My son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder today!! I have worked with children with autism and noticed the signs which is why my husband and I chose to get an official diagnosis. Although my son was diagnosed, it is not as severe except when it comes to his speech. He is getting speech therapy and I will be taking OASIS training because I am a sahm. I want some advice from any other sahm who are able to clean and implement activities, play groups and field trips for their child. I want to be the best mom possible and give my son my all to get him where he needs to be, but I realize I shouldn't be implementing lesson plans for 12 hrs a day or nothing else will get done around the house. Do any of you have a schedule I can look at? Also if anyone knows of any play groups for children in olathe or surrounding that I could take him to so he can get the social piece of learning which is so important!! Thanks mommies!!
2 seems a bit young to be diagnosed. Only speech issues. Get the speech therapy he needs and go from there. Two year olds can be quirky too. I would be interested in what you saw in him that made you get him evaluated. He is no different than he was yesterday. So just continue treating him the way you were and do no overwhelm him.
Hi A.,
First - BREATHE. You have to take care of you. Also, remember - your little guy is the SAME little guy he was before the diagnosis. Enjoy him.
My son is 6.5, in first grade, diagnosed with PDD-NOS at age 4. He started speech/pre-school at age level, is mainstreamed into a regular class and performing at or above grade level. He's quirky. He attends speech class, has OT, social skills (turn taking, role playing, etc.). One thing I've always done is take him to the park, restaurant playplaces, etc. so he could play with others. You'll see a difference sometimes in how your boy plays, but our kiddos ARE different. They experience the world differently. Their senses take in things differently. Not worse, just different. And sometimes it's really interesting and amazing how it works.
There is a great blog that I love, spanning the time from Diagnosis to current day, called adiaryofamom.wordpress.com. Her daughter had significant delays and the doctor who diagnosed her told her there was "not much hope" that she'd lead a normal life. She is mainstreamed, and is performing a solo for the holiday pagent - in SPANISH (she's NOT spanish- she learned from Dora and school) - for her 5th grade class. It's an amazing journey and one that I found VERY helpful and life changing. She has links to AUTISTIC ADULT BLOGGERS that are also very helpful to read, because they give insight into how your child's brain/thinking/processing differs from yours/the rest of the world.
One thing, please do NOT make your entire life all about training/classes/therapies. Your baby is still your baby. Let him be a baby, have a childhood, let yourselves both have a life beyond therapy. Throw milestones out the window. Your child is on his own track. He'll get there when he gets there, with help/love/support from you and your family and his/your support team.
Trust your gut - if any therapy rubs you the wrong way, question it. Same for the therapists. Stay tuned into your kiddo - he'll lead the way.
Click my name to PM me if you like. I'm happy to chat and share what I've found.
Hi mom! I also have a 2 year old diagnosed in August. It is hard to deal with the diagnosis, but good for you getting it done and so early! I don't know if you are in touch with Early Intervention, but they will help with speech as well as your private therapies as well. Ours has a special school that they will send my son to once he turns 3.
First things first, you should talk to Disability Support Services in your county so that they can help you with an advocate for your child.
Next, start the Social Security Disability process to help cover what insurances won't. We keep running out and so we have to pay out of pocket. I haven't gotten a response from SSI yet, but its in the works.
Have you gone to the Autism Speaks website and gotten the first 100 days packet? the most important thing in there for me was the paperwork to fill out and give the emergency services if you happen to have a runner.
Now, to get to more of your answers, we don't really have a schedule set up for him, but he plays most of the day and we interject ourselves as much as possible to work on the "engagement" piece so that the other things can be done.
I don't know that play groups or field trips are really all that important at this time. Well, we do like the zoo and children's museum, but other than that, he is just as happy at McDonalds as anywhere else besides the park. Remember this is an age for parallel play to start with, and with Autism they tend not to look or play with others. My son had no use for them at all, he sometimes pays attention to his sister, but that is it.
The best thing I have found is Qigong Massage. (http://www.qsti.org/) This is a method that uses the Chinese energy Meridians, the same ones as acupunture, but you just massage instead. We were fortunate that they study for it is going on in Portland so we get the best part of it with professionals, but, the results we have seen in the last 5 weeks have been AMAZING! He is talking all the time, still don't know most of what he is saying, but the practice part if very important. He is toe walking a lot less, and he is sleeping a lot better. This has actually done more for him in such a short time than his whole last year of speech therapy 2x a week!
I wish I could give you more information.
Have you considered including alternative health methods in your plan? We are working with a lot of kids who get tremendous benefit from super foods and something to offset some of the food contaminants from over processing, GMO foods and poor farming practices. It's making a huge difference in kids on the spectrum as well as those with ADHD, ODD, PDD-NOS and more.
You're right. Lesson plans only take you so far. Besides, he is young and his needs/preferences will change over time.
Also, you might get more help on the play group if you re-post that part of your question with "Olathe, KS" in the title - more people will pick up on it or have it appear if they know your area or are located closer.
You got great answers! I have nothing to add other than to second the opinion that NOTHING has changed - your baby is still your little angel - perfect and yours to cherish. So keep on enjoying him while you do what you need to do to help him. Good luck!!!
I don't have any advice as to schedules, but your local library is a great resource as far as getting him to socialize (even if it is just parallel play at this age). Most have at least one hour of story time for babies through preschoolers a week, some also have a sensory story hour for kids that might need a quieter environment. My son is 2 as well, and we started going about a year ago since he is an only child and I am a SAHM. He loves it, and it was interesting to watch him progress from hanging off my pant leg to running and playing with friends. I wish you the best in this journey, your little guy is lucky to have a mom that is so involved in finding what works best for him!
Be sure to contact Families Together, the parent training and information center for Kansas, they are great, and will be happy to help you connect with families and resources. Here is their website: http://familiestogetherinc.org/
