RE: evaluation info/Dr. Pivalizza

[Guest guest]

I just read below Dr. Pivalizza's name mentioned. I have to tell you that we

saw Dr. Pivalizza a few years ago (second evaluation for my daughter and first

for my son). I felt comfortable with her and she did order a lot of bloodwork

for my daughter despite some hesitation regarding my requests.

Also, after my daughter received about a year of ABA and Dr. Pivalizza learned

of her progress in the program, she requested some of our video tapes and made a

presentation to the interns. She also asked me to speak with some of the

interns about ABA when I was there for my son's evaluation.

Aliza

wrote:

Thank you so much to all of you for all the EVAL feedback. I just

joined this group and I have already benefited greatly!! I love the

honesty as well as the wisdom of each of you!! Keep it coming!!!

________________________________

From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

[mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of Dr.

Graham-Garza

Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 8:25 PM

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

Subject: Re: evaluation info

You're lucky. Our schools in the greater Houston and surrounding areas

don't come close to doing as thorough a job as what you described. In

my opinion, they fight the " spectrum " diagnosis because the kids can

acquire a great deal more services with the label. For one of my boys

we had a PDD-NOS label by a Developmental Pediatrician and the school

refused to accept it. My other son they agreed is severly autistic, yet

would not give him a place in our district's autism program. Anyway,

consider yourself lucky!!

Re: evaluation info

In a message dated 4/19/2006 3:57:38 P.M. Central Standard Time,

alicia.taylor@... writes:

Another person recommended we do the full evaluation at Texas

Children's (we

live in Houston). He would be seen by an OT, Speech, psychologist,

developmental ped, and neuro-something?.

My son had a comprehensive evaluation done at TCH in the Meyer

Center for

Developmental Pediatrics. I think it took at least 3 to 4 different

visits to

be seen by all the different evaluators; developmental pedi, PT, OT,

ENT,

psychologist, we didn't see a speech path because my son had already

seen

several. If you want to know about weaknesses versus strengths you

may just want to

get a referral to see a neuropath. Tell them what you want to test

for and

why. I had Aetna at the time and insurance paid for everything, we

just had to

pay our co-pay at each visit but that was about $25.00 each time. If

you want

to go the neuropath route, ask for an appointment with Penelope

" Penny "

Pivalizza. Her secretary's name is Diane, call .

R.