Simply The Best

I haven't posted in a while...there has just has just been so much going on. It has been a month and a half packed full of progress, changes, and huge accomplishments.

Kaden's regular school year finished a few weeks ago, and he has since started a summer program. The progress we have seen in Kaden since he started school in March has been amazing, and we are continuing to see more progress each and every day. It's as if a whole new world opened up for him, and he is slowly coming out of his world of "Autism." I know, we have been saying that for the last year, but I honestly cannot believe the significant changes we are seeing in him on a day to day basis.

He is using so many more words to communicate, and even starting to put two words together. He is able to express wit and humor in his communication, just the other day I said to him "Kaden, you are getting so big. You are growing up!" and he said "no mom, DOWN!!!!" and at the same time he squatted down and then jumped back up. We both laughed, and I could not believe what he had just done. These are the moments I live for!

So, his regular school year ended and he has since started an extended school year program. We also got a call from Early Learning Institute and they had an opening for their afternoon preschool, which Kaden has been on the waiting list to get into. So, he is now going to school for 7 hours on Tuesday's and Thursday's. He goes to his special day class Tues-Fri from 9-1 and then on Tues/Thur after his morning class I take him down to ELI in Rohnert Park until 4pm. This is in addition to his outside Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and  in home Behavioral Therapy. Yes, intense for a 3 year old!!! But just as we anticipated, he is thriving more than ever. He is such an amazing little man, and the more we throw at him the more he continues to impress us.

We still have some things to work out on the IEP front...it's been 4 months and we still have not signed off on the speech portion of the IEP. The school district's opinion on what is most appropriate for Kaden is not consistent with what we know Kaden needs. We have been waiting months to get him in to see his Pediatric Neurologist at UCSF, in hopes that she would give him an Apraxia diagnosis to better support the recommendations that have been made from his Speech Therapist and Developmental Pediatrician. 

So in true form, I spent hours preparing data from previous reports, my own research on the subject, and why I thought an Apraxia diagnosis would be appropriate for him at this time. I communicated all of this via email with the Pediatric Neurologist (Dr. Marco), and when we went to see her last week.  After reviewing the information I provided to her, and doing her own neurological evaluation, she said that it seemed as if we were right on track with what Kaden needs. So, she made it official and gave him an Apraxia diagnosis! Again, one of those moments that I felt as if I was on top of the world!!!

So, now he has an Apraxia diagnosis...what does this mean and what is apraxia? Basically, the school district  has not felt as if Kaden's speech delay is primarily a motor planning type speech delay, and they have felt it is best to treat it as a typical speech delay. Research clearly states that motor type speech delays (Apraxia) are treated very different than your typical phonological speech delay. This type of speech delay requires a much more intensive speech program, typically 1:1, 3-5 times a week for at least 30 minutes each session. So, now it all comes down to the data.

I recently contacted a representative SELPA (who acts as a mediator between the school district and the family), and he is confident that our latest evaluation from UCSF should be exactly what we need to get the school district to finally comply with what we are asking for as it relates to Kaden's speech therapy program. This parent advocate has been extremely helpful, and I am so grateful that these programs are in place to help families fight for what is appropriate for their children. As a parent you would never think it would be so challenging to get what is most appropriate for your child, but just as with everything else it comes down to money and man power. The schools don't have money, therefore it is up to the families to fight tooth & nail to get what their children need. Without the fight, your child is most likely going to get the bare minimum from the school district.

As most of you know, we don't settle for the "bare minimum." Kaden deserves better than that, and we are going to always make sure he gets the best!!!