Guest guest Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 Hello and welcome & Ethan! It's good you got an early dx. My daughter Kayla is 3 and we received the dual dx in April, just days before her 2007 - 2008 IEP meeting (she's in a self-contained preschool class). Although it was noted in the IEP that she also has autism, they didn't add anything else at that time. After doing some research I asked for another IEP meeting in July, which we just had yesterday! We added 5 hours a week for a " behavioral consultant " which is really ABA (the person from the county said that the NY state board of ed doesn't recogize ABA as a methodology and won't pay for it). Plus we added an extra session of OT to help with some sensory issues, so she now gets 4 days x 30 minutes each week (she was getting 3 x 30). We also added 1 day of Play Therapy for 60 minutes each week to help with socialization. She was already getting 4 x 30 for speech and 3 x 30 for PT. With speech, we didn't add any, but the ST changed the way she does things because of the dx (for example, we're concentrating on using pictures for communication instead of working on oral motor stuff to get Kayla to talk more). Anyway, that's what we did. Of course, every kid is different, so just evaluate Ethan's strengths and weaknesses, talk to his teachers and see what they recommend with this additional dx. Hope this helps some. Ecki Mom to Kayla (DS/ASD, 4/5/04) and Laurie (PDD-NOS, 7/12/01) > > > Hi, I just wanted to introduce myself and my family. My little boy, Ethan is almost 5 years old w/DS.? This last week he was also diagnosed with ASD. I am hoping this group will help point me in the right direction of where to go from here, I really have no clue. Are there any 'special' or different?therapies specific to a child with both diagnosis', that we are not already doing?? What should I be asking for and should anything be chaged on his IEP?? He is currently getting OT/ST/and PT 1 hour a week, and 10 hours of habilitation a week.? He has another year in preschool, and next year he will be starting kindergarten. > Like I said, this is all new to me, and I don't know where to start or what we should be doing. Any suggestions or experiences would be greatly appreciated! > Sincerely > Durbin (mom to Ethan, almost 5 y/o, and Olivia, almost 13 y/o) from Phoenix, AZ > > ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 Thank you so much for your thoughts, everyone! It is very helpful when you have noidea where to start. I will definitely request a meeting to review his IEP. His last one was right at the end of last school year, so hopefully it will not be too much trouble. I know the developmental pediatrician who diagnosed him recommended we increase his ST, OT and Music therapy 2 2x/wk, so hopefully they will be able to increase his hours at school too. What is play therapy? That sounds like a neat thing. Ethan is currently in a developmental preschool through the school district 4 mornings/wk with hald typical peers, and a private preschool in the afternoon 3 days/wk. His biggest issues are with stimming. He will 'dangle' things, or play with his electronic toys all day if he is allowed. It is not hard to re-direct him, but if he is left alone, he goes right back to the stimming. It has been so hard because I feel like I need to be doing something constructive with him at all times, and I feel so guilty when I am not. Also, he has some sleeping issues at times. Especially if there has been a change in routine, he will start waking up in the night and I will hear him in his room just playing or rocking, and he won't go to sleep for hours. Needless to say, that totally disrupts his routine the next day. I am also really worried about his speech. The last 6 months he has been doing really well with talking. He uses some signs and always says the words with them. He doesn't use speech alot to come and tell me things, but as far as starting to say the names of things and objects and his ABC's and numbers,or something he REALLY wants, he is doing well. I am so afraid he will start losing this and wondering what anyone elses experiences are? He gets 10 hours a week of habilitation, which is where the state will pay for a person to come and work with your child on goals or other things for a set number of hours/wk. He also gets 15 hours/wk of respite, basically babysitting so you can have a break. Also, does anyone do any kind of special diet? I have heard there are some, but don't know the basis behind them. I am overwhelmed right now with so many new things to worry about and consider, and on top of all this, I started nursing school this week. I know this is going to be a very long year. Thanks again to everyone! in Phx, Az  Re: New Diagnosis Hello and welcome & Ethan! It's good you got an early dx. My daughter Kayla is 3 and we received the dual dx in April, just days before her 2007 - 2008 IEP meeting (she's in a self-contained preschool class). Although it was noted in the IEP that she also has autism, they didn't add anything else at that time. After doing some research I asked for another IEP meeting in July, which we just had yesterday! We added 5 hours a week for a " behavioral consultant " which is really ABA (the person from the county said that the NY state board of ed doesn't recogize ABA as a methodology and won't pay for it). Plus we added an extra session of OT to help with some sensory issues, so she now gets 4 days x 30 minutes each week (she was getting 3 x 30). We also added 1 day of Play Therapy for 60 minutes each week to help with socialization. She was already getting 4 x 30 for speech and 3 x 30 for PT. With speech, we didn't add any, but the ST changed the way she does things because of the dx (for example, we're concentrating on using pictures for communication instead of working on oral motor stuff to get Kayla to talk more). Anyway, that's what we did. Of course, every kid is different, so just evaluate Ethan's strengths and weaknesses, talk to his teachers and see what they recommend with this additional dx. Hope this helps some. Ecki Mom to Kayla (DS/ASD, 4/5/04) and Laurie (PDD-NOS, 7/12/01) > > > Hi, I just wanted to introduce myself and my family. My little boy, Ethan is almost 5 years old w/DS.? This last week he was also diagnosed with ASD. I am hoping this group will help point me in the right direction of where to go from here, I really have no clue. Are there any 'special' or different?therapies specific to a child with both diagnosis', that we are not already doing?? What should I be asking for and should anything be chaged on his IEP?? He is currently getting OT/ST/and PT 1 hour a week, and 10 hours of habilitation a week.? He has another year in preschool, and next year he will be starting kindergarten. > Like I said, this is all new to me, and I don't know where to start or what we should be doing. Any suggestions or experiences would be greatly appreciated! > Sincerely > Durbin (mom to Ethan, almost 5 y/o, and Olivia, almost 13 y/o) from Phoenix, AZ > > ? ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 " ... this is all new to me, and I don't know where to start or what we should be doing.... " Hi! I'm P., mom to Janie (8-DS/ADHD/PDD-NOS/social anxiety disorder/many sensory issues) and Katelyn (11-ADHD, some OCD and attachment disorder). I also have 2 adult biological daughters. You are fortunate to have a dx so young. Janie was dx'd with PDD-NOS at 7, during 2nd grade. It has been a challenge this past year sorting out her behaviors, trialing medications, and trying to get a good IEP. It seems that most of our Dual Dx kids have certain common issues, but each is very unique as far as what works for medications. To medicate or use natural treatments is a personal choice. Sometimes dietary restrictions help. The main thing to remember is to make sure the schools treat the autism as the primary dx. It is the autistic qualities that make learning harder in my opinion. Since you did not describe your son's symptoms I don't know what else to suggest other than take one day at a time and one issue at a time and use this group for support. You will learn a lot in general and can get a wide variety of information about specific issues that will come up. Welcome! P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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