@ Best Therapy for a Toddler............There is Nothing that says you Cannot go and have A Full Evaluation or the START of an Evaluation SOMEWHERE ELSE , by Another CLINIC or SPECIALIST? For example by a Psychiatrist or Speech Pathology Clinic of YOUR CHOOSING......If you continue to be told Your Son cannot be Seen or Evaluated Sooner I suggest you PUSH for it to Get Done.........Either Pursue an Evaluation and Testing somewhere else,or Demand that they start PROVIDING the SERVICES that is OBVIOUS your child Needs......You dont Necessarily need an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis......All you need is a Doctor , Specialist , or Therapist stating that your child is UnMistakingly in NEED of those Particular Services for Whatever the Reason.

@A MyAutismTeam Member.Jackie.......Yes Thats what I have heard ......the recommended age for an Autism diagnosis WAS 18 months.....but I have read on various Web sites that between 9 and 12 months is NOW the Best Recommended age...because it is the age when toddlers begin working on their Speech and learning to Talk.Also they are watching Babies much more Closely and Mindfully regarding their Social Interaction....Smiling , Looking at Facial Expressions and Reacting to them and the babys Ability to Imitate Expressions, show Emotion and how they Re- Act and Inter-Act with People.It used to be no one bothered to pay any mind to it nor did they have any concern until a child was 3 Years of age or much Later....Right Before or Right After they are old enough to start School.

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Early intervention is your key. Please start ABA, speech as soon as you can. My son was diagnosed when he was 1.5 and I started ABA and speech a week after his diagnosis. Video modeling help my son a lot too. Autistic kids are visual and for some reason video modeling works very good for some of them. I can say 50% of his improvements are because of video modeling, and 50% because of other therapies. Supplements were helpful too.

We started early intervention services at 18 months through our Redwood Coast Regional Center and have had tons of support. The boys are currently in an early start program called Special Beginongs for infants and toddlers with autism 3 days a week for 3 hours a day. They are also in speech therapy once a week for and hour. We have been recommended occupational therapy and another in home therapy as well.

The Special Beginings class has been wonderful. The boys love it. They have been learning a lot and are working hard to catch up. It’s amazing and every day there is progress in their social development. I would recommend looking for regional services or other community services for kids with disabilities because they are definitely available (in our area at least) for the little ones.

Also it’s interesting that they told you to slow down because we felt literally bombarded with appointments and tests and services when the boys were getting diagnosed. They told us that treatment is intensive and the younger kids are when they start the better chance they have at catching up.

@A MyAutismTeam Member
So much of what you wish for your child is what I wished to...unfortunately early intervention did not work. My son became defiant of the very offices that therapy were based at, wouldn't look nor tolerate his therapist, cried and crawled into his buggy (2years old)
To be in this situation with a therapist feeling her out of depths her ferling for me, my son, my sanity, it was horrendous so we took a break. My son would be more receptivly intelligent in knowing what we say, he sees and what he wants, so he saw the park on the way to therapy would stimm get excited then wonder why he didn't go in to play 😝...he made the therapist feel like he hated the sight of her.
We tried all this again and got mixed results from him but all days resulting in us pulling the plug. Eventually at 3.5yrs he has just had combined STOT with motivators such as a trampoline and rolling pin soft play item thst get his juices flowing and make him more receptive to engage after he has had a play!
Each of our kids have different motivators like can you believe your child may settle and learn if being rocked or swung on a swing? They may engage in eye contact when given a sensory pleasure like bring rocked...its just the way ASD can affect our kids, my son calms with these sensory pleasures so is open and receptive.
Lots of this process is a grieving process and "letting go" let go of milestone charts let go of other peoples kids achievements st the same age, let go of whats expected in social situations, let go of anything that is going to get in the way of you ENJOYING your experience with your toddler. Diagnosis can affect us all so differently, that's why ASD is often described for the carer as a "rollercoaster ride" its full of ups and downs. I welcomed our ASD SGDD status as it got me in the door with services that were previously slammed shut in my face due to pre diagnosis. I also just got my 100% intuitive estimation of my son confirmed! The fight was over....well for that part it was anyway......i still have days I friend when the 8 month old in Finley Monkeys hands me an abaccus to play with him yet my son has never handed me 1 single item at 3.5yrs old. He is severe on developmental delays yet we are getting recent sucesses after STOT combined, he can catch a ball with us..high 5 us, rock himself on his rocking horse! It's all progress.
He's starting to show affection for cuddly toys too a little bit of play with them....its all baby steps but this is my son whom I've come to accept and love him so dearly.
Floor time with your child with you 1 on 1 with him is also invaluable in the "engagement" process. Trying new things like hand over hand with shape sorters or puzzle pieces and maybe reward with praise, excited voice, clapping, maybe even a piece of fruit or juice cup!
Good luck Momma xxxx

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