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So true and well written. As aspergers and autism diagnoses have risen.. Diagnoses of Mental Retardation has gone down.

Depression is indeed an issue with our kids..young and old

Huggs to you..

-- ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...

I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...

At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out...

When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance...

The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I’m sure it’s not.... it’s just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger’s kids...

As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger’s... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I’m sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don’t want to apply that label either... that would mean they’d have to do something about it...

I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn’t want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically?

With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can’t make a difference... Mostly I think I’m just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>

I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me...

? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability- last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC

Carm Cole

Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~

Photography

http://www.pbase.com/carmcole

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Wags! Wags! Wags!

Lowry

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."

Author Ben

From: 8GR8CATS@...Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:30:16 -0400Subject: ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...

I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...

At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong...

writes:

My story is similiar yet very different.

My grandson was recently diagnosed with Aspergers, at 2 & 1/2.

Both my son, ( grandson's dad ) and my husband, looked seriously at the criteria for diagnosis and both recognize and admit they too are aspergers.

From my husband's point of view, he said he is glad to know why he is the way he is, and why life has been so difficult for him...having said that he has held down a job for over 35 yrs until the company folded 5 yrs ago and went on to continue to work at different jobs, only leaving them for something better. I have alwyas been able to count on him that way.

From my point of view, I have experienced a lot of healing since this realization.....the hurtful things that have been said over the years , I now realize were not personal and that when he would apologize afterwards and say he didn't meant those things, I now know that is the truth. In the few short weeks since this all unravelled , he is making a real effort to recognize and deal with his anxieties in a better way.

For my son, I was very angry and upset that he had to go through all the crap he went thru growing up because they didn't know about aspergers back then....he got labelled ADHD and even with that, he was the only kid I knew like that and there was next to no support for him or I.

From my son's point of view, he is so relieved that his son will get the resources he needs to become the best he can be. My son has held down jobs ever since I can remember , only leaving to go to something better.

Both my hubby and son have a hard time behaving well in public, but now both are aware and are trying really hard to deal with their social anxiety. Their misbehaviour would be acting silly in public and in hubby's case, getting upset with me, because he was upset at being in public. That is changing big time in just a few short weeks. Hubby is now taking Rescue Remedy a Bach Flower holistic remedy for anxiety and it is really helping him bigtime. My son is afraid to take anything at all because he is a professional driver and doesn't want to endanger his license....he has a perfect driving abstract and is happy working alone. Hubby will try to get through to him that its not a drug and its not going to be a problem to take Rescue Remedy.

AS for grandson, big difference in social behaviour last time we all went out to dinner, his mom and dad are working hard at learning as much as they can. They are putting him in Nursery School fulltime this fall because he needs the structure and the social interaction.

The more I read and learn about Aspergers, the more I see that no two people are the same.

My beloved aspies have been luckier than most, I think.

And from my point of view where my son is concerned....I feel vindicated....and everyone who said that he was that way because I was a poor excuse for a mom and disciplinarian owe me a mega apology. That's all i heard when he was growing up....."let me take him , I' ll turn him around and give him back in a couple of weeks fixed "...or "just spank him" .....or " my kid doesn't act like that" ad nauseum , as nauseum

My heart goes out to all of you still raising special needs kids, and you are all in my thoughts and prayers.

P. S. .....my daughter, older sibling to my son.....has had a change of heart for the better where her brother is concerned...about time !!!!!!!!!!!! she was for want of a better word "normal" and was so angry at her brother, and at me becuase I didn't make him behave normally....strangely enough, never blamed hubby for any of it...just me..............

hugs

brenda

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I'm so sorry you had to deal with the problems from not getting an

accurate diagnosis. Some doctors/ professionals just don't even seem to

know what to do now.

But, I'd have to disagree that it's not on the rise -- it is, and it's

pervasive. Until they find out why, it's going to continue. It's not

just better diagnosing, because there are still plenty of ignorant

people out there (professionals, supposedly) who don't understand

autism or asperger's or any of it, but an increase in children dealing

with it overall.

One thing I've definitely seen is that schools don't want to spend as

much money on the kids, in some districts, if they can get away with

it. They aren't as "bad" as others and therefore in their eyes don't

deserve/need the services that are so tight as it is. It's really sad.

My son's been dx'd for 2.5 years now, and we still fight to get what he

needs. A dx definitely helps, don't get me wrong, but the schools still

don't make it easy.

Carm Cole wrote:

I

find myself

envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your

children...

 

At

least you

can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of

wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being

able to

figure it out...

 

When

I tell you

all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been

diagnosed... is

despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as

this major

pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then

blended

family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home

would not

allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because

of his

ignorance...

 

The

media would

have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I’m sure it’s

not.... it’s just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in

the

2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic

spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger’s kids...

 

As

a retired

teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids

slipped

through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding...  I

can actually look back and I know which

ones were Asperger’s... one of my former students who was definitely AS-

committed suicide... in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a

classroom

and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year

teaching... When

my students heard this young man was joining our class they were

distraught

because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the

younger

brother also AS I’m sure... and again no Dx... no

understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked...  Most

of these kids should have been

classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don’t

want to apply that label either... that would mean they’d have to do

something about it...

 

I

sit here and

cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? 

Had they never heard of it?  I have to assume

that is the reality of

it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn’t want to

have

to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when

they were

succeeding academically? 

 

With

a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired...  I

am

honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if

I can’t

make a difference... Mostly I think I’m just so angry about

sensing

something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the

door...

My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO

CLUE

how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert

with

agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone

to attend a 50th

HS Reunion... <SIGH>

 

I

just spent

the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and

mid-July-

mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all

so

fresh and upsetting to me...

 

? about Social Security Eligibility... Social

Security

Disability- last January after my step-son had quit yet another job...

my DH

took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and

subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and

all... his

main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC

 

Carm

Cole

Cats

never strike a pose that isn't photogenic.  ~Lillian

Braun~

Photography

http://www.pbase.com/carmcole 

 

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some people can get resources.. others can't.. Unfortunately you have to fight tooth and nail to even get a govt dept to come to your house and then you are STILL denied help even though your 18 yo sat on the floor with his head in his lap and WE answered all the questions...sorry... still ticked off about that one... Toni

( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...

I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...

At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out...

When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance...

The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I’m sure it’s not.... it’s just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger’s kids...

As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger’s... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I’m sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don’t want to apply that label either... that would mean they’d have to do something about it...

I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn’t want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically?

With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can’t make a difference... Mostly I think I’m just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>

I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me...

? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability- last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC

Carm Cole

Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~

Photography

http://www.pbase.com/carmcole

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It took even longer in Canada for Aspergers to be recognized and my dd didn't receive her DX until she was 14 yrs old (2002), 3 yrs (1999) after my identical twin boys were both DX with HFA NOS, which was later modified to 2 separate DXs, 1 son Aspergers (modified DX 2001), the other sons DX unchanged. Our pediatric neurologist said he couldn't DX our other son Aspergers because of his speech delays. Our boys were 3 yrs old when originally DX.

Interestingly enough our pediatric neurologist on one of our follow up apts looked at my dh and said "You realize you have Aspergers as well, don't you, but I am a pediatric neurologist and you are too old for me to DX now, but if I had saw you when you were little I would have never DX you as hyperactive, I would have DX you as Autistic."

He offered to refer my dh to someone who could DX him but my dh didn't see the need of it as he had coped his whole life with it and done pretty well. It is on my dh medical file and both our family doctor and my boys social worker agree he has it, but he has no official DX.

Also although my dd received an official DX it changed absolutely nothing for us in the way of services. The DX did help her to understand why she was different socially, and that made it worth it. Our provincial social services are so overwhelmed that in order to receive help your DX must be of some severity and hers is mild partly because she is female and partly because she was already 14 when DX. Also we were already receiving services for our twin boys so they felt it wasn't right for us to access anymore funding for our dd.

Lots of services have been unavailable here such as ABA therapy, and social skills groups. We have been fighting for years now for these services to be created for our children so they can improve and the province is starting to create them, but my boys were already 7 before they were even started. In 2006 our more severe son finally started receiving ABA services through the school system. He was 9 1/2 yrs old at the time. Our other son receives no ABA services as he is not severe enough to qualify.

So we have done everything on our own for our dd and have made many mistakes along the way, and several things alone for our twins as well. I so totally agree with you. I would have loved to have known then what I know now, when I was raising her. Hindsight is definitely 20/20.

Marie

Helping you earn $ at home

www.freedom4families.com

( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...

I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...

At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out...

When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance...

The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I’m sure it’s not.... it’s just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger’s kids...

As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger’s... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I’m sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don’t want to apply that label either... that would mean they’d have to do something about it...

I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn’t want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically?

With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can’t make a difference... Mostly I think I’m just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>

I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me...

? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability- last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC

Carm Cole

Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~

Photography

http://www.pbase.com/carmcole

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Marie I am in Ontario Canada and received lots of services in my sons daycare

He is now in a self contained classroom and gets OT as well.. As specialized IEP for his aspergers

Are you in Ontario? My son qualifies for disability and gets funding for that too! Is there any way I can help you navigate the system a bit? Not sure what province you are in.

I know it can be tricky and things vary from province to province.. But I am here to help if I can.

HUGGS

.. Mom to Chase and several more

-- Re: ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...

It took even longer in Canada for Aspergers to be recognized and my dd didn't receive her DX until she was 14 yrs old (2002), 3 yrs (1999) after my identical twin boys were both DX with HFA NOS, which was later modified to 2 separate DXs, 1 son Aspergers (modified DX 2001), the other sons DX unchanged. Our pediatric neurologist said he couldn't DX our other son Aspergers because of his speech delays. Our boys were 3 yrs old when originally DX.

Interestingly enough our pediatric neurologist on one of our follow up apts looked at my dh and said "You realize you have Aspergers as well, don't you, but I am a pediatric neurologist and you are too old for me to DX now, but if I had saw you when you were little I would have never DX you as hyperactive, I would have DX you as Autistic."

He offered to refer my dh to someone who could DX him but my dh didn't see the need of it as he had coped his whole life with it and done pretty well. It is on my dh medical file and both our family doctor and my boys social worker agree he has it, but he has no official DX.

Also although my dd received an official DX it changed absolutely nothing for us in the way of services. The DX did help her to understand why she was different socially, and that made it worth it. Our provincial social services are so overwhelmed that in order to receive help your DX must be of some severity and hers is mild partly because she is female and partly because she was already 14 when DX. Also we were already receiving services for our twin boys so they felt it wasn't right for us to access anymore funding for our dd.

Lots of services have been unavailable here such as ABA therapy, and social skills groups. We have been fighting for years now for these services to be created for our children so they can improve and the province is starting to create them, but my boys were already 7 before they were even started. In 2006 our more severe son finally started receiving ABA services through the school system. He was 9 1/2 yrs old at the time. Our other son receives no ABA services as he is not severe enough to qualify.

So we have done everything on our own for our dd and have made many mistakes along the way, and several things alone for our twins as well. I so totally agree with you. I would have loved to have known then what I know now, when I was raising her. Hindsight is definitely 20/20.

Marie

Helping you earn $ at home

www.freedom4families.com

( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...

I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...

At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out...

When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance...

The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I’m sure it’s not.... it’s just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger’s kids...

As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger’s... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I’m sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don’t want to apply that label either... that would mean they’d have to do something about it...

I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn’t want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically?

With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can’t make a difference... Mostly I think I’m just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>

I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me...

? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability- last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC

Carm Cole

Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~

Photography

http://www.pbase.com/carmcole

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Thanks

I am in New Brunswick and services here are poor to non-existant, unfortunately. We fought through our local Autism society for ABA and when the province finally agreed to implement it they placed an age cut off at 6yrs old, my boys were 7 at the time. So the services that we all had been fighting for, for almost 5 yrs almost none of us could even receive.

We have IEPs in school and they have changed the format of those 3 times in the last 6 years so they the methods and resource teachers end up spending more time learning how to fill out the new paperwork then actually working with the kids.

We have considered moving to another province but ruled that out because when we did even a short move from a small town to a larger city to access more services for our 3 children it was very hard on all of them.

The move has improved things for all our kids for certain and I don't regret it although it was very hard on us financially as we were in subsidized housing and now are not. Tripled our rent but the waiting list here for subsidized housing is over 2 yrs and we couldn't wait that long to move, plus the housing area is NOT the best to be raising your children in, if you know what I mean.

We do get the federal disability credit for our twins which helps for certain.

Marie

Helping you earn $ at home

www.freedom4families.com

( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...

I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...

At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out...

When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance...

The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I’m sure it’s not.... it’s just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger’s kids...

As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger’s... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I’m sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don’t want to apply that label either... that would mean they’d have to do something about it...

I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn’t want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically?

With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can’t make a difference... Mostly I think I’m just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>

I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me...

? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability- last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC

Carm Cole

Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~

Photography

http://www.pbase.com/carmcole

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Hi We are in Ontario, and I would love to know where to go for services! My 6yo got diagnosed with DCD and Verbal Apraxia this Spring. After finishing SK, because of the observations of his teacher, the pediatrician diagnosed him as also having Asperger's. Of course now I am overwhelmed with trying to find out who, what, where... Maybe it is more appropriate if you e-mail me privately, except if there are more people from Ontario who want info, of course. Thanks, Veerle.<cmcintosh5@...> wrote: Marie I am in Ontario Canada and received lots of services in my sons daycare He is now in a self contained classroom and gets OT as well.. As specialized IEP for his aspergers Are you in Ontario? My son qualifies for disability and gets funding for that too! Is there any way I can help you navigate the system a bit? Not sure what province you are in. I know it can be tricky and things vary from province to province.. But I am here to help if I can. HUGGS .. Mom to Chase and several more -- Re: ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis... It took even longer in Canada for Aspergers to be recognized and my dd didn't receive her DX until she was 14 yrs old (2002), 3 yrs (1999) after my identical twin boys were both DX with HFA NOS, which was later modified to 2 separate DXs, 1 son Aspergers (modified DX 2001), the

other sons DX unchanged. Our pediatric neurologist said he couldn't DX our other son Aspergers because of his speech delays. Our boys were 3 yrs old when originally DX. Interestingly enough our pediatric neurologist on one of our follow up apts looked at my dh and said "You realize you have Aspergers as well, don't you, but I am a pediatric neurologist and you are too old for me to DX now, but if I had saw you when you were little I would have never DX you as hyperactive, I would have DX you as Autistic." He offered to refer my dh to someone who could DX him but my dh didn't see the need of it as he had coped his whole life with it and done pretty well. It is on my dh medical file and both our family doctor and my boys social worker agree he has it, but he has no

official DX. Also although my dd received an official DX it changed absolutely nothing for us in the way of services. The DX did help her to understand why she was different socially, and that made it worth it. Our provincial social services are so overwhelmed that in order to receive help your DX must be of some severity and hers is mild partly because she is female and partly because she was already 14 when DX. Also we were already receiving services for our twin boys so they felt it wasn't right for us to access anymore funding for our dd. Lots of services have been unavailable here such as ABA therapy, and social skills groups. We have been fighting for years now for these services to be created for our children so they can improve and the province is

starting to create them, but my boys were already 7 before they were even started. In 2006 our more severe son finally started receiving ABA services through the school system. He was 9 1/2 yrs old at the time. Our other son receives no ABA services as he is not severe enough to qualify. So we have done everything on our own for our dd and have made many mistakes along the way, and several things alone for our twins as well. I so totally agree with you. I would have loved to have known then what I know now, when I was raising her. Hindsight is definitely 20/20. Marie Helping you earn $ at home www.freedom4families.com ( ) The luxury of an AS

diagnosis... I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children... At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... The media would have you believe that

AUTISM is on the rise... I’m sure it’s not.... it’s just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger’s kids... As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger’s... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I’m sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don’t want to apply that label either... that would mean they’d have to do something about it... I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn’t want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically? With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can’t make a difference... Mostly I think I’m just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH> I just spent the better part of the last month with

them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability- last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC Carm Cole Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~ Photography http://www.pbase.com/carmcole No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/14/2007 5:19 PM No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/956 - Release Date: 16/08/2007 9:48 AM

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When I went to college for my DSW in the mid 80's, we classified a lot under MBD - Minimal Brain Damage/Dysfunction. Now that I a son dx with AS, DCD and Verbal Apraxia, I know he would have been under that umbrella dx. When I first started working in a grouphome, we called it "Autistiform behaviour" : almost like autism, but not quite. Veerle.<cmcintosh5@...> wrote: So true and well written. As aspergers and autism diagnoses have risen.. Diagnoses of Mental Retardation has gone down. Depression is indeed an issue with our kids..young and old Huggs to you.. -- ( ) The luxury of an AS

diagnosis... I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children... At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... The media would have you

believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I’m sure it’s not.... it’s just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger’s kids... As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger’s... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I’m sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don’t want to apply that label either... that would mean they’d have to do something about it... I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn’t want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically? With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can’t make a difference... Mostly I think I’m just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH> I just spent the better part of the last month with

them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability- last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC Carm Cole Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~ Photography http://www.pbase.com/carmcole No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/14/2007 5:19 PM

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Carm. You are amazing!!! Definitely get into something specializing in AS. Please. Then world needs people like you. Robin<cmcintosh5@...> wrote: So true and well written. As aspergers and autism diagnoses have risen.. Diagnoses of

Mental Retardation has gone down. Depression is indeed an issue with our kids..young and old Huggs to you.. -- ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis... I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children... At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... When I

tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I’m sure it’s not.... it’s just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum...

Those who can communicate- Asperger’s kids... As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger’s... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a classroom and

put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I’m sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don’t want to apply that label either... that would mean they’d have to do something about it... I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep

at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn’t want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically? With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can’t make a difference... Mostly I think I’m just

so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH> I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability- last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC Carm

Cole Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~ Photography http://www.pbase.com/carmcole No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/14/2007 5:19 PM

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Bastards.Toni <kbtoni@...> wrote: some people can get resources.. others can't.. Unfortunately you have to fight tooth and nail to even get a govt dept to come to your house and then you are STILL denied help even though your 18 yo sat on the floor with his head in his lap and WE answered all the questions...sorry... still ticked off about that one... Toni ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis... I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children... At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds

of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I’m sure it’s not.... it’s just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger’s kids... As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger’s... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I’m sure... and again

no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don’t want to apply that label either... that would mean they’d have to do something about it... I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn’t want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they

were succeeding academically? With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can’t make a difference... Mostly I think I’m just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with

agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH> I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability- last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC Carm Cole Cats never strike a pose that

isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~ Photography http://www.pbase.com/carmcole No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/14/2007 5:19 PM

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Hello Veerle,

I am located in Alberta, but I had asked the same questions because I

am originally from ON and was thinking of returning. I know that

keeps busy and manages another board so she may not have seen

your question yet.

First, contact the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Children and

Youth Services where they can direct you to your region/municipality.

There are many different agencies dependent upon your area. i.e.

Oshawa, Barrie, Toronto... But, this will be a good starting point to

direct you to what services will be needed - and, what you are

eligible to receive. An intake worker will make arrangements to come

and visit to make this assessment, but the waiting list is something

like 4 months so try and call right away for an appointment(here is a

link):

http://www.children.gov.on.ca/mcys/english/programs/needs/specialcare.

asp

If the link does not transfer, type in 'Government of Ontario' and

scroll to 'Children', then 'disabilities'.

Good-luck,

Velvet

> Marie I am in Ontario Canada and received lots

of services in my sons daycare

> He is now in a self contained classroom and gets OT as well.. As

specialized IEP for his aspergers

> Are you in Ontario? My son qualifies for disability and gets

funding for that too! Is there any way I can help you navigate the

system a bit? Not sure what province you are in.

> I know it can be tricky and things vary from province to

province.. But I am here to help if I can.

> HUGGS

> .. Mom to Chase and several more

>

>

> -- Re: ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...

>

>

> It took even longer in Canada for Aspergers to be recognized

and my dd didn't receive her DX until she was 14 yrs old (2002), 3

yrs (1999) after my identical twin boys were both DX with HFA NOS,

which was later modified to 2 separate DXs, 1 son Aspergers (modified

DX 2001), the other sons DX unchanged. Our pediatric neurologist

said he couldn't DX our other son Aspergers because of his speech

delays. Our boys were 3 yrs old when originally DX.

>

> Interestingly enough our pediatric neurologist on one of our

follow up apts looked at my dh and said " You realize you have

Aspergers as well, don't you, but I am a pediatric neurologist and

you are too old for me to DX now, but if I had saw you when you were

little I would have never DX you as hyperactive, I would have DX you

as Autistic. "

>

> He offered to refer my dh to someone who could DX him but my dh

didn't see the need of it as he had coped his whole life with it and

done pretty well. It is on my dh medical file and both our family

doctor and my boys social worker agree he has it, but he has no

official DX.

>

> Also although my dd received an official DX it changed absolutely

nothing for us in the way of services. The DX did help her to

understand why she was different socially, and that made it worth

it. Our provincial social services are so overwhelmed that in order

to receive help your DX must be of some severity and hers is mild

partly because she is female and partly because she was already 14

when DX. Also we were already receiving services for our twin boys

so they felt it wasn't right for us to access anymore funding for our

dd.

>

> Lots of services have been unavailable here such as ABA therapy,

and social skills groups. We have been fighting for years now for

these services to be created for our children so they can improve and

the province is starting to create them, but my boys were already 7

before they were even started. In 2006 our more severe son finally

started receiving ABA services through the school system. He was 9

1/2 yrs old at the time. Our other son receives no ABA services as

he is not severe enough to qualify.

>

> So we have done everything on our own for our dd and have made

many mistakes along the way, and several things alone for our twins

as well. I so totally agree with you. I would have loved to have

known then what I know now, when I was raising her. Hindsight is

definitely 20/20.

>

> Marie

> Helping you earn $ at home

> www.freedom4families.com

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...

>

>

> I find myself envying all of you who had some professional

accurately diagnose your children...

>

> At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help

your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating

yourself up for not being able to figure it out...

>

> When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge

has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological

brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who

colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with

all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not

allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful

because of his ignorance...

>

> The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise...

I'm sure it's not.... it's just that kids are actually being

correctly diagnosed in the 2000's... especially the ones who are on

the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate-

Asperger's kids...

>

> As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted

that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no

understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were

Asperger's... one of my former students who was definitely AS-

committed suicide... in his early 20's... He was taken out of a

classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first

year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining

our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a

couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I'm

sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no

one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED-

Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don't want to apply

that label either... that would mean they'd have to do something

about it...

>

> I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors

asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume

that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are

smart... they didn't want to have to squander special education $$$

to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding

academically?

>

> With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly

thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't

make a difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about sensing

something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock

the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose

himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is...

thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from

Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>

>

> I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a

week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and

off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me...

>

> ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability-

last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH

took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and

subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and

all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC

>

> Carm Cole

> Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian

Braun~

> Photography

> http://www.pbase.com/carmcole

>

>

>

> No virus found in this outgoing message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date:

8/14/2007 5:19 PM

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/956 - Release Date:

16/08/2007 9:48 AM

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk

email the boot with the All-new

>

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Posted
Posted

there is no luxury to AS. Every day is a battle and

there are limited resources outside the home.

It is what it is.

--- Toni <kbtoni@...> wrote:

> some people can get resources.. others can't..

> Unfortunately you have to fight tooth and nail to

> even get a govt dept to come to your house and then

> you are STILL denied help even though your 18 yo sat

> on the floor with his head in his lap and WE

> answered all the questions...sorry... still ticked

> off about that one... Toni

> ( ) The luxury of an AS

> diagnosis...

>

>

>

> I find myself envying all of you who had some

> professional accurately diagnose your children...

>

>

>

> At least you can draw from all the resources out

> there and help your kids instead of wondering what

> the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not

> being able to figure it out...

>

>

>

> When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to

> our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is

> despised by his older biological brother who has

> written him off as this major pain in the neck who

> colored his families- family of origin and then

> blended family- with all kinds of negative

> behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow

> him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is

> fearful because of his ignorance...

>

>

>

> The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on

> the rise... I’m sure it’s not.... it’s just that

> kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the

> 2000’s... especially the ones who are on the high

> end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can

> communicate- Asperger’s kids...

>

>

>

> As a retired teacher I am SO completely and

> thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped

> through the cracks...no diagnosis and no

> understanding... I can actually look back and I

> know which ones were Asperger’s... one of my former

> students who was definitely AS- committed suicide...

> in his early 20’s... He was taken out of a classroom

> and put into my classroom halfway through the year

> my first year teaching... When my students heard

> this young man was joining our class they were

> distraught because he was so difficult... a couple

> years later my husband had the younger brother also

> AS I’m sure... and again no Dx... no

> understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked...

> Most of these kids should have been classified ED-

> Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts

> don’t want to apply that label either... that would

> mean they’d have to do something about it...

>

>

>

> I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the

> counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never

> heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality

> of it... or was it because these kids are smart...

> they didn’t want to have to squander special

> education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when

> they were succeeding academically?

>

>

>

> With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired...

> I am honestly thinking about looking into a

> PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can’t make a

> difference... Mostly I think I’m just so angry about

> sensing something was horribly askew, but not being

> given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68-

> no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has

> NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is...

> thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this

> after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to

> attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>

>

>

>

> I just spent the better part of the last month

> with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July-

> mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this

> is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me...

>

>

>

> ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social

> Security Disability- last January after my step-son

> had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a

> counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD

> and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to

> WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could

> be Acute Chronic Depression... CC

>

>

>

> Carm Cole

>

> Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic.

> ~Lillian Braun~

>

> Photography

>

> http://www.pbase.com/carmcole

>

>

>

>

>

> No virus found in this outgoing message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 -

> Release Date: 8/14/2007 5:19 PM

>

>

>

>

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Thanks Velvet! I called the Ministry regarding SSAH and respite and ASDC, I received the papers to fill out this week. I don't know what support to ask for though, since until now we have often forgone extra's that would benifit my son, but which I could not afford. eg he is in a swim class of 6 children, but really would do way better in semi-private. eg I did the SLP exercises over the summer (that we got from school), but we did not go to a SLP (recommended by the school) Is that an intake worker from the government that comes in the house? I have someone coming from the Developmental Services sector in my region (coordinated intake) next week. That will hopefully be of some help. Veerle.tdhssp <johnvel@...> wrote: Hello Veerle,I am located in Alberta, but I had asked the same questions because I am originally from ON and was thinking of returning. I know that keeps busy and manages another board so she may not have seen your question yet.First, contact the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Children and Youth Services where they can direct you to your region/municipality. There are many different agencies dependent upon your area. i.e. Oshawa, Barrie, Toronto... But, this will be a good starting point to direct you to what services will be needed - and, what you are eligible to receive. An intake worker will make arrangements

to come and visit to make this assessment, but the waiting list is something like 4 months so try and call right away for an appointment(here is a link): http://www.children.gov.on.ca/mcys/english/programs/needs/specialcare.aspIf the link does not transfer, type in 'Government of Ontario' and scroll to 'Children', then 'disabilities'.Good-luck,Velvet> Marie I am in Ontario Canada and received lots of services in my sons daycare > He is now in a self contained classroom and gets OT as well.. As specialized IEP for his aspergers> Are you in Ontario? My son qualifies for disability and gets funding for that too! Is there any way I can help you navigate the system a bit? Not sure what province you are in.> I know it can be tricky and things vary from province to province.. But I am here to help if I can.> HUGGS > .. Mom to Chase and several more > > > -------Original

Message-------> > From: Marie Downey> Date: 8/16/2007 12:42:10 PM> > Subject: Re: ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > It took even longer in Canada for Aspergers to be recognized and my dd didn't receive her DX until she was 14 yrs old (2002), 3 yrs (1999) after my identical twin boys were both DX with HFA NOS, which was later modified to 2 separate DXs, 1 son Aspergers (modified DX 2001), the other sons DX unchanged. Our pediatric neurologist said he couldn't DX our other son Aspergers because of his speech delays. Our boys were 3 yrs old when originally DX.> > Interestingly enough our pediatric neurologist on one of our follow up apts looked at my dh and said "You realize you have Aspergers as well, don't you, but I am a pediatric neurologist

and you are too old for me to DX now, but if I had saw you when you were little I would have never DX you as hyperactive, I would have DX you as Autistic."> > He offered to refer my dh to someone who could DX him but my dh didn't see the need of it as he had coped his whole life with it and done pretty well. It is on my dh medical file and both our family doctor and my boys social worker agree he has it, but he has no official DX.> > Also although my dd received an official DX it changed absolutely nothing for us in the way of services. The DX did help her to understand why she was different socially, and that made it worth it. Our provincial social services are so overwhelmed that in order to receive help your DX must be of some severity and hers is mild partly because she is female and partly because she was already 14 when DX. Also we were already receiving services for our twin boys so

they felt it wasn't right for us to access anymore funding for our dd. > > Lots of services have been unavailable here such as ABA therapy, and social skills groups. We have been fighting for years now for these services to be created for our children so they can improve and the province is starting to create them, but my boys were already 7 before they were even started. In 2006 our more severe son finally started receiving ABA services through the school system. He was 9 1/2 yrs old at the time. Our other son receives no ABA services as he is not severe enough to qualify.> > So we have done everything on our own for our dd and have made many mistakes along the way, and several things alone for our twins as well. I so totally agree with you. I would have loved to have known then what I know now, when I was raising her. Hindsight is definitely 20/20.> > Marie> Helping you earn

$ at home> www.freedom4families.com> > > > > > > > ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...> > At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... > > When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family

of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... > > The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I'm sure it's not.... it's just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000's... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger's kids... > > As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger's... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20's... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year

teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I'm sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don't want to apply that label either... that would mean they'd have to do something about it... > > I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn't want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically? > > With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a

PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't make a difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>> > I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... > > ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability-last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy

to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC> > Carm Cole> Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~> Photography> http://www.pbase.com/carmcole > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/14/2007 5:19 PM> > > > > ---------------------------------> > No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/956 - Release Date: 16/08/2007 9:48 AM> > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Be smarter

than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new >

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Wow I guess I have a lot to learn

From my understanding here in my province of New Brunswick we have been told that children with ASD get better services in Alberta than in Ontario and in Alberta services last longer than in Ontario as well.

That is why we ruled out moving to Ontario as our twin boys are already 11. We did consider Alberta though because services there we were told go to age 18 and here our boys are already without many services that would be helpful and our income is too low to pay for them plus the trained workers have to come from another province as ours doesn't have enough to go around either.

Interesting information. Gives me more to ponder. Thanks

Marie

Helping you earn $ at home

www.freedom4families.com

( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...> > At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... > > When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... > > The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I'm sure it's not.... it's just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000's... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger's kids... > > As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger's... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20's... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I'm sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don't want to apply that label either... that would mean they'd have to do something about it... > > I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn't want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically? > > With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't make a difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>> > I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... > > ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability-last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC> > Carm Cole> Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~> Photography> http://www.pbase.com/carmcole > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/14/2007 5:19 PM> > > > > ---------------------------------> > No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/956 - Release Date: 16/08/2007 9:48 AM> > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new >

Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Answers.

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Hmm, I just read backwards in these messages a bit; so, I think it is

Carm I am replying to: Yes! I do understand what you mean: Certainly

in some vicinities, there is more of a chance of obtaining better

funding with services with a concrete diagnosis. This is totally true

where I am located. My son is diagnosed with CAPD, ADHD, DCD,

Pragmatic Language Disorder, and mild cognitive impairment, however,

his team of assessors were divided in granting a ASD label due to his

strong social desire to interact. I am upset because this is such a

shaded area; hence the term " spectrum " and with some professionals

they say 'yes' while others say 'no'. That leaves my son in limbo

towards better services. Had he been given a definite ASD, he would

receive a greater amount of aide time due to more funding granted for

ASD's. And, though his files state AS undiagnosed and suggest ways to

teach using same methods used for children with AS, he falls short of

the necessary funding to really impact his education. Sucks!

Oh, to Veerle: Yes, I do believe it is a social worker who initially

will make contact with you; and then, following assessment, they may

hook you up with an agency for others to help out (ie. a

rehabiliation agency) depending upon individual need.

To Marie: There is a lot of controversy about which provinces provide

the best degree of service delivery. Alberta is termed one of the

better places because of its willingness to fund into adulthood. FSCD

(Family Supports for Children with Disabilities) is a program that is

unique to AB. Again, like any other program, there are good things

and yet, short-falls. I have heard much depends upon the worker

asigned to a family (mine is super!) While, others complain that some

will not advise of all services available - to save on dollars?? - or

that they simply are not as well-versed in administering information.

From another board, I will copy and paste postings of similar concern

and the responses of others within differing provinces:

1/ " We have currently relocated to Alberta from Nova Scotia from

Ontario in the last two years..

Ontario was good as long as you had the people working for you.. Most

programs end at age 6 when the schools take over your care..

Unfortunately with this is you need to research your schools to see

if they are familiar with the treatments available and are willing to

work with you and the treatment..

Nova Scotia is good throught IWK has programs available, ABA and

other regular programs..Their schooling systems runs along the same

lines as Ontario.. Both provinces have your average waitlist time of

18 months or more...

Alberta so far seems to have alot of programs available if you access

them.. Problem is for us is my Ds needs to be re-diagnost by a

Pedatric psychologist to confirm his diagnostis as true.. Which

doesnt make sense but this means starting over from scratch.. Lots of

funding available and its not income based.. Which means we can

access programs that we wouldnt be able to in Ontario because we make

too much..

So that is what I know cant help with other provinces but I am sure

you can find outmore through government sites.. good luck.. "

2/ " Well, that's quite a question! It depends on what treatment

you're looking for. Here's what I know, but hopefully other readers

of this bulletin board will contribute more info.

BC - very little in the way of funding. Excellent ABA services

available, but you will pay about the same as you would in

California. You do have to do your research however to get the good

consultants.

Alberta - supposedly fully funded ABA. My feeling on this, is it

depends where you are how easily you can access quality ABA services

and all cities are not created equal here <VERY TRUE!>. Some families

have had good success and I hope they respond to this post. Nice

feature of Alberta is that ABA is supposedly funded until age 18.

However, poor feature is that funding is reviewed annually and can

be " yanked " at any time, particularly if your child is doing well

with treatment (i.e. he will no longer qualify for services because

he's doing so well). If you don't want to do ABA and would prefer a

different sort of treatment, then Alberta is probably the place to be.

Saskatchewan - not sure about this province and where it's at. ABA

was slow to catch on, may be funded now. Hopefully someone who is

more informed than I will be able to post on this province.

Manitoba - fully funded preschool program. Guaranteed to have ABA

until Kindergarten entry, both at home and in preschool setting.

There is a wait-list for this program, but you are welcome to call to

find out how many are currently on it (see the website:

www.stamant.mb.ca) Currently, also providing fully funded school age

services (30 hours/wk at school and 10 hr/wk at home). Not sure on

status of school age for permanence of the funding - can go on the

MFEAT website to find out more.

Nice feature of Manitoba is that the program works in conjunction

with the ABA graduate program in place at the University of Manitoba,

one of the few ABA graduate programs in Canada.

Ontario - fully funded preschool program. However, a bit piece-meal

for access to services. Long wait-lists <ANOTHER TRUTH>. There are

some that are coordinated with undergraduate programs in ABA and some

graduate as well. If you go to a less populated area, there may be

shorter wait-lists.

Not sure about the rest of Canada. I know PEI has a funded ABA

program for preschool and possibly school age. I heard Nova Scotia

funded school age ABA. Quebec is always a mixed bag. "

3/ " It would be helpful to know what sort of treatment(s) you are

looking for; ABA, RDI, Foortime, Biomedial...

Unfortunately a child's age will likely be an influence in terms of

access to funding and finding professionals willing to work with

older children, regardless of location.

If funding is not a concern then I suspect that BC and Ontario has

the largest pool of (ABA) people to draw upon. If funding is an issue

then Alberta may be your best bet (provided your child meets the

qualifications-you'll want to investigate that) but you will need to

be very, very creative in building an (ABA) team in Alberta we have a

labour shortage <YUP!> which makes things all the more challenging! "

4/ " Just a note about Saskatchewan. No ABA (the policy makers don't

seem to believe in it). There is a preschool program in one city for

the whole province that is one on one. There is quite a waiting list

to get in.

In terms of other services - everything is income tested and it seems

your family can't earn more than 80,000 to be disqualified (respite

and a new program called cognitive disabilities strategy which is

supposed to pick up the costs of treatment for things not publically

available).

The lack of professionals is the biggest hurdle. Saskatchewan does

not train slp's or ot's. The turnover in the public programs is

horrendous. Parents are really on there own.

Hope that this helps " .

5/ " Don't forget New Brunswick... My son has been in an excellent ABA

programme through an agency called River Valley Intervention Group; I

found that time passed very quickly between the time he was diagnosed

until we were on our way with therapy. The ABA is funded for 20 hours

per week regardless of the family's income I believe; Family Services

kicks in and provides respite; travel expense; funding for

motivational or educational toys if needed....plus the people have

been a great support group; when --- twin was diagnosed with

Asbergers just a couple of months ago; because we were already with

an agency ; within weeks --- was in a program. Problem....funding

stops when kindergarten kicks in and few of the aides have any

experience or training in Autism. Recently we had our integration

meeting with the school our sons will be attending and I walked away

from the meeting thinking....they don't have a sweet clue about

autism...This year in the small town of --- NB there are five

autistic children starting kindergarten and to my knowledge only one

or two of the TAs are experienced in any techniques relating to the

spectrum....thats why....come 2008...we'll be headed to Alberta along

with several other families from this area who have already made the

trek across country or are planning to....it's the best hope we feel

we have for our children's future.. "

6/ " don't think that this is much different anywhere in this lovely

country of ours. live in alberta and it seems that the school

districts say that they want to help-end up telling you what they

think is best and usually running with that. Parent's opinions don't

matter, what could we possibly know that these well educated

individuals don't? "

7/ " AB not all it's cracked up to be... I think that any/every one

that is thinking about moving to this province should think twice.

The roads are not paved in gold here, we have the same problems with

un-trained staff, school boards that think they know it all and

don't, and depending on where you move services are limited at best.

FSCD is only available to families once they have lived in the

province three months, and the wait times in larger centers is un-

believable. They will also watch your child very closely and once

signs of improvement are there, they start cutting things. They are

very aware that people are heading here for services and they are not

extremely helpful-you need to reach out to other families, talk lots

and then be informed any/every time you have to meet with FSCD-they

are not here to hand out blank checks for services, they are stingy

with our money. But on the more positive side, services are there

past kindergarten... "

8/ " Not to discourage, but just so that you are aware: Although the

economy in AB is good, the housing market is atrocious. Purchasing a

home will run an average of 400K - at least - (an average home!)

Renting is a much worse situation... prices are sky-rocketing IF a

person is able to locate something! " <My own post>

9/ " Turns out the SK provincial government budget has finally put

some money into Autism. Here is an excert from the Star Pheonix

Advocates for families of children with autism were elated the

government answered their decade-long cry for expanded autism

services in Saskatchewan.

Simmermon, a spokesperson for Saskatchewan Families for

Effective Autism Treatment, said Thursday was " an important day for

the autism community, " as Thomson pledged $3 million for autism help

this year and an ongoing fund of $500,000 a year to improve services.

Much of the money will go to helping recruit and train professionals

with expertise in autism.

Thomson said this year's health budget is the province's largest

ever, at $3.45 billion, making up 44.2 per cent of the province's

operating spending in 2007-08. In the 2006-07 budget, health costs

were $3.2 billion and made up 44.5 per cent of the government's

operating costs " .

I hope this helps. It is really a very mixed bag of opinions, but it

may help guide some Canadian families.

Velvet

>

> > some people can get resources.. others can't..

> > Unfortunately you have to fight tooth and nail to

> > even get a govt dept to come to your house and then

> > you are STILL denied help even though your 18 yo sat

> > on the floor with his head in his lap and WE

> > answered all the questions...sorry... still ticked

> > off about that one... Toni

> > ( ) The luxury of an AS

> > diagnosis...

> >

> >

> >

> > I find myself envying all of you who had some

> > professional accurately diagnose your children...

> >

> >

> >

> > At least you can draw from all the resources out

> > there and help your kids instead of wondering what

> > the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not

> > being able to figure it out...

> >

> >

> >

> > When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to

> > our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is

> > despised by his older biological brother who has

> > written him off as this major pain in the neck who

> > colored his families- family of origin and then

> > blended family- with all kinds of negative

> > behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow

> > him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is

> > fearful because of his ignorance...

> >

> >

> >

> > The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on

> > the rise... I'm sure it's not.... it's just that

> > kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the

> > 2000's... especially the ones who are on the high

> > end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can

> > communicate- Asperger's kids...

> >

> >

> >

> > As a retired teacher I am SO completely and

> > thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped

> > through the cracks...no diagnosis and no

> > understanding... I can actually look back and I

> > know which ones were Asperger's... one of my former

> > students who was definitely AS- committed suicide...

> > in his early 20's... He was taken out of a classroom

> > and put into my classroom halfway through the year

> > my first year teaching... When my students heard

> > this young man was joining our class they were

> > distraught because he was so difficult... a couple

> > years later my husband had the younger brother also

> > AS I'm sure... and again no Dx... no

> > understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked...

> > Most of these kids should have been classified ED-

> > Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts

> > don't want to apply that label either... that would

> > mean they'd have to do something about it...

> >

> >

> >

> > I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the

> > counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never

> > heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality

> > of it... or was it because these kids are smart...

> > they didn't want to have to squander special

> > education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when

> > they were succeeding academically?

> >

> >

> >

> > With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired...

> > I am honestly thinking about looking into a

> > PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't make a

> > difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about

> > sensing something was horribly askew, but not being

> > given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68-

> > no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has

> > NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is...

> > thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this

> > after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to

> > attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>

> >

> >

> >

> > I just spent the better part of the last month

> > with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July-

> > mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this

> > is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me...

> >

> >

> >

> > ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social

> > Security Disability- last January after my step-son

> > had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a

> > counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD

> > and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to

> > WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could

> > be Acute Chronic Depression... CC

> >

> >

> >

> > Carm Cole

> >

> > Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic.

> > ~Lillian Braun~

> >

> > Photography

> >

> > http://www.pbase.com/carmcole

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > No virus found in this outgoing message.

> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 -

> > Release Date: 8/14/2007 5:19 PM

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

______________

> Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative

vehicles. Visit the Auto Green Center.

> http://autos./green_center/

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HI GUYS Thanks Velvet for not leaving her stranded ~ yes I was busy busy busy this week

Here is another great link

Fill it out and get your doctor to fill it out! If your child has an official diagnoses of autism / aspergers they should qualify ~ My husband and I have disability tax credit for my son. It is also retroactive so it should go back to the original diagnoses date. My friend ( whom I had advised ) had a return of almost 10 grand!! My other friend had a return of 4 grand . I myself had almost four as well.. So get it done LOL

It also increases your child tax benefit monthly too.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t2201/t2201-06e.pdf

We are in Halton Region... There are many services available ( although certainly we all need more!) http://www.asohalton.org/ This is the Ontario autism Society link another GREAT place to start.

What area are you in? I can get more specific as well for you and find some more local services to your area ~ for example http://www.autismontario.com/summercamp here is a link to the Summer camp fund!

Its there... Its not vastly advertised.. Yet if we get the word out to parents.. We can make a difference and make sure that our children can become an important asset to society.

OH ya and I have also had my son in Special Olympics.. Autism qualified. This is a great place where your child can also realize their strengths and gain a perspective on empathy and compassion with others who are less able or.. More able as well.

HUGGS! From Chris.. Mom in Ontario

-- Re: ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > It took even longer in Canada for Aspergers to be recognized and my dd didn't receive her DX until she was 14 yrs old (2002), 3 yrs (1999) after my identical twin boys were both DX with HFA NOS, wh ich was later modified to 2 separate DXs, 1 son Aspergers (modified DX 2001), the other sons DX unchanged. Our pediatric neurologist said he couldn't DX our other son Aspergers because of his speech delays. Our boys were 3 yrs old when originally DX.> > Interestingly enough our pediatric neurologist on one of our follow up apts looked at my dh and said "You realize you have Aspergers as well, don't you, but I am a pediatric neurologist and you are too old for me to DX now, but if I had saw you when you were little I would have never DX you as hyperactive, I would have DX you as Autistic."> > He offered to refer my dh to someone who could DX him but my dh didn't see the need of it as he had coped his whole life with it and done pretty well. It is on my dh medical file and both our family doctor and my boys social worker agree he has it, but he has no official DX.> > Also although my dd received an official DX it changed absolutely nothing for us in the way of services. The DX did help her to understand why she was different socially, and that made it worth it. Our provincial social services are so overwhelmed that in order to receive help your DX must be of some severity and hers is mild partly because she is female and partly because she was already 14 when DX. Also we were already receiving services for our twin boys so they felt it wasn't right for us to access anymore funding for our dd. > > Lots of services have been unavailable here such as ABA therapy, and social skills groups. We have been fighting for years now for these services to be created for our children so they can improve and the province is starting to create them, but my boys were already 7 before they were even started. In 2006 our more severe son finally started receiving ABA services through the school system. He w as 9 1/2 yrs old at the time. Our other son receives no ABA services as he is not severe enough to qualify.> > So we have done everything on our own for our dd and have made many mistakes along the way, and several things alone for our twins as well. I so totally agree with you. I would have loved to have known then what I know now, when I was raising her. Hindsight is definitely 20/20.> > Marie> Helping you earn $ at home> www.freedom4families.com> > > > > > > > ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...> > At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... > > When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... > > The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I'm sure it's not.... it's just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000's... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperg er's kids... > > As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger's... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20's... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I'm sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don't want to apply that label either... that would mean they'd have to do something about it... & gt; > I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn't want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically? > > With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't make a difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>> > I just spe nt the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... > > ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability-last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC> > Carm Cole> Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~> Photography> http://www.pbase.com/carmcole > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/1 4/2007 5:19 PM> > > > > ---------------------------------> > No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/956 - Release Date: 16/08/2007 9:48 AM> > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new >

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Yes we get the child tax disability benefit for both boys as well (our dd didn't qualify) and it definitely helps and the disability income tax credit prevents us from paying any taxes, as we make just enough to be over the poverty line barely.

Marie

Helping you earn $ at home

www.freedom4families.com

( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose our cildren...> > At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... > > When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... > > The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I'm sure it's not.... it's just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000's... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperg er's kids... > > As aretire teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger's... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20's... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I'm sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don't want to apply that label either... that would mean they'd have to do something about it... & gt; > I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselorsaslep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn't want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically? > > With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't make a difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>> > I just spe nt the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my stp-son...on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... > > ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability-last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC> > Carm Cole> Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~> Photography> http://www.pbase.com/carmcole > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/1 4/2007 5:19 PM> > > > > ---------------------------------> > No virus found in his incomng message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/956 - Release Date: 16/08/2007 9:48 AM> > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new >

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No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.0/961 - Release Date: 19/08/2007 7:27 AM

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Rats and double rats!!! The US does not have this!!!!

Oh DARN.

( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...> > At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... > > When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... > > The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I'm sure it's not.... it's just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000's... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperg er's kids... > > As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger's... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20's... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I'm sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don't want to apply that label either... that would mean they'd have to do something about it... & gt; > I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn't want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically? > > With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't make a difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>> > I just spe nt the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... > > ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability-last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC> > Carm Cole> Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~> Photography> http://www.pbase.com/carmcole > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/1 4/2007 5:19 PM> > > > > ---------------------------------> > No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/956 - Release Date: 16/08/2007 9:48 AM> > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new >

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I've seen it, and even ordered it for my son who is 4 1/2. He loves

the pictures, and a few of the things send him into fits of giggles.

However, some of it just doesn't apply at all (like not wanting to be

touched) so it confuses him some.

For younger kids, I highly recommend " I Am Utterly Unique " which is an

A-Z book about the strengths of AS/HFA kids.

>

> Just curious if you have seen the book, " All Cats Have Asperger's

Syndrome " ?

> Pam :)

>

>

>

> ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the

all-new AOL at

> http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

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Thanks for all the info! Veerle.tdhssp <johnvel@...> wrote: Hmm, I just read backwards in these messages a bit; so, I think it is Carm I am replying to: Yes! I do understand what you mean: Certainly in some vicinities, there is more of a chance of obtaining better funding with services with a concrete diagnosis. This is totally true where I am located. My son is diagnosed with CAPD, ADHD, DCD, Pragmatic Language Disorder, and mild cognitive impairment, however,

his team of assessors were divided in granting a ASD label due to his strong social desire to interact. I am upset because this is such a shaded area; hence the term "spectrum" and with some professionals they say 'yes' while others say 'no'. That leaves my son in limbo towards better services. Had he been given a definite ASD, he would receive a greater amount of aide time due to more funding granted for ASD's. And, though his files state AS undiagnosed and suggest ways to teach using same methods used for children with AS, he falls short of the necessary funding to really impact his education. Sucks!Oh, to Veerle: Yes, I do believe it is a social worker who initially will make contact with you; and then, following assessment, they may hook you up with an agency for others to help out (ie. a rehabiliation agency) depending upon individual need. To Marie: There is a lot of controversy about which provinces

provide the best degree of service delivery. Alberta is termed one of the better places because of its willingness to fund into adulthood. FSCD (Family Supports for Children with Disabilities) is a program that is unique to AB. Again, like any other program, there are good things and yet, short-falls. I have heard much depends upon the worker asigned to a family (mine is super!) While, others complain that some will not advise of all services available - to save on dollars?? - or that they simply are not as well-versed in administering information.From another board, I will copy and paste postings of similar concern and the responses of others within differing provinces:1/ "We have currently relocated to Alberta from Nova Scotia from Ontario in the last two years.. Ontario was good as long as you had the people working for you.. Most programs end at age 6 when the schools take over your care..

Unfortunately with this is you need to research your schools to see if they are familiar with the treatments available and are willing to work with you and the treatment.. Nova Scotia is good throught IWK has programs available, ABA and other regular programs..Their schooling systems runs along the same lines as Ontario.. Both provinces have your average waitlist time of 18 months or more... Alberta so far seems to have alot of programs available if you access them.. Problem is for us is my Ds needs to be re-diagnost by a Pedatric psychologist to confirm his diagnostis as true.. Which doesnt make sense but this means starting over from scratch.. Lots of funding available and its not income based.. Which means we can access programs that we wouldnt be able to in Ontario because we make too much.. So that is what I know cant help with other provinces but I am sure you can find outmore through government sites..

good luck.."2/ "Well, that's quite a question! It depends on what treatment you're looking for. Here's what I know, but hopefully other readers of this bulletin board will contribute more info.BC - very little in the way of funding. Excellent ABA services available, but you will pay about the same as you would in California. You do have to do your research however to get the good consultants.Alberta - supposedly fully funded ABA. My feeling on this, is it depends where you are how easily you can access quality ABA services and all cities are not created equal here <VERY TRUE!>. Some families have had good success and I hope they respond to this post. Nice feature of Alberta is that ABA is supposedly funded until age 18. However, poor feature is that funding is reviewed annually and can be "yanked" at any time, particularly if your child is doing well with treatment (i.e. he will no longer qualify for

services because he's doing so well). If you don't want to do ABA and would prefer a different sort of treatment, then Alberta is probably the place to be.Saskatchewan - not sure about this province and where it's at. ABA was slow to catch on, may be funded now. Hopefully someone who is more informed than I will be able to post on this province.Manitoba - fully funded preschool program. Guaranteed to have ABA until Kindergarten entry, both at home and in preschool setting. There is a wait-list for this program, but you are welcome to call to find out how many are currently on it (see the website: www.stamant.mb.ca) Currently, also providing fully funded school age services (30 hours/wk at school and 10 hr/wk at home). Not sure on status of school age for permanence of the funding - can go on the MFEAT website to find out more.Nice feature of Manitoba is that the program works in conjunction with the ABA

graduate program in place at the University of Manitoba, one of the few ABA graduate programs in Canada.Ontario - fully funded preschool program. However, a bit piece-meal for access to services. Long wait-lists <ANOTHER TRUTH>. There are some that are coordinated with undergraduate programs in ABA and some graduate as well. If you go to a less populated area, there may be shorter wait-lists.Not sure about the rest of Canada. I know PEI has a funded ABA program for preschool and possibly school age. I heard Nova Scotia funded school age ABA. Quebec is always a mixed bag."3/ "It would be helpful to know what sort of treatment(s) you are looking for; ABA, RDI, Foortime, Biomedial...Unfortunately a child's age will likely be an influence in terms of access to funding and finding professionals willing to work with older children, regardless of location. If funding is not a concern then I suspect that BC and

Ontario has the largest pool of (ABA) people to draw upon. If funding is an issue then Alberta may be your best bet (provided your child meets the qualifications-you'll want to investigate that) but you will need to be very, very creative in building an (ABA) team in Alberta we have a labour shortage <YUP!> which makes things all the more challenging!"4/ "Just a note about Saskatchewan. No ABA (the policy makers don't seem to believe in it). There is a preschool program in one city for the whole province that is one on one. There is quite a waiting list to get in.In terms of other services - everything is income tested and it seems your family can't earn more than 80,000 to be disqualified (respite and a new program called cognitive disabilities strategy which is supposed to pick up the costs of treatment for things not publically available).The lack of professionals is the biggest hurdle.

Saskatchewan does not train slp's or ot's. The turnover in the public programs is horrendous. Parents are really on there own.Hope that this helps".5/ "Don't forget New Brunswick... My son has been in an excellent ABA programme through an agency called River Valley Intervention Group; I found that time passed very quickly between the time he was diagnosed until we were on our way with therapy. The ABA is funded for 20 hours per week regardless of the family's income I believe; Family Services kicks in and provides respite; travel expense; funding for motivational or educational toys if needed....plus the people have been a great support group; when --- twin was diagnosed with Asbergers just a couple of months ago; because we were already with an agency ; within weeks --- was in a program. Problem....funding stops when kindergarten kicks in and few of the aides have any experience or training in Autism.

Recently we had our integration meeting with the school our sons will be attending and I walked away from the meeting thinking....they don't have a sweet clue about autism...This year in the small town of --- NB there are five autistic children starting kindergarten and to my knowledge only one or two of the TAs are experienced in any techniques relating to the spectrum....thats why....come 2008...we'll be headed to Alberta along with several other families from this area who have already made the trek across country or are planning to....it's the best hope we feel we have for our children's future.." 6/ "don't think that this is much different anywhere in this lovely country of ours. live in alberta and it seems that the school districts say that they want to help-end up telling you what they think is best and usually running with that. Parent's opinions don't matter, what could we possibly know that

these well educated individuals don't?" 7/ "AB not all it's cracked up to be... I think that any/every one that is thinking about moving to this province should think twice. The roads are not paved in gold here, we have the same problems with un-trained staff, school boards that think they know it all and don't, and depending on where you move services are limited at best. FSCD is only available to families once they have lived in the province three months, and the wait times in larger centers is un-believable. They will also watch your child very closely and once signs of improvement are there, they start cutting things. They are very aware that people are heading here for services and they are not extremely helpful-you need to reach out to other families, talk lots and then be informed any/every time you have to meet with FSCD-they are not here to hand out blank checks for services, they are stingy with our

money. But on the more positive side, services are there past kindergarten..." 8/ "Not to discourage, but just so that you are aware: Although the economy in AB is good, the housing market is atrocious. Purchasing a home will run an average of 400K - at least - (an average home!) Renting is a much worse situation... prices are sky-rocketing IF a person is able to locate something!" <My own post>9/ "Turns out the SK provincial government budget has finally put some money into Autism. Here is an excert from the Star PheonixAdvocates for families of children with autism were elated the government answered their decade-long cry for expanded autism services in Saskatchewan. Simmermon, a spokesperson for Saskatchewan Families for Effective Autism Treatment, said Thursday was "an important day for the autism community," as Thomson pledged $3 million for autism help this year and an ongoing fund of

$500,000 a year to improve services.Much of the money will go to helping recruit and train professionals with expertise in autism.Thomson said this year's health budget is the province's largest ever, at $3.45 billion, making up 44.2 per cent of the province's operating spending in 2007-08. In the 2006-07 budget, health costs were $3.2 billion and made up 44.5 per cent of the government's operating costs".I hope this helps. It is really a very mixed bag of opinions, but it may help guide some Canadian families.Velvet> > > some

people can get resources.. others can't..> > Unfortunately you have to fight tooth and nail to> > even get a govt dept to come to your house and then> > you are STILL denied help even though your 18 yo sat> > on the floor with his head in his lap and WE> > answered all the questions...sorry... still ticked> > off about that one... Toni> > ( ) The luxury of an AS> > diagnosis...> > > > > > > > I find myself envying all of you who had some> > professional accurately diagnose your children...> > > > > > > > At least you can draw from all the

resources out> > there and help your kids instead of wondering what> > the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not> > being able to figure it out... > > > > > > > > When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to> > our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is> > despised by his older biological brother who has> > written him off as this major pain in the neck who> > colored his families- family of origin and then> > blended family- with all kinds of negative> > behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow> > him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is> > fearful because of his ignorance... > > > > > > > > The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on> > the rise... I'm sure it's not.... it's just that> > kids are actually being correctly

diagnosed in the> > 2000's... especially the ones who are on the high> > end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can> > communicate- Asperger's kids... > > > > > > > > As a retired teacher I am SO completely and> > thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped> > through the cracks...no diagnosis and no> > understanding... I can actually look back and I> > know which ones were Asperger's... one of my former> > students who was definitely AS- committed suicide...> > in his early 20's... He was taken out of a classroom> > and put into my classroom halfway through the year> > my first year teaching... When my students heard> > this young man was joining our class they were> > distraught because he was so difficult... a couple> > years later my husband had the younger brother

also> > AS I'm sure... and again no Dx... no> > understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked...> > Most of these kids should have been classified ED-> > Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts> > don't want to apply that label either... that would> > mean they'd have to do something about it... > > > > > > > > I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the> > counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never> > heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality> > of it... or was it because these kids are smart...> > they didn't want to have to squander special> > education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when> > they were succeeding academically? > > > > > > > > With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... > > I am honestly thinking about

looking into a> > PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't make a> > difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about> > sensing something was horribly askew, but not being> > given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68-> > no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has> > NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is...> > thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this> > after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to> > attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>> > > > > > > > I just spent the better part of the last month> > with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July-> > mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this> > is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... > > > > > > > > ? about Social Security Eligibility...

Social> > Security Disability- last January after my step-son> > had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a> > counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD> > and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to> > WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could> > be Acute Chronic Depression... CC> > > > > > > > Carm Cole> > > > Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. > > ~Lillian Braun~> > > > Photography> > > > http://www.pbase.com/carmcole > > > > > > > > > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 -> > Release Date: 8/14/2007 5:19 PM>

> > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________> Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the Auto Green Center.> http://autos./green_center/> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new

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Thanks Chris! We are in Burlington. Just got someone from HSS to visit this morning. Will help with the paperwork, and she got us on all kind of waitinglists. Veerle.<cmcintosh5@...> wrote: HI GUYS Thanks Velvet for not leaving her stranded ~ yes I was busy busy busy this

week Here is another great link Fill it out and get your doctor to fill it out! If your child has an official diagnoses of autism / aspergers they should qualify ~ My husband and I have disability tax credit for my son. It is also retroactive so it should go back to the original diagnoses date. My friend ( whom I had advised ) had a return of almost 10 grand!! My other friend had a return of 4 grand . I myself had almost four as well.. So get it done LOL It also increases your child tax benefit monthly too. http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t2201/t2201-06e.pdf We are in Halton Region... There are many services available ( although certainly we all need more!) http://www.asohalton.org/ This is the Ontario autism

Society link another GREAT place to start. What area are you in? I can get more specific as well for you and find some more local services to your area ~ for example http://www.autismontario.com/summercamp here is a link to the Summer camp fund! Its there... Its not vastly advertised.. Yet if we get the word out to parents.. We can make a difference and make sure that our children can become an important asset to society. OH ya and I have also had my son in Special Olympics.. Autism qualified. This is a great place where your child can also realize their strengths and gain a perspective on empathy and compassion with others who are less able or.. More able as well. HUGGS! From Chris.. Mom in Ontario -- Re: ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > It took even longer in Canada for Aspergers to be recognized and my dd didn't receive her DX until she was 14 yrs old (2002), 3 yrs (1999) after my identical twin boys were both DX with HFA NOS, wh ich was later modified to 2 separate DXs, 1 son Aspergers (modified DX 2001), the other sons DX unchanged. Our pediatric neurologist said he couldn't DX our other son Aspergers because of his speech delays. Our boys were 3 yrs old

when originally DX.> > Interestingly enough our pediatric neurologist on one of our follow up apts looked at my dh and said "You realize you have Aspergers as well, don't you, but I am a pediatric neurologist and you are too old for me to DX now, but if I had saw you when you were little I would have never DX you as hyperactive, I would have DX you as Autistic."> > He offered to refer my dh to someone who could DX him but my dh didn't see the need of it as he had coped his whole life with it and done pretty well. It is on my dh medical file and both our family doctor and my boys social worker agree he has it, but he has no official DX.> > Also although my dd received an official DX it changed absolutely nothing for us in the way of services. The DX did help her to understand why she was different socially, and that made it worth it. Our provincial social services are so overwhelmed

that in order to receive help your DX must be of some severity and hers is mild partly because she is female and partly because she was already 14 when DX. Also we were already receiving services for our twin boys so they felt it wasn't right for us to access anymore funding for our dd. > > Lots of services have been unavailable here such as ABA therapy, and social skills groups. We have been fighting for years now for these services to be created for our children so they can improve and the province is starting to create them, but my boys were already 7 before they were even started. In 2006 our more severe son finally started receiving ABA services through the school system. He w as 9 1/2 yrs old at the time. Our other son receives no ABA services as he is not severe enough to qualify.> > So we have done everything on our own for our dd and have made many mistakes along the way, and several

things alone for our twins as well. I so totally agree with you. I would have loved to have known then what I know now, when I was raising her. Hindsight is definitely 20/20.> > Marie> Helping you earn $ at home> www.freedom4families.com> > > > > > > > ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...> > At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... > >

When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... > > The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I'm sure it's not.... it's just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000's... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperg er's kids... > > As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones

were Asperger's... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20's... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I'm sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don't want to apply that label either... that would mean they'd have to do something about it... & gt; > I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn't want

to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically? > > With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't make a difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>> > I just spe nt the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... > > ? about Social Security

Eligibility... Social Security Disability-last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC> > Carm Cole> Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~> Photography> http://www.pbase.com/carmcole > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/1 4/2007 5:19 PM> > > > > ---------------------------------> > No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus

Database: 269.11.19/956 - Release Date: 16/08/2007 9:48 AM> > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new > Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Answers.

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Hi Marie, I got someone someone over today from the Coordinated Intake , Developmental Services. She brought a lot of paperwork to fill out, and apply for services. According to her, we will get $$ for Special Services at home (up to $10,000)(to use for personal development of the child, for parental relief, for help with therapy exercises etc.), $$ for respite, a monthly check (up to $410.00 if your annual income is less then about $40,000) for Assitance for children with severe disabilities, a disability tax credit. It is a lot of paperwork, but I seems to be worth it. Veerle.Marie Downey <rmdowney@...> wrote: Wow I guess I have a lot to learn From my understanding here in my province of New Brunswick we have been told that children with ASD get better services in Alberta than in Ontario and in Alberta services last longer than in Ontario as well. That is why we ruled out moving to Ontario as our twin boys are already 11. We did consider Alberta though because services there we were told go to age 18 and here our boys are already without many services that would be helpful and our income is too low to pay for them plus the trained workers have

to come from another province as ours doesn't have enough to go around either. Interesting information. Gives me more to ponder. Thanks Marie Helping you earn $ at home www.freedom4families.com ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...> > At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... > > When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by

his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... > > The media would have you believe that AUTISM is on the rise... I'm sure it's not.... it's just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000's... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperger's kids... > > As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger's... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his

early 20's... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I'm sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don't want to apply that label either... that would mean they'd have to do something about it... > > I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn't want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding

academically? > > With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't make a difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... has NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>> > I just spent the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... > > ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability-last January after my step-son had quit yet another

job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC> > Carm Cole> Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~> Photography> http://www.pbase.com/carmcole > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/14/2007 5:19 PM> > > > > ---------------------------------> > No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/956 - Release Date: 16/08/2007 9:48 AM> > > >

> > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new > Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Answers. No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.0/959 - Release Date: 17/08/2007 5:43 PM Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new

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Awesome Hon!!! It will help for sure!! Burlington is really close then!

-- Re: ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> ; > > It took even longer in Canada for Aspergers to be recognized and my dd didn't receive her DX until she was 14 yrs old (2002), 3 yrs (1999) after my identical twin boys were both DX with HFA NOS, wh ich was later modified to 2 separate DXs, 1 son Aspergers (modified DX 2001), the other sons DX unchanged. Our pediatric neurologist said he couldn't DX our other son Aspergers because of his speech delays. Our boys were 3 yrs old when originally DX.> > Interestingly enough our pediatric neurologist on one of our follow up apts looked at my dh and said "You realize you have Aspergers as well, don't you, but I am a pediatric neurologist and you are too old for me to DX now, but if I had saw you when you were little I would have never DX you as hyperactive, I would have DX you as Autistic."> > He offered to refer my dh to someone who could DX him but my dh didn't see the need of it a s he had coped his whole life with it and done pretty well. It is on my dh medical file and both our family doctor and my boys social worker agree he has it, but he has no official DX.> > Also although my dd received an official DX it changed absolutely nothing for us in the way of services. The DX did help her to understand why she was different socially, and that made it worth it. Our provincial social services are so overwhelmed that in order to receive help your DX must be of some severity and hers is mild partly because she is female and partly because she was already 14 when DX. Also we were already receiving services for our twin boys so they felt it wasn't right for us to access anymore funding for our dd. > > Lots of services have been unavailable here such as ABA therapy, and social skills groups. We have been fighting for years now for these services to be created for our children so they can improve and the province is starting to create them, but my boys were already 7 before they were even started. In 2006 our more severe son finally started receiving ABA services through the school system. He w as 9 1/2 yrs old at the time. Our other son receives no ABA services as he is not severe enough to qualify.> > So we have done everything on our own for our dd and have made many mistakes along the way, and several things alone for our twins as well. I so totally agree with you. I would have loved to have known then what I know now, when I was raising her. Hindsight is definitely 20/20.> > Marie> Helping you earn $ at home> www.freedom4families.com> > > > > > > > ( ) The luxury of an AS diagnosis...> > > I find myself envying all of you who had some professional accurately diagnose your children...> > At least you can draw from all the resources out there and help your kids instead of wondering what the heck is wrong... beating yourself up for not being able to figure it out... > > When I tell you all that my step-son is 27 and to our knowledge has never been diagnosed... is despised by his older biological brother who has written him off as this major pain in the neck who colored his families- family of origin and then blended family- with all kinds of negative behavior... on a recent visit home would not allow him to stay with him, his wife and new baby... is fearful because of his ignorance... > > The media would have you believe that AUTISM i s on the rise... I'm sure it's not.... it's just that kids are actually being correctly diagnosed in the 2000's... especially the ones who are on the high end of the autistic spectrum... Those who can communicate- Asperg er's kids... > > As a retired teacher I am SO completely and thoroughly disgusted that so many kids slipped through the cracks...no diagnosis and no understanding... I can actually look back and I know which ones were Asperger's... one of my former students who was definitely AS- committed suicide... in his early 20's... He was taken out of a classroom and put into my classroom halfway through the year my first year teaching... When my students heard this young man was joining our class they were distraught because he was so difficult... a couple years later my husband had the younger brother also AS I'm sure... and again no Dx... no understanding... just a weird kid... no one liked... Most of these kids should have been classified ED- Emotionally Disturbed... but the school districts don't want to apply that label either... that would mean they'd have to do something about it... & gt; > I sit here and cry as I write this... Were all the counselors asleep at the switch? Had they never heard of it? I have to assume that is the reality of it... or was it because these kids are smart... they didn't want to have to squander special education $$$ to meet their emotional needs when they were succeeding academically? > > With a Masters in Elementary Ed...and retired... I am honestly thinking about looking into a PhD-specialized to AS to see if I can't make a difference... Mostly I think I'm just so angry about sensing something was horribly askew, but not being given the key to unlock the door... My AS-BIL is 68- no diagnosis... he tries to diagnose himself... ha s NO CLUE how horribly socially inappropriate he is... thinks he is an introvert with agoraphobia... this after he flew from Phoenix to Buffalo- alone to attend a 50th HS Reunion... <SIGH>> > I just spe nt the better part of the last month with them... a week with my BIL and mid-July- mid-August with my step-son... on and off... so this is why this is all so fresh and upsetting to me... > > ? about Social Security Eligibility... Social Security Disability-last January after my step-son had quit yet another job... my DH took him to a counselor- and she seemed to think he could get SSD and subsidized housing... again we are not privy to WHY... HIPA laws and all... his main diagnosis could be Acute Chronic Depression... CC> > Carm Cole> Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Braun~> Photography> http://www.pbase.com/carmcole > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/953 - Release Date: 8/1 4/2007 5:19 PM> > > > > ---------------------------------> > No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.11.19/956 - Release Date: 16/08/2007 9:48 AM> > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new >

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