Son Rise.....?

[Guest guest]

, I want to learn more about the Son Rise program. I know a little bit

about it (what I saw in the movie that was on a couple of months ago), and I'm

wondering if there are any places that I can go near Dallas (I'm in

Rowlett....about 20 miles northeast of Dallas) where I can learn more.

Here's what I'm planning on doing, and I want your opinion about whether or not

this would be helpful. We're doing some in home ABA (verbal behavior approach)

and some in clinic ABA. I'd like to try Son Rise, but I'd like to do it with

only myself, my husband and my two girls (ages 10 & 13) to start. My girls are

really 's best social role models, and instead of having them just

" watch " while I clean or whatever, I'd like them to have something to do

with him where he's going to learn and they're going to feel successful and

helpful and great about what they're able to do with him. I know that they want

to feel connected to him again (he was VERY close to him before he lost his

social and language skills last June), and I think that Son Rise might be the

way. Now, I do not plan on giving up the in home or clinic ABA for at least

another 6 months. In six months, will either be doing 3 hours a day in

PPCD or 3 hours a day in the Callier Center's Preverbal program. I'm saying this

to point out that this will probably only be a 2 hour a day program on the

weekdays and a 4 hour a day program on the weekends.

So, with that in mind, would it be worth it to do a Son Rise program if we're

only going to do it 15-18 hours a week? Also, because of the short attention

span of the girls, would it be possible to do a Son Rise program in 15 minute

increments, with each of the family members switching off so that we each take a

shift once an hour? I think that's ideal for keeping the girls engaged, and it

lets them know ahead of time that after they give their full attention to their

brother for just 15 minutes, they'll have 45 minutes to do whatever. I'm sure

that even with homework (and school's over in 4 weeks), they can each work two

15 minute shifts in per night.

Did you develop your own plan, or did someone come out and evaluate your son and

develop a plan? I think I could devise a plan for with some guidance

once I have more information about the program. I think what I need to know is

the WAY that the program is run, and not so much the skills targeted in the

program....right?

Anyway, I'm ready to do something, and I've REALLY got to get my family

involved. I feel like we've got these awesome, built in resources here that are

totally going to waste. could be learning so much from us and instead,

we're sitting around (well, I'm not...I feel compelled to work with

....but the rest of them are) just watching others work with him, and

hoping that something works. Something's got to change, and the time is

now....so I'd appreciate anything you've got to offer with regards to the Son

Rise program. You can reply here or email me directly. Thanks so much!!

Serena