The Journey to ABA

Dacotah's biting has gotten so severe that he is breaking the skin on his hand, his hand is sore to the touch at least two days a week from the biting. So his amazing OT set about getting him some gloves to cover his hands. *insert what were were thinking here*. The gloves came in three weeks later than expected and they are bulky. Dacotah hates them and is able to easily yank them off and throw them. When we went to pick them up and to make sure they fit the meltdown Dacotah had was something out of the movies. He screamed, he yelled, he bit, he cried, and flung us both backwards when I loosened my grip for a split second. Needless to say we left with the gloves in his diaper bag and not on his hands. We have worked trying to get them on but to no avail. So now he is biting not only his hands but his wrists and arms and us when he gets in a fit :(

Following the last meeting with the school, I contacted our local ABA provider and we set up and outpatient appointment. We took him in and less than 30 minutes they asked for Clay to come assess Dacotah while we were there. Dacotah made eye contact (I indeed rolled my eyes) but this time was different. He saw what I was talking about and asked more questions about what happens at home vs when we go out into public. He listened. Let me tell you how much that means to me. HE LISTENED to us. He didn't write us off as being over dramatic, he didn't ignore what we explained, and agreed with the autism diagnosis. He agreed too that Dacotah was mild to moderate and that he was autistic.

So what was next. Getting approved for ABA therapy I thought would be a nightmare, but less than a week later Dacotah was approved. We also fond out we could get his pullups covered under his insurance and have them mailed to our home.

We met his temporary ABA therapist last week Ms. Tammy (its suppose to be temp until the new lady gets processed in, but if I have any say we are keeping this one). If there was ever an angel on earth... She came the first time and arrived about 5 minutes before D got home from preschool. He came in started demanding she come play with him and had her follow him room to room. She saw the simple sweet side of Dacotah, the one the school therapists see as we make sure his therapies are first thing in the mornings. Tammy met him right after naptime. Perfect but he wasn't able to hide his autism, his speech delay, the only thing he can hide is the Klinefelter's.  If we had never told anyone you would never know. But here was a lady who had just met us for the first time who has had years of experience working with kids with autism and she was amazed with what a battle we have had. Basically it boils down to "He has some speech". We reviewed his school reports and for the cutoff for the autism program they have to be 72 or under. Dacotah scored 74 despite having social issues and lack of speech at age 2.5 but I regress. This mom is finalizing her battle plan and it won't be easy and laid back.

I am planning a post that is real brutal and honest shortly but I'll continue this with ABA.  Today is Tuesday. Today was Dacotah's and Tammy' s second visit. Man on man was this kid different. She saw the meltdowns, she heard the screaming before she ever entered the house, she saw the frustration on our faces trying to cater to his needs while keeping him safe. Dacotah does not get to enjoy his bot as often at home and it's serious at times. He threw his stuff over, he wanted in the den, he wanted outside, he wanted the dog, but didn't want the dog near him, he wanted cake, but not that cake... real raw autism. The biting the fighting not wanting to wear his gloves. The list could go on, but SOMEONE outside our home SEES him. We have ABA approved for 10 hours a week, for how long I haven't asked. Honestly I'm too scared because I am soooo hopeful this will be the key.

Tomorrow we have a field trip. I took the day off, yep. But it takes both parents for any outgoing trips 95% of the time. It can go great but it can be a nightmare straight from Elm Street. Sadly its usually the latter unless he is going to see his papaw, they have a super close bond that I am soooo thankful for.