Looking for ways to screen potential therapists

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

You all are such a wealth of knowledge. I've learned

so much in such a short period of time. I have a

question about therapists. My daughter receives

behavioral health services through the public system.

She doesn't qualify for any DD (Developmentally

Delayed) services because of the way our state

(Arizona) defines autism. The clinic we go through

for services is one of the better clinics in the

system but they have very little for autistic spectrum

kids.

We have tried several therapists through them, they

always claim to have a background in autism, but they

go through the same old tired routines that proves

that they don't and things quickly fall apart.

I know that conventional therapy that works for NT's

doesn't work for my daughter. What I need going

forward, is a way to screen therapists in advance and

ask the right questions so I can test their knowledge

of autism. I know this is a tall order, but does

anyone have examples of what questions to ask them?

Does anyone know of websites or books that discuss

specific therapies that are successful for those with

autism, and perhaps also therapies to be avoided?

thanks so much,

Cinder, mother of Kyla, 12 (Aspergers, Bipolar, ADHD)

[Guest guest]

This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but I " ll post it

anyway. I hired quite a few tutors/therapists with no knowledge and

trained them. I looked for outgoing people, friendly, with lots of

energy. I had them read, " Let Me Hear Your Voice, " by

Maurice and if they were hooked, we started training them.

We kept a baby monitor in the room, and tried to videotape regularly.

> Hi all,

>

> You all are such a wealth of knowledge. I've learned

> so much in such a short period of time. I have a

> question about therapists. My daughter receives

> behavioral health services through the public system.

> She doesn't qualify for any DD (Developmentally

> Delayed) services because of the way our state

> (Arizona) defines autism. The clinic we go through

> for services is one of the better clinics in the

> system but they have very little for autistic spectrum

> kids.

>

> We have tried several therapists through them, they

> always claim to have a background in autism, but they

> go through the same old tired routines that proves

> that they don't and things quickly fall apart.

>

> I know that conventional therapy that works for NT's

> doesn't work for my daughter. What I need going

> forward, is a way to screen therapists in advance and

> ask the right questions so I can test their knowledge

> of autism. I know this is a tall order, but does

> anyone have examples of what questions to ask them?

> Does anyone know of websites or books that discuss

> specific therapies that are successful for those with

> autism, and perhaps also therapies to be avoided?

>

> thanks so much,

> Cinder, mother of Kyla, 12 (Aspergers, Bipolar, ADHD)

[Guest guest]

This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but I " ll post it

anyway. I hired quite a few tutors/therapists with no knowledge and

trained them. I looked for outgoing people, friendly, with lots of

energy. I had them read, " Let Me Hear Your Voice, " by

Maurice and if they were hooked, we started training them.

We kept a baby monitor in the room, and tried to videotape regularly.

> Hi all,

>

> You all are such a wealth of knowledge. I've learned

> so much in such a short period of time. I have a

> question about therapists. My daughter receives

> behavioral health services through the public system.

> She doesn't qualify for any DD (Developmentally

> Delayed) services because of the way our state

> (Arizona) defines autism. The clinic we go through

> for services is one of the better clinics in the

> system but they have very little for autistic spectrum

> kids.

>

> We have tried several therapists through them, they

> always claim to have a background in autism, but they

> go through the same old tired routines that proves

> that they don't and things quickly fall apart.

>

> I know that conventional therapy that works for NT's

> doesn't work for my daughter. What I need going

> forward, is a way to screen therapists in advance and

> ask the right questions so I can test their knowledge

> of autism. I know this is a tall order, but does

> anyone have examples of what questions to ask them?

> Does anyone know of websites or books that discuss

> specific therapies that are successful for those with

> autism, and perhaps also therapies to be avoided?

>

> thanks so much,

> Cinder, mother of Kyla, 12 (Aspergers, Bipolar, ADHD)

[Guest guest]

This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but I " ll post it

anyway. I hired quite a few tutors/therapists with no knowledge and

trained them. I looked for outgoing people, friendly, with lots of

energy. I had them read, " Let Me Hear Your Voice, " by

Maurice and if they were hooked, we started training them.

We kept a baby monitor in the room, and tried to videotape regularly.

> Hi all,

>

> You all are such a wealth of knowledge. I've learned

> so much in such a short period of time. I have a

> question about therapists. My daughter receives

> behavioral health services through the public system.

> She doesn't qualify for any DD (Developmentally

> Delayed) services because of the way our state

> (Arizona) defines autism. The clinic we go through

> for services is one of the better clinics in the

> system but they have very little for autistic spectrum

> kids.

>

> We have tried several therapists through them, they

> always claim to have a background in autism, but they

> go through the same old tired routines that proves

> that they don't and things quickly fall apart.

>

> I know that conventional therapy that works for NT's

> doesn't work for my daughter. What I need going

> forward, is a way to screen therapists in advance and

> ask the right questions so I can test their knowledge

> of autism. I know this is a tall order, but does

> anyone have examples of what questions to ask them?

> Does anyone know of websites or books that discuss

> specific therapies that are successful for those with

> autism, and perhaps also therapies to be avoided?

>

> thanks so much,

> Cinder, mother of Kyla, 12 (Aspergers, Bipolar, ADHD)