Hi, I'm Molly, mom to 7yo ds with Autism. I knew cuts were coming. Did anyone else receive a letter this week from the RC? The CA state legislature is making significant changes to the Lanterman Act.

There are community forums to better explain just how this will affect everyone. I cannot go to the meeting. I wish I could. I really want to understand how this will change services for our family.

Thank Goodness we have almost finished with a year of intense ABA and will soon go from in-home to consult. I am really concerned that a social skills program that was due to come after ABA may not come to be. We need our respite care too.

If anyone understands more than I do please share or just share comments and concerns!

Thank you

that California Early Start program will have drastic changes:( This makes me so sad. My ds would not be where he is today without all of the early intervention therapies he had. He wasn't dx back then just got in under developmental delays. I had written a letter to Gov. Arnold asking to please not cut early intervention and how it helped us. I'm baffled as to how in the world his wife can stand by while he cuts the developmentally disabled.

The RC will not fund social skills programs anymore. This is a major deficit for those on the autism spectrum.

ABA programs will still be funded.

If you have over (is it 90 hours?) of respite it will be cut. We have 48 per quarter so ours won't be cut. I am wondering though that if people have 90 hours it must mean that there are severe issues!!!! I feel very bad for those families.

The RC will not offer educational consultants anymore.

I would gladly give up some respite hours though in order to keep ABA therapy. So I am glad they have kept it.

Not sure if anyone cares to know this or not but thought I would post some of the general changes that are going to happen.

Molly

We have never gotten much from our Reg. Center, but the best thing was the Social Rec coach. That was a great experience for my daughter (when we found dependable workers). She really misses that.

So now, we're in the process of starting respite, 24 hrs/mo... I don't really like the idea of the respite worker just having to sit in our house for all those hours. I'm going to suggest games, walks, and anything else we come up with. I don't just want them sitting on the couch watching TV!

It's too bad we couldn't just choose which service to keep, but I guess we're supposed to feel lucky for what we're getting. Hopefully the ones who really need the services will still get them.

I'm really glad you are going to get respite care. You can be very clear on the type of person you are looking for and what you expect with respite. I have some wonderful respite workers. Two that are or have been special ed teachers but one that now has a little baby and young son. She sits and does Legos with my son since he loves it. She makes him dinner, does bath, will go for a walk.

Also if I am not happy with the respite agency they have given me I can ask for a different one. So you should have choices.

I'm not sure if your daughter is a teen but they can take her to the mall and try to do socially appropriate activities for her age.

I'm glad you wrote me. Take care. Let me know how it goes.
Molly