Autism and problems mesuring height

[eblondie]

Thanks guys for all your advice. You've had lots of ideas which I will start trying.

 

[twinboysmom]

Not everyone has $30,000 a year to spend on ABA. Yes, you can learn it yourself after watching an ABA trained therapist, but no insurance company covers it here. We taught ourselves Floortime, and paid for dd's private practice PT and OT for several years. AGain, no insurance would cover that either.

Anyway, way off-topic, but wanted to point out ABA is not within the $$$ range of every family. OP, so many rides have a very short, think 36 inches height requirement or none at all. If there are rides like coasters, or Splash Mountain and the like that your child wants to ride, I'd just practice measuring him at home. Give hime the choice of being measured, or skipping the ride.

Shoot, $30,000 a year? I would be happy with that. Rates in our area (Houston) are more than that. And I have twin boys both with ASD. Eventually the cash flow runs out. Texas has great autism laws but if you work for a company that self funds their insurance then they don't have to follow them. And one thing I learned, bad aba is a terrible thing.

Anyway, op, our boys don't do well with it either. We are practicing. Good luck.

 

[kirstenb1]

Shoot, $30,000 a year? I would be happy with that. Rates in our area (Houston) are more than that. And I have twin boys both with ASD. Eventually the cash flow runs out. Texas has great autism laws but if you work for a company that self funds their insurance then they don't have to follow them. And one thing I learned, bad aba is a terrible thing.

Anyway, op, our boys don't do well with it either. We are practicing. Good luck.

Twinboysmom, you're absolutely correct. I should have been more clear. The $30,000 per year gets you into a specialized school for children with autism, and they offer ABA as part of the curriculum. Since insurance doesn't cover ABA, there are few or no ABA therapists depending on what part of the state you live in.

 

[sukhakuli]

The STATE paid for the vast majority of our ds's therapy. Not us. Not the insurance. The state and the federal government. EI is in every state. Our insurance paid for the initial testing by the specialists, and some ST here and there. Very little, actually.

Because not all children with autism are the same. What works for some doesn't for others, and vice versa. What worked incredibly well for your child might not work at all for another child.

That's why these programs are tailored for individual children and their specific needs. If not behavior therapy, then what do parents do to help these children?

OP, I hope you get some ideas to help your child overcome his anxiety about having his height measured. Personally, Disney has been great therapy for my son, because his social interactions are so positive. In real life, it's not always that way. It's amazing how adults can be huge jerks to kids, you know?

 

[lanejudy]

The STATE paid for the vast majority of our ds's therapy. Not us. Not the insurance. The state and the federal government. EI is in every state. Our insurance paid for the initial testing by the specialists, and some ST here and there. Very little, actually.

Early Intervention does not automatically mean ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy. Yes, they will do other work with the child, often similar, but not necessarily "ABA." In our state, legislation was passed last year that required insurance to cover ABA for children with autism -- the catch is that most insurances didn't have an approved provider because it's never been a covered therapy. Therefore, therapists scrambled to become officially certified, and those few who already were had the hassle of becoming "approved providers." The schools do not necessarily do ABA therapy but may include similar components; ABA is typically only available privately for those who have jumped through the proper hoops and managed to find a provider. Unfortunately, availability of services can vary widely from state-to-state and even between school districts in the same area.

We all seem to be in agreement that therapy is/should be tailored to the individual's needs. What that includes may or may not be officially "ABA" therapy.

 

[kirstenb1]

Sukuhali, it looks like you live in California. When our dd was first dx'd with autism, California and New Jersey were the 2 states you wanted to live in to receive intensive therapy via EI. If you google around a bit, you'll see how widely states differ in what they offer.

You were very fortunate.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Sukuhali, it looks like you live in California. When our dd was first dx'd with autism, California and New Jersey were the 2 states you wanted to live in to receive intensive therapy via EI. If you google around a bit, you'll see how widely states differ in what they offer.

You were very fortunate.

I agree 100%.

And I'll add that I think it is flat out wrong to be making assumptions about whether other parents are doing enough for their child.

I think that the OP is due an apology.

 

[twinboysmom]

It would really be nice if in every state and every school district that aba was provided and paid for. But it isn't. And just because aba was paid for several years ago by that school district doesn't mean they are offering it now. There are no federal laws requiring aba.

Also, I know lots of families living in New Jersey and California fighting to receive aba. More children with autism, less services to go around. Very sad for our children.

Also wanted to add, EI thought that 3 30 minute shared sessions of speech therapy qualified as appropriate for my children. ABA, I don't even think they knew what it was.

 

[eblondie]

Guys it would be great if we could move on from the ABA debate.. Please.

 

[kirstenb1]

Guys it would be great if we could move on from the ABA debate.. Please.

Sorry OP. I hope you all have a great trip---looks like you're traveling a long ways to get here!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Guys it would be great if we could move on from the ABA debate.. Please.

Just what I was going to add.

 

[bedogged]

I would strongly recommend Social Stories and practicing with something that will be over his head to get used to the sensation and actions. Maybe there are even youtube videos showing it so he can have a visual of what will happen.

Anybody find a Youtube video that you could supply the link to? I have a TALL non-disabled two year old that I want to prepare for measuring.

 

[Wishes Count]

Is it possible you can have him measured once at Guest Relations and have his height recorded on a DAS card? That way ride operators wouldn't have to measure him every ride and it would be "official" coming from Guest Relations.

Guest Relations DOES NOT measure children. It is done at each ride.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here is a picture of one of the measuring sticks

As was already mentioned, there is no central place to bet a measurement done; it is done at each attraction and will be done more than once, especially if the child is close to the required height.

This was posted as a suggestion on a similar thread over 3 years ago. I know other people found doing this 'game' or something similar helped them.

We had the same problem with our ASD son. He is 5 now and just barely 41". Since we go to Disneyland often, I knew that once he hit 40", he would have to start being measured.

We made a game at home called "How tall is it?". I gave him a measuring tape (the hardware store kind that retracts) and let him go around the house measuring different items (the kitchen table, the couch, coffee table, his bed, his toys, etc.). I showed him how the number on the tape measure is called "inches". He had a blast going around the house and calling out how many inches everything was. I let him do this for a couple days.

Then, I said "Let's see how tall Mommy is!" He tried to "measure" me, but he couldn't reach to my head. So, I showed him how, if I stand up REALLY straight and tall, like a tree, and use a pencil, I can mark my height on the side of the doorjamb. I demonstrated. Then, I helped him measure up to the mark. He loved it! HE then said "Let's see how tall Max (that's him) is!" So, I made him back up against the doorjamb, and made him show me how straight and tall he could stand. He tried to go on his tiptoes, and I said "NO..that's cheating!" So, I told him "heels down and super straight standing", and he let me mark his height, and then he couldn't WAIT to measure and see how tall he was. Once he was 40", I told him that he was a "BIG BOY." Every couple weeks, we do the "Let's see how tall Max is" routine at home, to see if he's grown. He likes seeing the notches move higher.

The first time he was measured at DL was for BTMRR. I excitedly said to him "Look...look at that measuring stick...let's see how tall you are. Do you think your head will touch the top?" He RAN to it and couldn't wait to see if he was "tall enough".

Never had an issue since then. He still loves to see how tall he is. I routinely take him up to th 42 or 48" rides, and say "Let's see if you're tall enough for THIS ride....No not yet!" He thinks it's a game.

 

[bedogged]

Here is a picture of one of the measuring sticks

As was already mentioned, there is no central place to bet a measurement done; it is done at each attraction and will be done more than once, especially if the child is close to the required height.

This was posted as a suggestion on a similar thread over 3 years ago. I know other people found doing this 'game' or something similar helped them.

Thank you Sue. That is a big help. The way people wrote about measuring, I thought it must be some fancy complicated device.

 

[distherapy]

If your child is close to the required height, please be aware that they may be pulled out of line nearer to the ride entrance for re-measuring. This happened a few years ago to my children in line for Soarin'.