I spent some time yesterday talking with a woman about her 15 year old son who has autism. We visit every week or so and she updates me on his quirks and struggles. I offer her advice and she does the same for me. She has grown on me over the last couple of years - a bit of a quirky woman herself. She works hard, is honest, kind and dedicated to her boy.
And so I was floored when she asked me this question yesterday, "How do I go about getting a diagnosis for my son?"
You mean he's never been diagnosed? He is fifteen years old! This boy clearly has autism. She knows it. I know it. He struggles every single day. There is a family history of either autism or other related disorders. This boy isn't on an IEP. He isn't on a 504. He is simply thrown out in the pool of kids that "aren't making it". Why???
I'll tell you why. It's because some people have resources and some people don't. It's really just that simple. This woman has no insurance. Her ex-husband is disabled. She has nobody to stand up for her. And her son isn't "autistic" enough. Oh believe me - he's autistic. Just not "enough" for the schools to ever qualify him for an IEP. Now, if she had $1000 (or insurance) she could take him to be tested privately and he'd receive a diagnosis. Then she could come back to the schools well armed and they would happily put him on an IEP or a 504. Then he would legally receive help and services and be protected.
There is absolutely no excuse for a 15 year old autistic boy to be in the schools without an IEP or 504. There is no reason for a single mother to not understand how to receive a diagnosis for her child - to have no idea where to go and who to trust. Diagnosing autism (or any related childhood illness) is NOT just for the wealthy and upper middle class. ALL children deserve a chance at treatment and recovery.
When we took AshLee in for help through the county's mental health department, they wouldn't give her a diagnosis because in their words "they didn't want to label her". So instead she dropped out in middle school and got her GED. Even when you try to get help, sometimes it's not there either.
ReplyDeleteKrystal
That is exactly the problem. She should have received an appropriate diagnosis by someone qualified to do so. Not been told that she shouldn't be "labeled". She was already labeled! ONLY with a diagnosis can children receive help and legal protection/services at school. When families reach out for help they should be given help. In my experience families don't reach out for help for their child unless they really need it.
ReplyDeletePlease see my post from 2011 - Early Intervention - for my own experience with the Early Intervention program.
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