I also wanted to know if others have trouble with childcare, their are no programs in Texas for children with special needs, and worse , when they turn 12 daycares refuse them. We need a safe place for our children , so that we can work and provide for them. Does anyone else have this problem?

as far as i know the state of tn is very limited in services. and it is all based on your income and marrital status. my husband makes pretty good money which causes adam to not qualify for any state programs, which i think is BS, he needs support as much as he needs the programs. if we spend the money on extra stuff for him it would take away from supporting him. there is no childcare for adam either, which is why i do not work out side of the home. he needs someone with him he is only 6 but i hope when he is grown we will have an independent young man, to the best of his ability. we do have good insurance, it pays 100% of SPT, OT, and PT, but the waiting list is as long as a yr for spt and 6 months for the others. i have looked far and wide for social skills therapy or training so i can teach it to adam to no avail. we do have buddyball! it is a program sponsored by the local motorcycle club that gets special needs kids together to play sports, adam loves it! my husband signed up for respite about 14 months ago, before we got together, about 2 months ago he got a letter saying he qualified since he was a single parent, too late, we are married, lol! it took more then a yr to get to the top of that list. i dont understand the reasoning for quailfying for any thing the kids need, if they have a DX that should be enough to qualify!

It is hard to get care for our kids, but I have been very lucky, my husband does not make good money, and I stay at home, so my daughter has Medicaid, which so far has paid for everything, I had to push though, I did get her into Pathway, (Community Mental Health) they are a life saver, But one thing I know is PUSH PUSH PUSH.. we are from Michigan

Johnson20, this program is it like a childcare program? Like a school ? In Texas we have MHMRA, is pathway kina the same thing? What services do they offer? Thanks! When I finish nursing school, Alex and I may move to another state to better meet his needs, Texas has the worst quality of services for our children.

hi years
well in washington state, where i sit steven has not recieved any bennis from the state. Respite? ha.. we are still on a waiting list, i recently found out they are taking children off the list, and asked for us to be re-val again. I have to call back...
Childcare? nope not any here that I am aware of, thats where the respite falls into place right? I am blessed to have a great friend who also has 2 children w/autism after school she cares for Steven until my schools out.
Steven had to leave daycare when he was about 7 for his aggressive behavior etc. They just were not able or trained for that matter to take care of him.
I want and need some of the same things you mentioned too adaptive bike would be grand.
I want to open* a day camp place where it is loaded with sensory fun.
There OWN play place~
So moms like you , me everyone else can go get a hair cut? With No worries about our child.
There is some after school programs for the kids, I have to hire a one on one for Steven for that program. At this point his day is long enough and he needs his own space after school.
I work for the school district w/special needs pre schoolers. This way I can have the same schedual as Steven. Minus that 40 mins after school.

Well I found a day care center that is a gem because it is a non-profit organization designed to mainstream special kids, and the head of the organization is a PhD in educationa nd is VERY INFORMED of ASD. The director is highly educated in pre school, and the on site SLP is really good to get him talking, and they are all willing to get on a page together for my son.

So now if I could get the public school poeple to either pay or provide that situation instead of 25 hours of worthless ARD meetings just give my kid 25 hours of appropriate related services. But no they need be to bring yearsoftears over and blow them out of their cushy jobs.

In the meantime Oli is getting the service and social interaction that will help him continue to develop the skills he needs to.