Let Loose The Pigeons!
by Steve West on November 27, 2013
I got a phone call today from my Service Coordinator of Prince George's County officially welcoming me and my daughter, Olivia, into the Autism Waiver program - a state funded program intended for families with an autistic child offering funds for state approved services such as Aqua therapy, Occupational community trips, Speech therapy and even respite for Brenda and I. This has been a nine year wait since getting a diagnosis for Olivia at age 2. The waiting list is horrific. After waiting that long to have your name come up, there's no guarantee that you qualify. There's another meeting to determine eligibility based on level of need. Olivia easily qualified which is good for funding but terrible in that it's reflective of just how far she needs to go to live a semi-independent life. There's so much she needs to learn to function as an adult. I can't list all that she needs, but simply want to revel in the notion that if:
1. I can think of it.
2. I can find a provider.
3. The State will pay for it.
One Reply to Let Loose The Pigeons!
Web Junkie
Steve West scours the Web searching for interest or absurdity and then shakes his head ruefully when he finds it. Read more »
Go Around or Go Over
Because Olivia's school is closed we've been forced to do home schooling along with her teacher doing Zoom three times each week. So lesson plans are still happening but her special education also includes speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. I don't do speech or occupational but I stepped in for physical. Go »Kinderfest
Brenda and I were going to take the girls sailing but there was rain in the forecast so we decided to put it off for a week. Rainy combined with slightly chilly (60 degrees) doesn't make for a good time outside of Wasilla. So we decided to go to Kinderfest at a local regional park. Go »Sometimes Romance is Spontaneous
My parents (both passed) dearly loved each other. But with jobs, children, and other business, they found little time to spend on just the two of them. One evening when I was visiting, my Dad came up behind my Mom in the kitchen where she was doing dishes. Go »Vacation Week II
Took the girls to a petting zoo where they could not only look at the animals but interact as well. Saw some things of interest to me; an albino peacock (well, I don't know if it was albino but it was all white); petted a llama (their hair is kinda rough); the world's fattest rabbit (big as a poodle!); pigs, cows, horses, donkeys, turkeys & chickens & roosters (oh, my); a beautiful garden of vegetables and flowers; and lots of ducks and geese. Go »Housebuying Stuff
I'm too tired to come up with a more clever title. New carpet installed. New bathtub and shower installed. Go »
Scott Hardie | December 1, 2013
That's great news, Steve! Definitely an important program for your family and I imagine many others. I'm glad to know that it exists and you're in, even if you don't really know yet what to do with it. :-)