Another Opportunity To Share Coltons Story
I was approached with another opportunity this past week to share our experience with Skip Dynamic Partners Birth To Three program and I gladly accepted. I just thought I would share what was written with you all. Albeit it isn't anything new. I'm just so happy to share Coltons progress with anyone and everyone. It will always be a journey but being able to focus on the positive aspects and joys of it mean so much to me. Enjoy!
I first noticed something was different about my son Colton when he was
very little. I brushed a lot of it aside just telling myself I was
probably overreacting. He hit all of his milestones so I figured
everything was okay. When he was fourteen months old he started
whispering and by fifteen months he stopped talking completely. We began
to worry and expressed our fears at his eighteen month checkup. Our
doctor suggested waiting until he was two before we really investigated
this. It was during this wait time I watch many other strange things
begin to manifest in my son. After doing a lot of research on my own I
began to believe he was autistic. At his two year checkup in June I
insisted my doctor refer us to Children's Autism Center in Seattle. We
had our appointment there in August and they referred us to get his
tested for developmental delay and autism. We scheduled an evaluation
with Skip Dynamic Partners Birth to Three program for that September. It
was at this appointment my son was classified as developmentally
delayed. It was of course difficult to receive but we were just happy to
be able to start helping him. A month later we had him tested at a
center in Federal Way and he was diagnosed as autistic level two. We
began therapies with Skip in October starting with OT therapy. My son
has really bonded with his OT and we have watched so much growth and
development come from it. By the beginning of November he was saying
"Mama" and a few other words. It was at this time we also added on
Speech therapy. It is now March and I'm happy to report that my son has
grown from a child who was afraid of many sounds and other children, who
couldn't talk at all to now a child who is responsive to others and
becoming very talkative. We couldn't be happier. I'm sad our time is
growing short with Skip, they have truly been a godsend to us. If you
are interested in knowing more I highly suggest reading my blog at coltonsmama2011.blogspot.com.
I am proud of what my son has accomplished and I have so much hope for
his future. We owe a lot to the therapists at Skip, they will always
have a special place in our hearts.
In Closing
As always thank you for reading and for your continued support. I'm so proud of my son. Some days can be especially tough but I wouldn't change him "cure" him for the world. I embrace my sons autism. Without it he wouldn't be who he is. I continue to learn so much from him and others in the autism community. I have to admit I'm pleasantly surprised at how well we all support each other. The strongest women I have ever met I have met while on this journey and I am proud to be among them.
Roller Coaster Ride
The Downs
I may as well start with the negative so as always I can end on a better note. I guess I will start with the school tours.
Public School
So we went about a week ago to visit the public school Colton would be going to in the fall.Keep in mind I really went in there with an open mind however what I found was difficult to process. First off the classroom is in a portable. It isn't even a real classroom. Then let's look at teacher-child ratio. There are two aides for twelve kids. It's okay but certainly not ideal. While it seemed that it wasn't a horrid place I will be honest. What I saw was chairs with restraints and what appeared to be a school dedicated to keeping these kids in special education not helping the ones who have potential get eventually integrated.Of course I am being a little biased, I truly have no real experience with the public school system and their developmental delay preschools but I just left there feeling sick. I dislike how the public school system defines my child as low functioning when I know he is very high functioning, almost a savant in some ways. I also don't appreciate that he would be only 3 years old and in school five days a week for six hours a day.
ABA School
One week prior to our public school visit we went to tour an ABA school. Not only is this a school where Colton would receive all of his behavioral therapy but they are guiding children to be able to get into regular 1st grade. They divide them up by ability not how they fall on a "normal" scale. In short they would be teaching my son to read, not strapping him to a chair. Also the teacher-student ratio is three teacher/aides to one child. That in itself is amazing. Here comes the negative news, our insurance of course does not cover behavioral therapies including ABA,not only that the school doesn't even work with our insurance company brand. Oh and did I mention it's $1,600 a month if you are self pay like we would be?! Yeah well we are pretty much back at square one.
Upcoming Surgery
I found out recently that a surgery I've been putting off can no longer be put off. It could be as easy as just three incisions and two weeks of healing or it could turn into a much more major surgery with a recovery time of ten weeks or so. This of course means it will be very difficult to deal with my toddler especially because he is so attached to me and doesn't comprehend other peoples feelings or pain (essentially like many with ASD he lacks sympathy). Thankfully my husband will be able to take some time off but I'm just having a hard time picturing how this will work out for my son or I. Albeit without this surgery things could be so much worse for everyone so I'm just going to go in with positive thinking, it's all I can do.
The Ups
Colton continues to be bursting with new words. He is responding so well to therapy at this point my expectations and hopes increase each day. I am so proud of how far he has come and how hard he works. He is really into spelling lately. If he sees a word he spells it out, I could listen to him do that all day! He has started to become more confident in himself as well. I believe that he is meant for some truly great things. He has started to create real bonds, maybe it's only with adults but it's definitely a start. Raising children is hard work, raising one with special needs is indeed a journey but I wouldn't trade it for anything! What's normal anyways? :)
In Closing
Again thank you as always for reading and for your continued support. Autism awareness has come a long way but we still have a long road ahead but I truly believe that someday things will be so much better, more informative, easier. I also truly believe the key to this is education. Every time I encounter a "non believer" or a "skeptic" I do get upset but I also choose to take it as a chance to educate. Let us not forget that some people are just ignorant, what they don't know they fear, they don't understand. We as parents of special needs children are warriors, so are our children. Together we will fight their fight, even if it seems like an endless battle it is worth it! It will always be worth it.
Sharing Our News
Today was another big day for us. Today is the day this blog went public and also the day we told everyone that is in our lives. The responses I have already received have been so positive and encouraging. We also went and made an account at BECU for Colton aka "Colton Restad Benevolent Account" and we made a "GoFund" webpage that deposits donations directly into that account. I will include the link in this post. It was really nerve-racking to send that message. It's just so much easier for me to write feelings and thoughts than it is to make phone calls. I also don't like feeling like I am coming across as "needy". However when it comes to Colton there is NOTHING I wouldn't do for my son.
On another note:
Last night my husband and I watched a wonderful movie about Autism called "Loving Lampposts". I highly recommend it. It may not be the way some parents of autistic children view autism but it reverberates much of the feelings and thoughts I have on it. I totally find myself feeling the same way as the people and parents involved with the "neurodiversity" movement. I believe the best way I can personally advocate for my son is by total acceptance and by not searching for a "cure" but searching for a way to make my son more comfortable in the world. My only job is to be Coltons mother, teacher,comforter,protecter and advocate.
I end this with my thanks to you, those who have taken the time to read my thoughts and feelings and to those who have chosen to join us on our "journey". I couldn't find continual strength through this if it wasn't for you.
http://www.gofundme.com/4qq4g8
