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Aspergers / Autism Services in Florence, SC ?

Asperger/Autism Services in Florence, SC?

 

South Carolina Spectrum Families are in Need

I spent the day at the pool yesterday with my husband and three boys.  There is an older lady who I always see with her two grandchildren, a boy and a girl.  The boy is 3 years old and has severe autism. I left heartbroken after talking to his grandmother for a brief time.  Apparently, there are no services for her grandson here.  No childcare available, no special school programs, no help with medical or financial issues whatsoever.  She just doesn’t even know where to turn, and admittedly neither do I. 

She told me that during the school year, a teacher will visit twice a week for a short period of time to work with him.  But—there are no school programs he can attend.  Schools that have programs for autistic children are either too far away and do not provide transportation, and/or are not affordable.  

I haven’t found much of anything in my search for support or services in this area.  I am hoping that maybe someone out there can share their experiences, and/or send us in the right direction. I’m originally from NYC, and am considering leaving this area for these exact reasons.  Shall my children also be left out in the cold?  As it is, I have one child beginning the third grade with no evaluation or services offered, even when I requested them, and an 8th grader who I am homeschooling once again this year because there are no services for him in the school systems here. 

It is absolutely awful that so many families on the spectrum are left to wade through life alone with nowhere and no one to turn to for help.

If anyone has any ideas/services/information, please comment below.  I would love to be able to pass on a little bit of hope.  Thanks so much.

Jeannie Davide-Rivera

Jeannie is an award-winning author, the Answers.com Autism Category Expert, contributes to Autism Parenting Magazine, and the Thinking Person's Guide to Autism. She lives in New York with her husband and four sons, on the autism spectrum.

7 Comments:

  1. Tamara McDougald

    Have you found services yet? I’m a BCBA who specialize in this area. If you would like to know more info, please let me know. Thanks

  2. I am trying to locate an educator, counselor, or provider to facilitate the curriculum of Intimate Relationships and Sexual Health: A Curriculum for Teaching Adolescents/Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Social Challenges. My 22 year old son is on the higher end of the spectrum and needs to complete the goals of this curriculum. We live in Florence SC and we can travel to an appropriate provider.

    • Hi Betsey,

      Sorry it took me so long to respond, crazy days. I would recommend Dr. Sasha Federer on McQueen St–always my first choice if he can help. Otherwise, also on McQueen is Seasons Psychology and they have doctors there who work with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

      Jeannie

  3. Hi! I’ve just come across this discussion and am very concerned from what I’ve read! I have a young 4 turning 5 year old son and we currently live in Bethlehem Connecticut. The services my son receives while attending a free preschool after the age of 3, free Birth to 3 services and now entering Kindergarten next year will receive free programs while attending the same elementary school as his peers is excellent! My son has his own aide who is with him at all times and receives many hours a week of language therapy, physical therapy and much more and I am thrilled with his advances he shows nearly every day. Our family is thinking of moving to Florence South Carolina and I am trying to find out what services would be available to him if we move. Now I’m not so sure I want to move if they cannot at least match the services my son now receives. Please give me an update on any research or findings if you could. Hope to hear some good news! Thanks

    • I wish I could offer better news than I have. My advise is to actually call the school district. Here it is Florence School District One. I know they have one school that has an autism program which begins at 3K, but I have had no luck whatsoever getting the school district, school, or most teachers to be helpful.

      My youngest is 27 months old and was referred to a developmental pediatrician at 21 months to “confirm a what is already suspected” is what his doctor said. He has a severe speech delay (doesn’t speak very much at all) and is highly suspected according to his doctor to have autism. I could have told him that!

      The referral was made this past November, and we are STILL WAITING to see the doctor. Finally, our pediatrician got in touch with the develop. ped. who has set up an appointment. We will not be seen until JULY! That is an eight month wait to see a doctor, to “confirm a diagnosis”, and we will need to drive over two hours in each direction to see him in Charleston because there are NONE here.

      I am actually considering, and looking forward to trying to move from Florence, as I am from NYC and am not used to not being able to find doctors or services. It has been very frustrating.

      That said, I have been told that the one autism program that is run Lester Elementary School here in Florence (yes, only one school has an autism program) is a good program; however, the school in my opinion is not in a good area.

      I have found no services in the upper grades, that is, beyond the elementary school level here…I am still struggling and fighting and wanting to move. I sooo wish I could say better things, and am hoping someone else will chime in with information that I am yet unaware of.

      I welcome any and all information for autism services in this area.

  4. Roberta (Bobbi) Jennings

    Have you found any services or assistance in Florence? My grandchildren come to visit for a month or so every summer, and our 3 year old is autistic. I was hoping to be able to find something in the area to keep up her socialization skills, etc. I have just put in a call to the Florence office that supposedly handles autism services. Waiting to hear from them. Hope they have something to offer. Would love to know if you have any ideas. Thanks! Bobbi

    • Hi Bobbi,

      I wish I could say I’ve found services or program, but I have not. I found that the Florence office had nothing to offer, and the school system says I must wait until my little one is three in order to enroll him in the autism program at Lester Elementary, which does not help you at all for summertime.

      Please keep me posted if you do find anything helpful. I am going to enroll my little one at the Sunshine House to go to preschool a couple of days per week, and have a speech therapist go there to work with him during that time.

      That was the best I could come up with what I’ve found here, which as you can see was not much.

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