Ok just looked at our new insurance and it doesn't look as bad as I thought.  But dang this seems like a lot of work to get diagnosed.  

I've never had to go through the diagnosis but I've worked with alot of children with autism.  As far as programs, anything social is beneficial such as summer camps, swimming classes, gymboree, etc.  If you're working you can have a nanny or babysitter go with him.  I know it's difficult but children with autism are truly special...best of luck!

Here is a great resource for you...I personally know Laura...she's lived it with her children and a misdiagnosis of herself...

http://www.autismsolutioncenter.com/

Laura is speaking in Chicago, this week, at an Autism event.

A great resource if you really want to understand autism and how it can be managed and even cured.

Best of luck,

James

Possibility is not an accident, it's a choice!

YES , I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING MY SON DIAGNOSED - I DID TAKE HIM TO  ONE CLINIC WHO SAID NO . , BUT MY SON'S PRIMARY CARE MD DID NOT AGREE WITH THAT SO WITH MORE TESTING AT YET ANOTHER CLINIC  MY NOW 13 YEAR OLD SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ASPERGERS SYDROME AND SENSORY INTEGRATION ISSUES AMONG OTHER PROBLEMS BUT THE THE IS TO  FIND A GOOD CHILD DEVELOPMENTAL CLINIC TO GET YOUR SON TESTED AT AND MAYBE IN THE MEANTIME  YOUR SON'S PRIMARY CARE MD WOULD REFERRAL FOR THE OT BUT MAKE SURE IF YOU GET THE REFERRAL THE  THE OT IS WITH A  PEDIATRIC OT WHO HAS WORKED WITH CHILDREN THAT HAS WORKED WITH THAT HAVE SENSORY INTEGRATION ISSUES - MY SON HAD OT WORKING ON THIS WITH HIM IN THE SCHOOL WITH HIM SO THAT WAS A BIG HELP BUT YOUR SON IS YOUNGER. . MY PROBLEM WITH MY SON WAS I WASN' T ABLE TO GET A PROPER DIAGNOSIS UNTIL HE WAS 8 YEARS OLD  , AS I LIVE WHERE THERE ARE NOT THE DRS. AVAILABLE . AND I ENDED UP AT 2 ONE LARGE CLINIC AND THEN WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY SAID NO THE DR.WATED AWHILE BEFORE  SHE FOUND ANOTHER CLINIC THAT SHE FELT COMFORTABLE TO HAVE MY SON TESTED AT AND YES WE DID HAVE TO WAIT I THINK IT WAS AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AND -WE HAD TO TRAVEL 200 MILES TO GET TO THE CLINIC ,BUT IT PAID OFF MY SON HAD 2 DAYS OF TESTING THAT HE HAD TO GO THROUGH . I WISH YOU THE  BEST OF LUCK AND I HOPE THAT SOME OF WHAT I HAVE SAID HAS HELPED YOU.

                                                                                                                                           MARY 

 Thank you so much Mary,

 His ped gave us some good names...Fraiser center...which has a long wait and could do a pre-assessment but my son  would not even be there for that. and it would only talk about what we could be doing at this point for him.  But we are doing everything we can without a diagnosis.  EFCE...special ed helped him a lot in school.   And we do as much as we can right now...so I am opting not to go that route.  

 Then I called Alexander center and they are also considered pretty good.  But they also have a long wait and no pre-assesment.  They sent me to a Pshycologist that could diagnos him in a couple of weeks.  Once that is done I can go back to either of those centers for more help.  Probably Alexander since it is more like a clinic and they work in teams.  

 I worked out our insurance problem and now I just have to call that Pshycologist back this next week.  Which makes me a bit leary because it would be so fast.  KWIM??  But then she was from the Alexander center.

 I'm sorry it took so long for your son to get diagnosed.  My sisters daughter needs to get diagnosed she is 7.  Her doctors never said anything about it but she has meltdown galore and things bother her that shouldn't at this point anymore.  etc...  but she is a girl so she is not so hyper and that stops the thought of diagnosing girls I think.??  

 I'm glad you got help...I live close to the cities so I should be able to find a good doc.