**AUTISM / ASPERGERS SUPPORT GROUP**

[doll*obsession]

A safe place for all members with friends or family with ASD

Come and have a cuppa, share your joys, and vent your problems with other people who understand.

[azureline**]

Az, we received the same response from Dr Atwood last year too ?:|

:-x Fortunately we can access the Minds and Hearts clinic and their programs....Medicare covers about 75% (I think) of that but I suspect the threshold will be reached fairly quickly.

[sheepy_1-4]

so you are saying they lied?

i think what the administrators have told you is exactly what they have been told to tell you and as far as they know is the truth - or at least the "official stance".

For example, one of my kids sees a kenesiologist. If we book through the receptionist, we get the standard "there is a two month wait" but we'll take your number for late cancellations.

kid hurt his back the other week - rang the clinic - got the drill.... Then i rang Dan on his private mobile number (we know him from outside) - explsined the situation and he offered to see him either during his lunch time or at 5 pm when the clinic shut for the day.

Same happens for the peady - it helps to have an eternal referral or know someone who knows someone.

as for the 200 patients a year - probably right - way back when he started referring even his regualr patients to other shrinks - often his past PHD supervisions. we only get in about once every 18 months to physically see him though he receives the reports from the shrink he referred us to and oversees things. In the peak we could get in a little more regularly if the regular shrink paved the way for it. (ie said - whooaaa - not sure what to do here)

[azureline**]

I doubt anyone would try to access his services without a referral Sheep? We certainly didn't.
It was disappointing because we think that Tony Attwood has a better idea about girls with Aspergers than others appear to? However, we are pleased with the services we can access 🙂

[sheepy_1-4]

I wasn't meaning without any referral az - I thought I referred to an eternal referral (means specialist has agreed to provide long term care and the referral doesn't keep expiring every 12 months). From memoey it took a fair bit to get - had to establish a regular pattern of consultations and then the specialist had to actually recommend it/apply for it. something to do with some continuity of care thing

[timeless_beauty_australia]

so you are saying they lied?

No if you read my post correctly you would see that I said it depends upon who the referring shrink is and if he has an affiliation with them. He is so busy he can pick and choose who he sees. Much like the surgeons here in Tassie, my best friend's hubby is a surgeon here and he scans the huge amount of patients that are referred to him and picks and chooses at his leisure. It's pretty common when you are at the top of your game.

[sheepy_1-4]

No if you read my post correctly you would see that I said it depends upon who the referring shrink is and if he has an affiliation with them. He is so busy he can pick and choose who he sees. Much like the surgeons here in Tassie, my best friend's hubby is a surgeon here and he scans the huge amount of patients that are referred to him and picks and chooses at his leisure. It's pretty common when you are at the top of your game.

hi buying, remembr that az is very new to this stuff so hasn't had the pleasure of the experiences that we have - it's a bit tricky to get your head around the hoops you have to jump to get some things - I doubt she's had time to build a relationship with any of her grand daughters care providers yet - give her a while though and she'll work out the system.

Until then, remember how scary and frustrationg it was for us when we started on this merry go round? well Az is going through that now.

But in the meantime - there is one very special little girl getting the best care and support any kid could want. A grandma who is as committed as the parents.

[nouveau_retro]

No if you read my post correctly you would see that I said it depends upon who the referring shrink is and if he has an affiliation with them. He is so busy he can pick and choose who he sees. Much like the surgeons here in Tassie, my best friend's hubby is a surgeon here and he scans the huge amount of patients that are referred to him and picks and chooses at his leisure. It's pretty common when you are at the top of your game.

I will just have to tell our referring doc that he's not part of the 'in' crowd :^O

[azureline**]

I will just have to tell our referring doc that he's not part of the 'in' crowd :^O

:^O

[sheepy_1-4]

guess what I was getting at az - is maybe see one of his "understudies" or suggested referrals and get yourself an invite through the back door..... there is often a way to work around most things....

I've found it helps if you are an "interesting" case - i.e. something outside the "norm"

(your GD sounds as if she may have a higher than normal IQ for example - possibly could open some doors. Think about it. 4% of kids have ASD (don't know the real numbers - just a guestimate) and 3% of the population have an IQ over 130....

what this means is for every 100 people there may be 4 with ASD. Now put all of them together and in theory 3 in every 100 of those have an IQ over 130 - so you are starting to belong to a very small minority if you get my drift..... and twice exceptional (as they are called) kids seem to be a rarity and thus can get bumped up some lists a bit faster and through some doors that were previously closed - simply because they are different to the majority of the minority if that makes sense...

there are a few other interesting combinations as well that "they" seem to get excited about...

anyways - that's one way through the "back door".


Apparently they also like to see a strong committment to therapy, so if you can show a substantial track record of different things or even certain therapies it can fast track you to where you want to go.... "Doctor, doctor, I have tried all this and it hasn't worked - please help me"" - and then they see an extraordinary case - a challenge even....

does that make sense?

For example, there was one neurologist I desperately wanted to get my kid into see. Peady said he was THE ONE to see for juvenile CDD. Not even his recommendations and letters had any effect though... so we tried a back door method..... apparently the doc had a strong interest (and investment) in the DORE program - so guess what we did..... - got ourselves in his "interest area" (will admit the DORE program was great - so not a waste - but not as effective for us as for others) and we eventually got into him. - simply because we were an exception to the rule iykwim.

[sheepy_1-4]

sort of like - if you want to meet a rock star - hang out where the rock stars hang out