Hunter Arias – Week Four
Sandy and Rick are exhausted. At 5, Hunter has continued to
be a handful. He is now in Kindergarten at the local public school, and the
start of the year has already been filled with challenge. Hunter just isn’t
like other kids – no one quite knows how to handle him. Sometimes, he seems to
look askance when asked a question; he seems to have trouble making eye
contact. At other times, he is completely engaged in an activity and can
interact somewhat, if only through the activity. Through it all, Hunter’s
presentation is consistent for a child with Autism, the condition with which Hunter
was diagnosed at age 4. That’s about when Sandy and Rick could find the money
to get him all of the tests he needed. At least they know, but it’s been hard.
Rick continues to be on disability for the injury he
sustained on a construction site where he was working at the time. Sandy’s job
as an administrative assistant for a local advertising company is stable, but
she has few benefits. Jake acted up so
much in school that the team suggested in-home counseling for the family. Rick
and Sandy said no. They also suggested that Hunter go to a counselor in the
community for help with his tantrums.
The strain of all of the behavior of the kids is starting to
take its toll on Sandy and Rick. They are less able to tolerate one another’s
moods, and there is much more tension in the home than there used to be.
* What are typical developmental milestones for a 5 year-old
(cognitive, affective, gross & fine motor)?
* What services are available for a child with Autism in
Virginia? Assume that the Arias family lives in Harrisonburg. What is an ED/CD
waiver (this is through Medicaid; you may contact VAIL [Valley Associates for
Independent Living] to find out more.) What is a DD waiver? Assume Sandy and
Rick make $42,000 per year. Is Hunter eligible for Medicaid?
* Since Rick and Sandy adopted, do they receive a monetary
amount each month? If so, from where does the money come?
* Describe the process of Special Education that took place
when Hunter was 4. Assuming that Hunter has minimal verbal communication, what
are some goals you would have in his IEP for Kindergarten? What placement would
you recommend for him (self-contained, mainstream with resource, etc.)?
* What is in-home counseling? Who provides it in the area?
. At the age of 5, Hunter’s developmental milestones should be improving. According to CDC, cognitively Hunter should be able to 10 or more things, be able to draw a person with at least 6 body parts, physically hand write some letters or some numbers, Copy geometric shapes, know about things that are used everyday such as money, food, Tupperware, toys, etc. As for Hunter’s physical development, he should be able to balance on one foot, hop/ skip, know and be able to use a fork and spoon, use the toilet on his own, and use swings/ climb on a play set. Hunter’s emotional developments should be expanding as well, he should want to please and be like his friends. Hunter should be able to sing, dance, and act and want to partake in these activities. At 5, hunter should be aware of his gender, show sympathy towards others, be able to determine between what’s real and what isn’t. He should also start to become more independent.
ReplyDeleteVirginia department of behavioral health and developmental service (2010). Commonwealth autism service. Received from http://www.autismva.org/home
ReplyDeleteDepartment of medical assistance services (January, 2011). The virgina medicaid program at a glance. Received from http://dmasva.dmas.virginia.gov/Content_atchs/atchs/va-medprg.pdf
Partnership for people with disabilities- VCU (July, 2007). Virginia Medicaid waivers for persons with disabilities, their parents and caregivers. Received from http://dmasva.dmas.virginia.gov/Content_atchs/ltc/ltc_md_waiver.pdf
CDC (2010). Learn the Signs. Act Early. Milestones 5 Years. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-5yr.html
ReplyDeleteCommonwealth of Virginia Department of Education. (2010). Parents Guide to Special Education. Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/parents/index.shtml
Virginia Department of Social Services. (2006-2012). Chapter C: Section 08:Subsidy/ Adoption Assistance. Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.com/virginia.htm
According to the Family and Children’s Center, in –home counseling is a program that aids families in making changes that encourage the well-being of the family and assists them to learn how to function as a whole family unit. This program also improves relationships within the family and keeps the families sticking together. In-home counseling provides: family assessments, youth psycho-sexual evaluations, youth psychological evaluation s, and counseling within the home. This program can be effective with the following issues: parenting skills, communication skills, physical abuse and neglect, school concerns, marital counseling, blended families, and self-esteem issues. Crossroads Counseling Center provides in-home counseling in the following locations in the area: Winchester, Harrisonburg, Manassas, and Woodstock, VA. The Harrisonburg Office is located off of E Elizabeth Street in Suite 102. They are devoted to their mission statement of “Strengthening Individuals and Families.”
ReplyDeleteFamily & Children's Center (2010). Intensive In-Home Counseling. Retrieved from http://www.fcconline.org/Services/RochesterMNServices/IntensiveInHomeCounseling.aspx
Children’s Services of Virginia, INC (2010). Crossroads Counseling Centers. Retrieved from http://www.childrensservicesofva.com/ccc/index.html
According to the Virginia child welfare site, Rick and Sandy would be able to receive a monetary amount each month known as; adoption assistance, due to the fact that Hunter is a child with special needs. This money would go directly toward the special needs of Hunter. Rick and Sandy would need to be able to pay for the routine cost of raising Hunter. Adoption Assistance is a partnership between the adoption agency and the adoptive parents. Therefore, the money would come from the government adoption agency to help provide for Hunter’s special needs.
ReplyDeleteUsing the Parents Guide to Special Education we found that the special education process for Hunter at the age of 4 would be:
ReplyDelete-Identification and referral,
-Evaluation of the child to determine if they need special education,
-Determination of eligibility,
-Based on the evaluation a team decides if you child is eligibly to receive these services,
-Development of an IEP and determination of services
-Reevaluation every three years during treatment
For Hunter’s kindergarten IEP, some goals that he may have would be; respond using gestures to commands or comment, follow short step directions, provide eye contact with the other individual, mastering sign language commands that will be beneficial to his everyday needs. We would recommend Hunter into a mainstream school with resources, so that he can get the most out of his education.
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ReplyDeleteA DD waiver stands for Individual and family Developmental Disabilities Support waiver. Some of the services that this waiver provides include day support, supported employment, therapeutic consultation, respite care, family and care giver training, crisis supervision and prevocational services. In order to be eligible for this waiver the individual must be six years of age or older who are diagnosed with a developmental disability. This does not apply to mental retardation. Similar to the EDCD waiver, you must apply for this waiver and in order to be eligible you must be screened for a developmental disorder.
ReplyDeleteRick and Sandy are eligible for Medicaid for Hunter in Virginia. Each state varies with the regulations regarding Medicaid, but in Virginia the criteria is low-income children, pregnant women, the elderly, persons with disabilities (Hunter), and parents meeting specific home thresholds. These requirements make it possible for Sandy and Rick to receive Medicare in regards to Hunter.
Group 3 Questions:
ReplyDelete1. Will Hunter’s parent take him to a speech pathologist?
2. Will Hunter be able to make friends with his physical and violent behaviors? Will he ever know what a true friend is?
3. With all this tension and stress will Sandy and Rick’s relationship be ruined? Ending in a divorce?