tied to any other diagnosis.  When I went for a screening at the school district, she basically told me, "the only way you can get services is if your child is nonverbal and grunts without any words." Now, her speech therapy comes out of our own pocket, which we can only afford an hour session once a month. So, I feel your pain regarding your daughter.

I just started methotrexate a few weeks ago myself.  Cheers to better days ahead! 

[madderakka]

The school psychiatrist needs to be re-educated. Your child can have an IEP that addresses those issues even if she does well on tests. I belong to a Facebook group for parents of children with autism. I can invite you to it if you wish: it has a lot of good resources and wonderful parents.

There is also http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum.php this forum which is the first one I joined after my son was diagnosed.

I am sorry your husband is deploying when you have so much going on. It always seems to be at the most inconvenient times, not that there is really a convenient time to be without your spouse. Have you joined the Exceptional Family Member program?

[Meld256]

Glad to see you back around here, Hooty!

I can only imagine the piles of paperwork you're working on, between the deployment, your insurance and the school system...in your spare time, of course. 
It may take a bit more work, talk and having a meeting or two but it sounds as if your daughter is certainly due an IEP.  I wish you perserverance on that.

I want to also say that your support to your husband is as important as his military service. We sometimes do not give credit to military families as much as we should.  It takes a strong and independent person to be a military spouse and take care of everything back home. 

Hugs to you!
Melinda

[hootyhu1]

I am slowly finding support groups here. I have enrolled in the EFMP so my daughter is allowed ABA therapy even though there is no IEP in place due to the fact that she is not school age, that is the big important thing that I am happy about.

As far as the IEP goes, she test average/ low average on everything including speech, I guess that is good she has had speech therapy since she was 18 months. She is too diagnosed with an expressive language disorder and in Florida she didn't qualify for anything because "she says more than 5 words".....I'm glad Florida is so proactive

I have the medical diagnosis, her Speech eval from our private SLP, I will also have the eval from her ABA therapist so we will see. The nice thing is that the ABA therapist will go to IEP meeting with me to advocate for my daughter, that is a big help!

Than you so much for letting me vent.
hootyhu!

[susanep]

I agree with what engy said. I retired early due to my health as a special education teacher, and there is much more out there for her.

If you don't get anywhere then I would advise calling the state people. They always send monitors out to check on school systems to see if they are on track for the students and parents.

Sometimes it can be covered while  the monitors are around. I know this from what I have seen.

susanep

[Pisces24]

FYI:  I am taking metotrexate too but in spinal shot form.  I have two more to go on the 19th and 26th.