Re: Re: Atlanta advice needed please

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Here in RI, once the child hits 8 years old, they are no longer eligible for certain special services through the school dept w/o a diagnosis. Also, some people rely on the money their child receives through social security (which requires a dx) to off-set the cost of special food, therapies, treatments, and co-pays. You would also need a diagnosis to apply for Beckette. Take us for instance - we exceed the income limit for our son to be eligible for Social security but there is no way we could have afforded the speech and occupational therapies that he was able to receive through the school dept. Beckette will cover certain medical/therapeutic expenses. I wasn't ever in a hurry to "slap a label" on my kiddo,

either. But once we had a dx, many doors opened that wouldn't have ever been available to him otherwise. (Including the most amazing summer camp for kids on the spectrum and a visual aids class designed soley for spectrum kids-neither would be available to un-dx'd) But I suppose if money isn't an issue, then maybe a label wouldn't be much of an issue, either.

I can tell you when my son was evaled at 4, "Autism" was dismissed by the psychologist and myself because he was warm and engaged. I had one image of "autism" - I had no idea about PDD and Aspergers and how varied the spectrum really is. (I honestly don't think the psyche knew much, either) She dismissed the possiblility so I never looked into it. I knew my son wasn't "retarded", so I couldn't really make heads or tails of it and really didn't know how to help him. His teacher dropped very subtle hints to me and put taca's link on her blogspot. That changed everything. If I had had a label, I would have learned a lot more a lot sooner and would have started biomed at 4 instead of 8. Information and awareness has come a long way in the last 5 years. But let me tell you, it still has a long way to go. I thank God for Google each and everyday, because I can not stress to you the lack

of information given to me STILL even after dx. (His pediatrician being the least helpful of all, sadly enough). One quick search of the word "autism" and there's more info than one could possibly ingest all at once. But if you don't know enough to plug in that word, forget it. So I can only speak for myself when I tell you how a dx helped here.

To: mb12 valtrex Sent: Tue, March 22, 2011 2:52:29 AMSubject: Re: Atlanta advice needed please

What's the point of a diagnosis other than a label?> >> > We live in Cumming GA and need to have our child evaluated to determine if he is> > on spectrum or what on earth is going on! Ha. I need names for child> > development pediatrician or child psychologists in the Metro Atlanta area that> > you would recommend. I did contact Dr Bussey but they aren't seeing new> > patients till 2012!!! Any suggestions will

be greatly appreciated. I also> > welcome any people you would NOT use so we don't waste time and money. Thanks> >>