On Monday November 16th, my dad's birthday, Gavin started preschool! I've been waiting until I had plenty of time to blog about this because I want to share the road we've been traveling to get this MONUMENTAL MOMENT! Bare with me, it might get long because this is something very dear to my heart.
Last November, we had Gavin's hearing tested, his eyes checked and glasses prescribed, and testing was done to qualify him for speech therapy through the infant and toddler program, which is part of Idaho's health and welfare department.
In January, he was officially accepted into the program and put on a waiting list for speech.
In March, he started receiving speech one a week for an hour from a wonderful SLP name Derek Eubanks. Gavin looked forward to seeing Derek each week, and he was good at getting Gavin to work. Between the glasses and the start of speech therapy we saw a jump forward for Gavin.
In May, we had our initial visit with the school district special education team, and we felt like they would do everything they could to help Gavin. They have an awesome special education preschool, and we felt they were going to get him into that program. We felt like things were going great.
As the summer went by I did a lot of research on Apraxia because that is what Derek thought Gavin might have. I've mentioned some of this before, but if you want to know about apraxia here's a great link apraixia-kids.org or read The Late Talker. Ben and I decided to make an appointment with a pediatric neuropsychologist, Dr. Lawson. She actually did her residency at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indiana. After reading a bunch of information, we felt it might be a good idea to have more testing done to try to help Gavin's cause in getting him what he needed and needs. And we prepared to transition to the school district, when Gavin turned three.
At the end of August, we met with the school again to officially go over the services Gavin qualified for and to create an IEP (individualized education plan). That day was awful. Ben had gone that morning to an ENT and found out he needed surgery ... that day at 12:30. Our meeting was a 11:30. They told us that Gavin only qualified for speech therapy once a week for a half hour (and they wanted him in a group)... that's it... Sorry nothing else could be done. WAIT... WHAT!? So I'm so upset and frustrated that I'm in tears, and then Ben has to leave so he can have a tube put in his ear. So now I'm stuck in a meeting with my two kids (one of which has a stinky diaper), no husband, and feeling like I have been very mislead and that my child needs are not being met. Let me just say one more time... IT WAS AWFUL! I went home going what I am I going to do now. How can I possibly be my child's advocate when they seem so set in their decision.
Luckily, there were a few good things that came of this meeting. First, the week Gavin turned three he was able to start working with another wonderful SLP named Emily Palmer. She arranged her schedule, so she could see him one on one, and she actually saw him twice a week even though she was only supposed to see him once. Second, they were at least willing to review the results of Dr. Lawson's tests once they were done and see if they made any difference in the options they could offer Gavin. Third, we were invited to participate in PLAI (parents language acquisition instruction). It is an hour long play group once a week that both the child and parent attend, and for a half hour of that time, the parents receive information and tips on helping their child with language. I debated at first if I should go, but thankfully I did. It was one of the keys to helping unlock the door to preschool for Gavin because his teachers there at PLAI helped document and confirm all of the things I had been trying to tell the school district about.
On his birthday, Gavin had his first initial visit with Dr. Lawson. Then that following Friday he was tested. Two weeks later, we had his results and a diagnosis. Gavin has a more global form of apraxia, meaning it incorporates more than just speech, so he was actually diagnosed with two things. First, dyspraxia of speech. Second, development coordination disorder. The same problem that keeps him from being able to form words also makes other things that take specific muscle coordination a lot hard for him too. For example, riding a bike, jumping, eating, etc. Ben and I felt that she ended up with a very accurate picture of Gavin and his needs. It was and is such a huge relief to have a diagnosis, especially since I had been suspecting apraxia for months now. Though a small part of my heart was and at times still is sad that it isn't something that he will just grow out of and that he will always have to struggle with this.
About as soon as I got the results, I got a hold of the school district and got the results to them. As most people know anything dealing with the government is slower than a snail, but eventually we did get another meeting set up. On November 12th, we all met again, and things went so much better. He now gets to go to preschool five days a week with a wonderful teacher, Mr. Noles, that after just over a week of school he already loves. AND he even gets to ride the bus home! It's one of the best parts of school for him. He still only gets speech once a week for a half hour, but maybe over time we hope we can figure out a way to change that. He also could use PT (physical therapy) or OT (occupational therapy), but so far we only have them promising to have the PT observe Gavin. Hopefully, we can eventually get that changed as well. SO we're not done yet. Ben and I are still having to play our child's advocate, but I doubt that will ever change. Yet to see how far we've come, and in particular how far Gavin has come in his progress, it's amazing and worth the struggle to see him start to thrive.
Besides all the work he's been doing with trained professionals, I have also started Gavin on fish oil supplements. He takes Omega 3-6-9s. Since starting them about three or four months ago, we've seen the biggest leap in his progress yet. They are not the only contributing factor, but I do strongly believe they are a big factor. SO I would definitely recommend supplementing to anyone.
So here are my last thoughts... Gavin is an amazing, bright little boy with his own set of unique struggles just like any other human, but I am so grateful for those who put in the long hours to help my son to become everything he can be. I'm grateful for a loving Father in Heaven. I know that He has been guiding Ben and I as we have been and are continuing to try to help Gavin reach his full potential. At times, it is very difficult to have a child with special needs. I never thought I would be in the situation that I am, but I wouldn't trade Gavin for the world. And I know that through our help, the help of so many teachers and professionals, and especially, the help from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Gavin can do anything and be anything that he puts his mind to. I love my amazing little boy!
Note: After writing up this blog, I checked the mail and low and behold... a letter from the school district requesting permission to evaluate Gavin for OT and PT! I thank my Father in Heaven for his tender mercies.
In January, he was officially accepted into the program and put on a waiting list for speech.
In March, he started receiving speech one a week for an hour from a wonderful SLP name Derek Eubanks. Gavin looked forward to seeing Derek each week, and he was good at getting Gavin to work. Between the glasses and the start of speech therapy we saw a jump forward for Gavin.
In May, we had our initial visit with the school district special education team, and we felt like they would do everything they could to help Gavin. They have an awesome special education preschool, and we felt they were going to get him into that program. We felt like things were going great.
As the summer went by I did a lot of research on Apraxia because that is what Derek thought Gavin might have. I've mentioned some of this before, but if you want to know about apraxia here's a great link apraixia-kids.org or read The Late Talker. Ben and I decided to make an appointment with a pediatric neuropsychologist, Dr. Lawson. She actually did her residency at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indiana. After reading a bunch of information, we felt it might be a good idea to have more testing done to try to help Gavin's cause in getting him what he needed and needs. And we prepared to transition to the school district, when Gavin turned three.
At the end of August, we met with the school again to officially go over the services Gavin qualified for and to create an IEP (individualized education plan). That day was awful. Ben had gone that morning to an ENT and found out he needed surgery ... that day at 12:30. Our meeting was a 11:30. They told us that Gavin only qualified for speech therapy once a week for a half hour (and they wanted him in a group)... that's it... Sorry nothing else could be done. WAIT... WHAT!? So I'm so upset and frustrated that I'm in tears, and then Ben has to leave so he can have a tube put in his ear. So now I'm stuck in a meeting with my two kids (one of which has a stinky diaper), no husband, and feeling like I have been very mislead and that my child needs are not being met. Let me just say one more time... IT WAS AWFUL! I went home going what I am I going to do now. How can I possibly be my child's advocate when they seem so set in their decision.
Luckily, there were a few good things that came of this meeting. First, the week Gavin turned three he was able to start working with another wonderful SLP named Emily Palmer. She arranged her schedule, so she could see him one on one, and she actually saw him twice a week even though she was only supposed to see him once. Second, they were at least willing to review the results of Dr. Lawson's tests once they were done and see if they made any difference in the options they could offer Gavin. Third, we were invited to participate in PLAI (parents language acquisition instruction). It is an hour long play group once a week that both the child and parent attend, and for a half hour of that time, the parents receive information and tips on helping their child with language. I debated at first if I should go, but thankfully I did. It was one of the keys to helping unlock the door to preschool for Gavin because his teachers there at PLAI helped document and confirm all of the things I had been trying to tell the school district about.
On his birthday, Gavin had his first initial visit with Dr. Lawson. Then that following Friday he was tested. Two weeks later, we had his results and a diagnosis. Gavin has a more global form of apraxia, meaning it incorporates more than just speech, so he was actually diagnosed with two things. First, dyspraxia of speech. Second, development coordination disorder. The same problem that keeps him from being able to form words also makes other things that take specific muscle coordination a lot hard for him too. For example, riding a bike, jumping, eating, etc. Ben and I felt that she ended up with a very accurate picture of Gavin and his needs. It was and is such a huge relief to have a diagnosis, especially since I had been suspecting apraxia for months now. Though a small part of my heart was and at times still is sad that it isn't something that he will just grow out of and that he will always have to struggle with this.
About as soon as I got the results, I got a hold of the school district and got the results to them. As most people know anything dealing with the government is slower than a snail, but eventually we did get another meeting set up. On November 12th, we all met again, and things went so much better. He now gets to go to preschool five days a week with a wonderful teacher, Mr. Noles, that after just over a week of school he already loves. AND he even gets to ride the bus home! It's one of the best parts of school for him. He still only gets speech once a week for a half hour, but maybe over time we hope we can figure out a way to change that. He also could use PT (physical therapy) or OT (occupational therapy), but so far we only have them promising to have the PT observe Gavin. Hopefully, we can eventually get that changed as well. SO we're not done yet. Ben and I are still having to play our child's advocate, but I doubt that will ever change. Yet to see how far we've come, and in particular how far Gavin has come in his progress, it's amazing and worth the struggle to see him start to thrive.
Besides all the work he's been doing with trained professionals, I have also started Gavin on fish oil supplements. He takes Omega 3-6-9s. Since starting them about three or four months ago, we've seen the biggest leap in his progress yet. They are not the only contributing factor, but I do strongly believe they are a big factor. SO I would definitely recommend supplementing to anyone.
So here are my last thoughts... Gavin is an amazing, bright little boy with his own set of unique struggles just like any other human, but I am so grateful for those who put in the long hours to help my son to become everything he can be. I'm grateful for a loving Father in Heaven. I know that He has been guiding Ben and I as we have been and are continuing to try to help Gavin reach his full potential. At times, it is very difficult to have a child with special needs. I never thought I would be in the situation that I am, but I wouldn't trade Gavin for the world. And I know that through our help, the help of so many teachers and professionals, and especially, the help from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Gavin can do anything and be anything that he puts his mind to. I love my amazing little boy!
Note: After writing up this blog, I checked the mail and low and behold... a letter from the school district requesting permission to evaluate Gavin for OT and PT! I thank my Father in Heaven for his tender mercies.
4 comments:
Thanks for putting this out there! He's lucky to have a good momma and papa to help him on his rough road! We sure love you...
Thanks for this post. It reminds me of the manystudents for which I advocated additional testing and observations after they joined my classroom each fall. I am so proud of you for being assertive with teachers in advocating Gavin's needs. It's good to hear from you. Good luck!
shell! Your blog really touched me. I've never heard of apraxia before but now am more aware, thank you! You are a great mother to be such an active advocate for Gavin. With great parents like you and Ben, I'm sure he will do everything he is meant to do in this life! Go Shell!
Thank goodness you know how to advocate for your child! Too many parents get confused by the system. Your awesome!
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