Today marks Ava's last day of early intervention, on Sunday she turns three and will be entering preschool next week. I have found this last week very hard, our lives are about to change as Ava goes from having in home therapy to outside therapy. It is also hard as the parent, the support you get with early intervention is amazing and it was hard to say goodbye to so many great people that have worked so hard with Ava. I am not one to post my life details all over Facebook and I don't do a lot of vague booking either. I wanted to share this post because I have seen first hand how important early intervention is and it has challenged me so much but I have learned so much that I wanted to share so it could help others.
Ava started with early intervention at about 3 months. We moved when she was 6 months old and she continued early intervention every week with a physical therapist. At her one year evaluation which she was a little over a year and half, it was noticed that she was behind in communication, social, and play skills.
Today also marks a year since Ava was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Before our evaluation, I already knew she had Autism, so thankful that God had prepared me ahead of time. When we lived in South Carolina, I took a job working with a little girl that had Autism, I remember thinking to myself "I feel so bad for her parents this is such hard work and so exhausting". After we moved to New Hampshire, I was going through my paperwork from my previous job and saw that Ava had a lot of the signs listed on the sheet for Autism. I threw the paperwork away and kept that thought to myself, out of sight and out of mind. A few weeks later one of the members working with Ava brought up having Ava evaluated for Autism. After that I started reading and took a test called an M-CHAT which is a test that screens for the risk of ASD. She scored in the highest category for being at risk.
We filled out the paperwork for the evaluation and were told it could be up to 6 months for an appointment (we turned the paperwork in around September 2014). In October I went to a family function where to my unknowing a family member observed Ava and had another family break the findings to me. He had said he could not be specific to exactly what type of Autism she had but that she did have it, he said to read a lot to her and put in place more therapy.
In November my husband went down in person to see if there was anything we could do to get in sooner, the woman he spoke with said actually they had a cancellation and she could be seen the next day (totally divine intervention). He called me up and told me and I then called Ava's case manager who was able to move her schedule around and be at the evaluation to offer insight on the medical side about Ava.
The evaluation lasted about 2 hours, when they came back into the room and told me that she had Autism, I cried.
This last year has been hard; I think one of the most challenging years of my life so far. Learning what I thought would be and how it really is; took me a while to accept that. I always fluttered around what I wanted to do with my life, what I should be when I grow up. God has pointed me towards education, which is crazy cause little kids used to scare me! I am getting my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Autism.
I share all this because I want people to know that you know your child the best and if you think something is off or different push for them, you are your child's best advocate! I have learned this as I deal with insurance, school, and military programs. If you have questions please email, I will try and help anyway I can. I had to walk this road alone and I know support is so crucial when first starting out on this journey.
Ava started with early intervention at about 3 months. We moved when she was 6 months old and she continued early intervention every week with a physical therapist. At her one year evaluation which she was a little over a year and half, it was noticed that she was behind in communication, social, and play skills.
Today also marks a year since Ava was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Before our evaluation, I already knew she had Autism, so thankful that God had prepared me ahead of time. When we lived in South Carolina, I took a job working with a little girl that had Autism, I remember thinking to myself "I feel so bad for her parents this is such hard work and so exhausting". After we moved to New Hampshire, I was going through my paperwork from my previous job and saw that Ava had a lot of the signs listed on the sheet for Autism. I threw the paperwork away and kept that thought to myself, out of sight and out of mind. A few weeks later one of the members working with Ava brought up having Ava evaluated for Autism. After that I started reading and took a test called an M-CHAT which is a test that screens for the risk of ASD. She scored in the highest category for being at risk.
We filled out the paperwork for the evaluation and were told it could be up to 6 months for an appointment (we turned the paperwork in around September 2014). In October I went to a family function where to my unknowing a family member observed Ava and had another family break the findings to me. He had said he could not be specific to exactly what type of Autism she had but that she did have it, he said to read a lot to her and put in place more therapy.
In November my husband went down in person to see if there was anything we could do to get in sooner, the woman he spoke with said actually they had a cancellation and she could be seen the next day (totally divine intervention). He called me up and told me and I then called Ava's case manager who was able to move her schedule around and be at the evaluation to offer insight on the medical side about Ava.
The evaluation lasted about 2 hours, when they came back into the room and told me that she had Autism, I cried.
This last year has been hard; I think one of the most challenging years of my life so far. Learning what I thought would be and how it really is; took me a while to accept that. I always fluttered around what I wanted to do with my life, what I should be when I grow up. God has pointed me towards education, which is crazy cause little kids used to scare me! I am getting my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Autism.
I share all this because I want people to know that you know your child the best and if you think something is off or different push for them, you are your child's best advocate! I have learned this as I deal with insurance, school, and military programs. If you have questions please email, I will try and help anyway I can. I had to walk this road alone and I know support is so crucial when first starting out on this journey.
This is beautiful, Trina! I had heard that Ava was diagnosed, but did not know all that you were going through with it. I would like to encourage you to get in touch with Joni and Friends - New England, 603/218-3650, http://www.joniandfriends.org/new-england/. There are many children & adults with autism who participate in JAF activities. One of their outreaches is the "Moms Day Out", which could provide you with some wonderful fellowship with other parents with children with disabilities of all types. I encouraged Kelly also to connect with them, but don't know if she has. The family retreats that I go to in the summer are great places for parents & children to make friends & feel God's love for the child with special needs. Call me if you have questions about it. Love, Moe S.
ReplyDeleteYou are a fantastic mother and you have a beautiful bright daughter. I am very happy for her accomplishments and yours as well! Keep staying strong because you are doing everything right ! -Teresa Potts
ReplyDeleteShe is lucky to have you :-) she is an awesome kid
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