Regional Center

I don't really know where to post this, so I'm putting it here. It's more for my documentation, but if anyone has experience in these things, I'd be happy to hear :)

I applied for disability services for Micah through the Inland Regional Center when we came home in July (for things like therapies, assistance with IEPs in the school district, advice, vocational services when he's older, respite care, and housing services when he's older.. things he will need for life). I was told it would take up to 120 days to get a call/appointment. Last week they called, and he and I got to go to his intake appointment today. We met with a great social worker; she was very nice. Then she said that this was only step 1 of 3, and the other two appointments were really far out. The medical will be soon on 9/30, but his psychological evaluation isn't until December 14th!!! She said there is no doubt he'll be approved since he has Down syndrome, but they have to go through the paperwork steps.

I talked to her about the school district and how we are waiting for his first assessment with the school psychologist so they can determine what services he needs before he can be placed in preschool. The district is well within their 60 days to get things done, but I just wanted to know how things worked. She said to call them and ask if they'll do a speech/language evaluation to get him in school before they do the full psych. Since we are so close to the 60 days, I'll probably wait, but it was good advice. I wish I had known to ask that before, but not all school districts will do that. So I'll wait another week and then call them again. The good news is that the regional center might accept the district's psych evaluation, so that may help speed things up on their end. The social worker said they try to work hand-in-hand.

It seems to be taking forever. I know in the big scheme of life, a few months is not that long, but today was the first day I met with anyone "official" to get Micah any kind of services or help. It's been a little frustrating to wait. We got home July 6th, right in the middle of the summer, and I had to wait until August 1st when the school district staff got back from summer vacation. I filled out the application on August 1st and turned it in the next day. The sweet secretary said that the psychologists don't come back until the first day of school, and he would be placed "in order" in her workload. So nothing would even get started until August 11th... then she had 60 days from there to get something set up. Whew... it's a waiting game like everything else.

I just want our sweet boy to get the services he needs. He desperately needs speech and language therapy. There is NO doubt about that. I work with him, but he is still not speaking any words except "dada" and a muffled "hi". He understands us, but he does not speak. He will repeat ASL to me, up to about 10-15 signs, but he only initiates the "eat" sign :) (Yes, our son loves to eat). He also will "sing" (aka make noise) to every song he hears; he loves music. His hearing test showed that he hears well, so I know that is not the culprit. He also mimicks sounds, so I know he's capable of learning words. I would love a therapist to work with him and show us some things we can do at home to help him.

As far as physical and occupational therapy, I don't think he will need any of that. But we do need to work with him on dressing himself and potty training. All in time... I know that will come in time. Maybe someone can just give us some pointers. It's much different to teach life skills to an atypical child! There is really nothing the same about it. It's not harder, just different... and a little more focus :)

That is all for today!