Full time ABA:VB

The decision has been made: T will attend the Verbal Behavior clinic full time and no longer go to the public schools for a 2 half-days a week. It feels good to be on the other side of this decision, honestly. It was a tough one because we didn't make it due to any displeasure with the schools. It simply didn't make sense anymore to split his time. And honestly, how ridiculously blessed are we in comparison with other families in the country? We have a CHOICE between a TEACCH classroom and full-time ABA therapy paid for by insurance. That's just stupid lucky.

The fabulous SLP and his classroom teacher were both supportive of our decision. Clearly they weren't pleased, but neither were they upset or defensive. In fact, the SLP said that she couldn't argue with anything I was saying, and his teacher said that he is one lucky little kid to have parents who even know such options are available. As much as I currently doubt whether he will ever be in the public schools full time, I do not want to burn that bridge. So far, it appears that I have not.

So this opens up time and energy for other opportunities. Which brings me to the next remarkable event (coincidence?): While we were pondering all these things in our hearts, T's new OT gave me the business card of a music therapist that consulted with her on a mutual client. OT mentioned T to Music Therapist, she's intrigued, and I have the opening I've looked for. I've been drawn to exploring music therapy for T for months, perhaps years…but could we afford it? Health insurance surely would not cover this in addition to ABA, and we are 4.5 years into a 12 year wait for waiver services (waivers can cover music therapy.) But, I thought, nothing to lose by meeting her and discussing financing options/realities. Fast forward to last Friday: I gird my loins for the bad news, fully expecting at least $150/hour. I'm told they bill $11/15 minutes. Eleven dollars every fifteen minutes. Forty-four dollars an hour. AND…there is time in her schedule on Friday afternoons: the very time that T had been in the public schools.

I think this is a very, very good sign. His first appointment is September 10^th. Onward and forward we go, making it up as we go along, and feeling very, very blessed along the way.

Text from a song sung at our wedding: "We're neither pure nor wise nor good. We'll do the best we know. We'll build our house and chop our wood, and make our garden grow."