Change is on the horizon

Today was a BIG day for the Blackburns.  Well...really just for Austin.  Today ended a chapter in Austin's life with receiving Autism Preschool Services through Fairfax County Public Schools.  Austin has been in PAC for just over 3 years.  It was bitter-sweet picking him up this afternoon and having all the teachers come out to our car to say their goodbyes.  :)

As many of you might know, we've been looking into a private-intensive program for Austin for over a year.  After doing TONS of research, we found that there were not many options for us.  First off there are just not that many private schools out there that offer 1-on-1 ABA therapy.  Second, they are OBSCENELY expensive so it seems impossible to even consider.  Recently we got Austin's latest testing results back and they were less than to be desired.  It showed that Austin had made minimal to no progress in most areas in the last year.  We immediately knew that something had to change and that meant that we needed to make some huge sacrifices.

God answered our prayers almost overnight!  I received an email from one of my autism support groups advertising an Open House at a local private autism school that had just opened in September.  Casey and I signed up and went to visit.  The school is called the CARD Virginia School and is only 5 miles from our house!  The other intensive programs I had been looking into were over 40 miles away.  

The CARD Virginia School is part of CARD, the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, which has been around since 1990.  They have been 1 of the leading companies that provides in-home, 1-on-1 ABA therapy to children on the spectrum.  They have their own curriculum which they developed in their research department of their California HQ.  It is now being used in Los Angeles special education public school programs and many others.  CARD decided toopened up their 1st school here in their DC regional office.  

     

We couldn't be more happy!  With Austin having been in PAC for 3 years and not making the kind of progress and development we had hoped for, we knew it was time to put him in an intensive program.  We are doing what it takes to make this happen and are so excited that Austin's 1st day at CARD Virginia School will be Monday, April 16!  His lead teacher, Kat, is a former PAC teacher in FCPS, has a Master's in Special Education, and is a BCBA (Board Certified Behavioral Analyst).  Austin will attend school from 9am-3pm with 100% 1-on-1 intensive ABA therapy.  

I am a mix of emotions about this new school.  I am excited, happy, anxious, scared, nervous, hopeful, desperate, skeptical, pumped, joyful, relieved, and so many more that I can't articulate.  I ask that you keep our little family in your prayers as Austin makes this transition and as we sacrifice more than we ever have to make this work.  :)

If you are interested in learning more about CARD Virginia School click here.