Hello ladies. I need to talk with other moms of HOM that have one or more on the autism spectrum. We are looking into starting Ethan on an ABA model and I want to get some input from other parents regarding the impact it has on the child with the disorder and the other multiples. The model has an intense program of 30-40 hrs a week in home therapy which would leave no room for any other therapies. We are currently doing ST and OT through the courage center and he would be starting pre-school 4 days a week in the fall. He would be getting about 10 hrs a week at preschool plus another 4 hours a week at the courage center if we stayed with what we are currently doing. My anxiety is over "isolating" him by pulling him out of everything. Will it cause a problem with his brothers that he would not be going to preschool with them. Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Chris
Mother to BBBBB
born at 28.3 weeks

http://lilypie.com>

My DS had 11 hrs of ABA for a year before he started pre-K Disable..It really did help in every aspect from speech to social skills to total eye contact, and so on. He started pre k on November last year (8 months) and is only getting 20 minutes of speech 3x a week and 20 min of OT but believe or not he is doing absolutely great! Needless to say we had some set backs here and there but nothing compared to wthat we had before ABA! I personally think that 40 hrs is a bit excessive (but that's me) I am sure there is a reason for them to recommend such extreme/ extensive model. But wanted to let you know that to me ABA was the key to our now very smart, social, totally sweet little boy! If is worth to you I'll say go for it..give it a try and see if it works for him and you! perhaps they'll adjust the hrs as he progresses!time will tell. HTH Good luck Ivy



http://by.lilypie.com/sUj6

Hi Chris,

Well I am new to the multiples world (due this fall with triplets) but my dd is 11 and has autism so we have been in the autism world for a while! Have you looked into any other therapies that would not take him away from his siblings as much? RDI and PLAY can both incorporate the whole family and aren't as rigid on amount of contact hours per day. RDI can actually be really fun for all of the kids because so much of it involves siblings. We have done it all over the years so let me know if you have questions or want anymore info.

Good luck!

Jessica

Jessica
Mom to Parker, McKenna, ^Hadley^ born 10/9/07 28w5d
little brother Sawyer
and big sister Ashlyn
www.fourplusanangel.com

HI:
We have been doing aba with our dd for about 2+years. We also started with the intensive services 35+ hrs a week. We did the intensive hours until she started Kindergarten. Once in Kindergarten we went to 15 hrs a week. I had dd in private therapies before aba (speech, ot, pt, early childhood etc) She did continue to go to ecse classes during the school year and some private speech, ot and pt during the summertime. I strongly believe that dd has had the most success with the aba services. We have a company do the aba with dd. Many of the things we include her sisters in. DD biggest motivator is getting the "reward" of playtime with sisters. We will be ending services when the girls start first grade this fall. At that time we will be in the monitoring stage where they chech in with the family a few times a month for six months.. ABA is a huge committment but will worth it.
Jen Winters
Triplets 6 1/2
Emma 3 1/2

I tried ABA with little success with my son. It made him much more withdrawn. One of my other children is moderately impaired and takes as much time as my severly impaired son to work with. I just couldn't live with such a time consuming and structured schedule. We were most successful with playproject (aka floortime) and sensory diet. Both activities could incorporate social skills which both of my impaired sons were lacking. With some of the anxiety relieved, I can apply a kinder and gentler modified version of aba with some success. RDI and psychotherapy is looking like our next steps. Good luck!!

Chris

Hi --

We have been doing RDI with our son for over a year and he is doing just AWESOME!! RDI is a therapy that is parent-based, in that it can incorporate the whole family. Our girls have been part of many of our RDI activities with Kirby. Many times if you were to be a fly on the wall "watching us do RDI" with Kirby you would think that we are just going about our daily routine, or playing games together, or just having fun together. It is very easily adapted into the family lifestyle. Check out their website www.rdiconnect.com. One of the most glowing endorsements that I can make for RDI is this -- I have a sister-in-law with a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education/Autism. She spent her undergraduate and graduate college years working with children on the spectrum. She has been an autism preschool teacher with the local public school system (ages 3-4) for 8 years. She has decided to LEAVE her job and become a RDI CONSULTANT because she believes so strongly in RDI and that this is the future direction of Autism therapy.

We are actually having a golf tournament this Friday to raise money for autism research and awareness of autism and RDI. You can read more about our family's story on our website www.HitItFarr4Kirby.org.

Feel free to contact me if I can be of any help to you, and best of luck.
Deb
Proud Mom to g/g/b
Born at 34 weeks on 6/23/03

We have been running an ABA program for 4 years. I know that they recommend 30-40 hours, but you need to consider your family and your child when making that decision. Some kids do great with that kind of structure. Some kids don't respond well to that much treatment. My son was only 2 years 3 months old when we started and we only started with 20 hours a week. In addition we did ST and OT. We also did structured activities with him and his brothers when he wasn't in therapy. My opinion . . . . 30-40 hours relates to the time they are spending in structured activities not necessarily ABA drilling. You will be trained in ABA methodoligies and you can incorporate those in your every day life.

"My anxiety is over "isolating" him by pulling him out of everything. Will it cause a problem with his brothers that he would not be going to preschool with them." See, you have answered your own question. You, as his mom, knows what is best for your child. I used to doubt myself in the beginning, but my gut has been correct every time.

Good Luck!

Colleen
Mom to Connor, Alec & Devon
5/10/2001

http://lilypie.com>