Elliott has received another evaluation from TEACCH Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS still an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Which basically means he doesn't fit any one diagnosis on the spectrum with meeting more of the DSM-IV for the disorder rather than being "atypical" and we received a more thorough results than he when he was diagnosed at age 4. TEACCH evaluated him on Monday and it was well worth the wait to find out more about ways we can help him. We have two support groups that meet once each month (one if for higher functioning and the other is for limited functioning) Elliott falls in the middle...he does not qualify for Aspergers since he has speech delay and excells on imaginative play.

The plus side is that the psychologist said she could not think of anything to suggest to us that we were not already doing. She said due to all his extra therapies and additional supports at home that he is where he is developmentally.

On an additional note...I kept fighting the insurance company for our 2800 bill for the first diagnosis (appeal after appeal) and finally had it covered all but 474.00! Which will get cut in half since dh works for the hospital so it will be 237....and quite the relief since all his OT and PT bills are coming in....we've met our deductible which made his speech therapy only 6.03 per visit but each month we have 500 bills for the other therapies....part of which is copays.

Our first worker did not work out...she wanted to babysit more than perform developmental therapy. We are waiting to interview more individuals and hope that we can get someone with some experience or training with autism rather than just early childhood education (college students).

Jonathan is taking it harder for some reason....worried Elliott won't be able to go to school or college....I have to remind him all the time, that we are laying down a foundation and that there is no stone we won't turn to help him along the way. I don't see any reason to worry about college right now.

That's an update on us for now

Tonight after dinner, our family decided (mom encouraged of course) to grab an instrument and proceed to walk a block around our neighborhood in a parade. Elliott grabbed the cymbals, Cooper played harmonica, Mom (me) shaking the maracas, and Dad with the bells. We were quite a musical troop and as we walked and laughed, our neighbors came out to wave and to clap for us. We even had one that thought we were the icecream truck!! Elliott wanted to walk down our main street and we had cars that pass us stop and wave! I am sure some thought we were off our rockers, but when is the last time you've been childlike and played music with your kids?? It was great fun and I highly recommend it. Who needs a wii when we have our own version of "Rockband".....And the band plays on!