Summertime Schedule – 3

Song Aesthetic : Turning Around for Me – Vashawn Mitchell

Summertime can be a break for some families and dreadful for others. Some children are allotted a 12 month summer program. This is where they are able to go to school for a 6 weeks during the summer and receive all of their mandated services. To put this in place they must have the 12 month program stated on their IEP.

Some families have to figure out childcare, services, and appropriate activities for their autistic children during the summertime and this can be beyond stressful. Finding a summer camp to accommodate the needs of your child is no easy task.

My son will be turning 6 years old this summer and though his IEP has a 12 month program mandate, because of our previous horrific experience with his public school, I have decided to keep him home. Keeping him home means less time for myself but I am more in control of his environment, which is a high priority for his healing journey. I had to find a mix of in home to center based therapy sessions and create a lesson plan to keep him engaged as much as I can.

Our Summer Schedule So Far :

Monday

10am – 1pm In Home ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy)

1pm- 1:30pm In home OT (Occupational Therapy)

5-5:30pm in Center OT (Occupational Therapy )

Tuesday

10am -12 pm In Home ABA

12:15-12:45 In Home OT

3-3:20pm In Center Speech Therapy

5-5:30 In Center OT

Wednesday & Thursday

10am-12pm In Home ABA

12:15-12:45 In Home OT

Thursday

5-5:30 pm In Center OT

Friday

10am-1pm In Home ABA

Saturday

11-12pm In Home Physical Therapy

I had to fight and rearrange my entire personal life to get my son all of these services.I am beyond grateful for them. On the contrary, Im drained. This doesn’t even include park time, personal speech lessons, bathing and tending to my two other children.

Oh,

Not to mention, Im supposed to take care of myself. Thats the joke! At least I get to soak up the sun while going about my days. My definite way of getting out and enjoying the weather. I keep telling myself this is all going to pay off, even if the results are slow and minimal something is working! Things won’t be like this forever. A change is near…closer than I know. HANG IN THERE ! Keeping smiling, cry when you need to cry, scream when you need to scream, and maintain your sense of gratitude.

How’s your summer going?