Questions & Answers

My son is 5 years old and is diagnosed with mild to moderate asd and moderate language disorder. He also has fine motor delays. He has a short attention span although I do think it has improved a little bit. Right now he can count to 16, recognizes numbers 1-9 except for number 7, recognizes almost all uppercase letters but not many lowercase letters, recognizes his name written out and can spell it out loud without seeing his name but can not write it. He knows basic shapes and colors. I want… read more

Would you use a service that charged a fee for a trial period of things like weighted blankets, vests, reinforcers, headphones, etc?
I see so many of us thinking about trying something, but I know how bad it sucks when you spend hundreds on things every year that doesn't work…
Nothing like supplements or things that could be harmful in anyway...

We went to one Doctor on Foster City, I am not so sure about him was hoping for recommendation about another in the area.

My daughter had some genetic testing and they found a duplication of the 16th chromosome. I checked out how many posts on MAT even used the word "chromosome"- just 8 posts and none of them had the exactly the same issue. We were told there's little that can be done with that info but it may help with nutrition as people with this disorder tend to be underweight.

BOSTON, Jan. 9, 2008 -- The deletion or duplication of a tiny region of chromosome 16 appears to be tightly linked to autism… read more

My son turns 3 at the end of June, and ages out of Early Intervention just in time for summer break. He will start inclusion preschool in the fall, with therapies in the self-contained room. He is considered "mild."
I don't want him to go the whole summer without therapies or socialization. Any suggestions of programs or classes he should take or do?
Thanks in advance!

My son is constantly picking at old scars, bumps, pimples, etc, and just will not let up. He's got eczema, but we constantly keep his skin medicated, and we use a lot of lotions and it has gone down a lot. Now his new thing is scratching his scalp. He won't stop, and he's starting to get some bald spots. I know why he does it. He does it because he sees scalp particles fall down, which fascinates him. It's almost an obsession with him, and I don't know what to do anymore. Has anyone had… read more

We have never done ABA but behaviors are getting out of hand and I was looking into this option. My concern is as a teacher I've noticed several of my students significantly regressed academically, and in OT/fine motor skills after they started ABA. I'm talking significant regression, for example I had one child reading 2 grade levels above grade level and making excellent gains in core strength and fine motor but after ABA started he quickly fell below level in reading and lost a majority of… read more

I am currently having an issue with getting the school district to allow ABA professionals to work with my son in school. State law in Florida dictates that parents can hire ABA therapists to work with their child in school and that the school has to allow it. My son's principle is the district director of special education and is refusing to allow my son, who has severe autism, to receive 1-1 ABA for more than 1 hour a day. I am an ABA therapist and work with other children within the school… read more