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ABA coverage? floor therapy?
Hi ladies -
I posted here before about my concerns with my DS (PDD?) and unfortunately they were validated by the developmental pedi. You all were very supportive of me, and I really appreciate it.
I do need some advice. The DP recommended to do ABA therapy but I cannot find anyone who accepts insurance. If you have ABA, is yours private too? How much money should I plan to allocate?
Floor therapy: do you do this with your LO? Any books you recommend to read?
I am heartbroken, but I know I need to get my ducks in a row now so I can help my son.
Lastly, the news crashed DH, and I think he may want out. I totally understand and sympathise but am scared to be alone. I guess I have no question here, just sharing....
Thanks so much.
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Re: ABA coverage? floor therapy?
I just wanted to offer some support, having been in your shoes just a few months ago... the first few days/weeks are without a doubt the toughest. But like my doc told me, that day you get the diagnosis is probably the worst day you'll ever have in dealing with your son- from that day forward it's about looking ahead and once you have therapies in place, you'll see progress before your eyes.
That being said, I can't speak to private ABA therapy, as our insurance covers the cost of it. Do you have a local Autism Speaks Chapter in your area? Perhaps that would be a good starting point in identifying potential providers. Does your insurance offer any lists or resources? I have no clue how much Sylvie's therapy would be out of pocket, so I'll be curious as to other people's responses.
In addition to ABA, we do speech and OT with DD... she also sees a developmental specialist through EI once a week- while that's not formal Floortime, it's very kid-led, which is similar to the Floortime model. I don't do Floortime with DD per se, but over time, I've learned to interact and play with her in a way that I think mirrors the basic concepts of Floortime. I'd say her therapy is primarily ABA-based, though (following her lead, expanding on the play she's doing, helping her apply skills in one area to another, etc.).
Sorry I couldn't answer your questions, but I just want you to know you're NOT alone. And your DH is actually reacting to the news pretty typically, unfortunately. Seems many dads are less equipped (emotionally) to deal with the actual diagnosis once it comes than moms are (not ALL dads, just some!) Give yourselves (BOTH) some time to let this news sink in and take stock of your feelings in a little bit... hopefully you'll feel a little stronger and better-equipped to handle the future.
Good luck!!!
I am sorry things are so scary and unknown right now.
Stanley Greenspan is the creator of the DIR/Floortime model. Here are the websites. He has numerous books. I think there are online conferences too.
https://www.icdl.com/dirFloortime/overview/index.shtml
www.stanleygreenspan.com
Looks like there are some SLPs and OTs in your area who are DIR certificate candidates. Maybe you should contact one of these SLPs? https://www.icdl.com/usprograms/clinicians/TEXAS.shtml
ABA and DIR/Floortime are polar opposite approaches to working with children with PDD/autism. Some people follow one protocol, some follow the other, some find a combination of the two that works best for their child. Are you/have you had an ST and OT evaluation?
Hang in there. It will become more clear and less scary.
Hello - our insurance doesn't cover ABA, so we asked our Regional Center to cover it. They do and share the cost with our School district, that provides the same, but in terms of a "shadow" (personal teacher) at preschool.
Depending on how old your child is, these two gov bodies can pay for ABA/floor time. If your insurance covers it, great - just know there is an option, if it doesn't. Otherwise, paying out of pocket would be crazy, esp with ABA....the therapy is usually VERY intense in terms of time...so paying for 30 hrs/week at a rate of $200-400 per hour (roughly) would be crazy. That's why we have Regional Centers. You should make a call to them in any case and see what therapies they can pay for you.
I'm really sorry about your H. Hopefully, he will come around and support you in this difficult time. People deal with this sort of stuff differently. It took me a lot longer than it did my H, for example.
GL!
OMG! I had no idea that not all states have Reg Ctrs! Wow...I mean what do you people do? What if your ins doesn't cover therapies, esp something SO expensive as ABA?? I honestly thought this was nationwide! Anyway, OP - I'm sorry for misleading you...the info Auntie provided should be the route you take, then. I hope your Early Intervention or School District can still help you out. Like I said, our School District pays for a good amount of ABA hours for us (15hrs/week). Our Reg Ctr picks up the tab for the other 15 hrs. GL!
This is what I know from my RC coordinator (yes, we're in Los Angeles) - the RC is a hub not just for ASD but for all disabilities. I have a friend who used their (free) ST services because her son had a speech delay only. Yes, the ASD diagnosis opens up a wider range of services for you, but (in theory) that shouldn't be the case. I'm saying in theory, because CA is going through a rough patch, let's say, and funding is getting cut. But, when we started it was really easy to get services for whatever (2 years ago). Another mom I know got all the services we got for our boy, and her son only had a dx of Dev delays. At the age of 5, the expensive therapies end, though, if you have just this "lesser" dx. But, for us - RC has been a lifesaver. There is no way we would have been able to afford the expensive ST, OT and ABA, even Parent Floortime Workshop I went through for 8 weeks - all paid by RC. Then, when my son turned 3, the School District came into the picture and now shares the cost with RC. We don't pay a penny. And it's not income-based by the way (which is highly controversial, IMO - because I personally know very WEALTHY people here in L.A. that take advantage of the free services as well....Jenny McCartney used RC, she even said it in her book). Well, anyway - that's why I was asking how others (outside of CA) can afford all of this. IMO this is not feasible for regular middle class people, such as me and my H. ABA alone is crazy expensive.
It looks like Texas does have a law requiring insurance to cover ABA once the child turns three, here's the article
https://www.autismspeaks.org/inthenews/texas_insurance.php
But, you may have to research to see if you need an Autism dx to get it covered. My state has a similar law and we took out a private policy for my ds since my dh employer is self-funded and not required to follow the law. My providers are all private and all considered out of network, and the insurance company recognizes this, they have their own ABA processing department to handle this complicated ordeal. The small amount of providers out there I think make it impossible for them to have contracts with certain insurance companies. In the end, our insurance pays for them as if they are in network.
Look into the avenues other posters have given. You may find something there too. Good luck.