section 24 services - DENIED!

[Guest guest]

I can't believe it. I hadn't heard back from our case worker since he applied

for our section 24 services. I sent him an email and heard back this morning:

" Just this morning, I recieved a packet back from DHHS stating that

doesn't qualify for Section 24 services because he doesn't have a specific

diagnosis of PDD-NOS or Mental Retardation. He also needs a Vineland evaluation.

I am going to contact (left blank) as soon as I send this e-mail off to get

her to put in her 2 cents to DHHS because as I read the evaluation that you gave

me, I see a diagnosis of PDD-NOS (pg2 on the bottom) as well as references to

" " Borderline range of intellectual ability " 2/3 's of the way down page 2.

Anyway, I'll keep trying.

Could we meet in two weeks? "

I don't get it! I just sent this email to him:

Hi Mike,

I had to re-read your email twice before it sunk in, no Section 24? You've

got to be kidding me! We have a diagnosis of PDD-NOS from Dr. Gretchen Meyer, a

Neuro-Developmental Pediatrician at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia. I

think if I was to take him to someone today, 3 years later, he would be

diagnosed with full blown autism - there's no doubt!

I don't understand how there can be people who's children just have Down

syndrome and appear to be so high functioning from the bragging their parents do

about their level of functioning, yet they have qualified for Section 24? In

fact there are several posts on the local Ds support group online like this one:

" OK, so our in-home support person starts Monday. She's great--we actually met

her and pursued having her be our in-home (she does it for a child that has swim

lessons at the same time as we do).

I'm freaking out about it, for some reason. I feel like I don't know what she's

going to do that I can't do myself...or that I should be doing myself. It's

going to be a drag--like having therapists come through all over again

(sometimes I really dreaded that). Do I really need another set of hands around

here? I'll miss having " the place all to ourselves. " Now we're booked

practically every day of the week after school.

So, I need a pep talk from those of you who have in-home support. Tell me how

great it'll be and how much it will benefit(name left out). I swear, I've had my

hand on

the phone like 6 times this week to cancel. "

and this:

" we have in home support, and honestly WAY more hours than we need. I know the

workers like to have a certain number of hours, but it just doesn't work well

for

my family. We like " our time " too. The thing is, you are the consumer, you have

to take control of the service and make it work for YOU, not meet some planned

need they have. We can have up to 20 hrs a week, we typically use about 6,

except in the summers, when I work and really depend on it more. Our rules, by

the way are semi rigid: no movies, no water play activities, no bowling. has to

be something they can work on together. "

and what about this? Is this true?

" I don't know for sure, but The new regulations for CDS now may make

it easier to get IHS. IEP's now start at age 3 and every child with DS is

given a MR diagnosis (unfortunately). "

then there was this from a woman near (I've left her town out):

just called our Administrator for in home support. She says:

our program is Section 24, Children's Habilitation. Requirements for being on

it:

either MR, autism, PDD/NOS or Aspergers. Age is approx 2, for this program. Some

AGENCIES don't have the ability to program for younger kids.

Current status of Section 24: funding is there dependant on DX (must be one of

the above), and can be or not be implemented by specific agencies based on their

own staffing issues, or policies they have set regarding age.

She says:

" Ask case manager for documentation of referral for sect 24, state HAS to send a

notice back to parents, which would document the reason. The state WILL say yes

if they have the dx. " It CAN vary by who diagnoses the child, it MUST be an

accredited person. We are Region 3, and there may be implementation issues in

Region 2.

Her name, and she has said anyone could call with questions, is (left name out),

Children's Administrator Section 24/also a former case manager,

number is ... she meant it sincerely, she will accept any

calls/questions from anyone who needs direction. "

I could go on and on and on. This is so disappointing to me. I don't

understand how I can have a child with Autism AND Down syndrome whose education

is in an Autism supported classroom, mostly non-verbal, no sense of danger, and

more and more and more and yet we don't qualify?! Please help me understand how

this is possible? They have the documentation in front of them!

And why are all these other families just automatically qualifying for Section

24 just based on giving birth to a child with Ds who is now above age 2? I have

an almost 9 year old who weighs almost 70 lbs and can kick, hit, and punch me

and does!

Help!

Please know that I know you have nothing to do with this, I will not shoot the

messenger, I know you are just relaying the info you have been given. I just

don't understand. I can't believe it.

Thank you,

Jayne

Any ideas anyone? I just don't get it! His paperwork is documented with

PDD-NOS. He had an IQ test done in VA, the Leiter, a non-verbal test. He

couldn't complete the whole thing mainly in part due to his autism - it got in

the way of his being able to focus on the test. It's all documented! I don't

get it!

I could cry! My husband is in Iraq, we're having yet ANOTHER snow day, I fell

on the ice this morning and my whole body aches, my child is so autistic lately

it's not even funny and the one thing I thought was a shoe-in, well..........

UGH! Calgon!!!!!!!

J

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www.wickedbusymomto3.wordpress.com

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