...for what it's worth. The state reps don't care.
Dear President Obama,
When I voted for you, your motto was, "WE CAN. WE WILL, and "CHANGE".
The TIME has come, Mr. Obama, for CHANGE in how we treat kids with special needs.
Please put education on the forefront. My state is failing our child.
We just got our son diagnosed with autism 2 weeks ago and I was about to file for medicaid with SRS-KS. My husband had to quit his job.
There is NO OTHER HELP FOR HIS REAL DISORDER IN THE STATE OF KANSAS. PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS LAW so THAT THESE KIDS and their PARENTS CAN GET HELP.
I hear mixed stuff about all the school districts. NONE PAY FOR THE SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS and NEITHER DOES INSURANCE.
THIS IS CRAZY CRAZY in the year 2009.
PLEASE HELP US.
The problem is this: My son's school told me that the only way they will or can do any type of behavior intervention is when a child is put in a "Normal" preschool-Mainstreaming. The others have peer models for the early interventions--competitive to get into. I have been arguing this issue with them for his last 2 IEP's. They cannot do it at the instructional center: they have no peer-model programs where kids play with each other in a social setting (thus allowing them to "intervene" when behavior is inappropriate).
Pretty much for early intervention ALL the schools cater mainly to severe autistics and my son is not severe, but his behavior is. The schools have no way of "dealing" with behavior issues.
He is supposed to get behavior intervention in Fall. It was supposed to be this summer but because I did not put him in a preschool---so they failed this. The have no preschool.
I reviewed the Autism program at SMSD. It is clearly only set up for severe autism. Mild autistics/ aspergers would not thrive there.
My basic understanding from their site and from parents is that they only serve kids who will never be mainstreamed...or minimally so. The mildly early diagnosed kids (who still have behavior problems) get shafted and forced to mainstream "privately" anyway--they either sink or swim. To be realistic: It is a horrible system and from what I gather it is one of those "Cannot squeeze blood from a turnip" syndromes. I have been at this for over a year, and most parents of autistic kids deal with the same issues. This district is poorly run and has it's screwed up way of spending money.
SP Ed is not on their priority list. Many teachers are not even qualified apparently. I have hired private therapists. Basically one has to have lots of money (which we do not) or a good insurance plan, which in Kansas is, at best, paltry.
None of them have helped him so far.
If it would work and I were certain it would--- I would certainly pay for legal help to get what I know would help my son thrive. I have finally decided not to...what will you get anyway.
I was hoping to get him a parah in mainstream setting. I know this would be the answer. SMSD or any school will not do this. Maybe county services will...
One on one in a social setting, peer models and intensive speech/ occupational therapy is all some of these kids need.
The SMSD instructional center offers only speech a a child's home school, but behavior will only be addressed in a private preschool.
We considered another district but apparently their early intervention special ed is backlogged and very hard to get into, Again, mainly for severe kids. We would have to go from living in a modest but nice home to living in a cramped townhouse if we moved to this district since the homes are so expensive.
GETTING THESE KIDS HELP SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE OF HOME VALUES.
Hopefully the political tide here will change on this--- as it has in so many progressive states.
PLEASE, Mr. President OBAMA, HELP AUTISTIC CHILDREN. OUR STATES ARE FAILING US BECAUSE THE SENATE AND HOUSE ARE RUNNING THIS SHOW AND THEY ARE NOT EXPERTS ON THIS VERY REAL DISORDER!
THIS KIDS CAN MAKE HUGE STRIDES IF THEY GET HELP. MANY CAN GET MAINSTREAMED. BUT IF OUR STATES LEAVE THEM BEHIND, THEY BECOME MORE OF A SOCIETY'S BURDEN TO BEAR, and THEY SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
TO NOT MAKE THIS INTO A FEDERAL LAW IS TO TAKE THEIR RIGHT TO MEDICAL CARE AND EDUCATION AWAY.
PLEASE MAKE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND SCHOOLS ASSIST PARENTS IN GETTING THESE KIDS APPROPRIATE AND SCIENTIFICALLY BACKED THERAPY.
HELP ME. MAKE THE CHANGE WE VOTED FOR!!!
THANK YOU,
Laura *******
Mom of Lucas
