What about your older child? That was what I heard from my Babies Can't Wait (BCW) service coordinator regarding my then 5 year old son. Our younger son was diagnosed by a developmental pediatrician at age 2 as having moderate/severe autism. What about my older son? Our younger son had very obvious issues with autism, but I had taken our older son to the pediatrician and a psychologist about his hyperactivity, lining things up, "sorting things", rocking, etc. I was told by these professionals that it was "all in my head." My child just had ADHD. Back to the developmental specialist in Atlanta we went. My older child was diagnosed with mild/moderate autism. It was a tough time.
So, there I was in a small city in NW Ga wondering how I was going to "figure out" what to do. I had a M.Ed. in special education, 2 small boys, and this was NOT in my scope of practice. I was teaching part-time, and my assistant principal stated, "We have an autism specialist conducting a workshop for the next few months. It is paid for. You might as well go." Between Amazon.com, the autism specialist's classes, and BCW, I muddled through those first years. I was a MOTHER BEAR. I investigated everything. I insisted I view the classroom my soon to be 3 year old would enter, I spoke to the county special needs preschool director on everything from best practices in teaching to how my "baby" was going to ride a bus. We worked with SLPs, OTs, & PTs I learned about Katie Beckett Medicaid, & I kept networking to make things happen.
11 years later, I'm the mother of 2 fabulous boys. My 10th grader is in regular education, marching band where he's the 2nd best clarinet player - and he is making As & Bs. My younger son is an 8th grader in a self-contained classroom. He is a HAPPY young man! He loves school, loves running the school store, counts money like a banker, and is answering me in full sentences. Life is good.
Dacula, GA
