advice on getting the right therapy for my son

[surfobx]

I have a 5 yr old son who has severe apraxia along with Pervasive Developmental Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder and mild Cerebal Palsy. He is completely non verbal. I've had him in therapy since he was 10 months old, first with Children's Hospital and then when he turned 3 he started the special needs program with the school system here. I've been fighting them since he started there about getting one on one speech therapy 5 days a week. They keep telling me the same thing, he recieves enough one on one (3 days a week for 10-20 min) and they intergrate it during classroom time. They just don't seem to understand Apraxia. His neurologist has stressed to me multiple times how important it is for him to recieve intensive speech therapy. The school won't budge, none of the outside services I've found take Medicaid, and I just don't know what to do anymore! Can someone pleaseee give me some advice?! Thanks in advance!! :)

[lmjess]

 Have you tried contacting any local university speech programs?? My autistic son (8 years old) attends social skills therapy at the University of IL speech lab and loves it! My youngest son (19 months) has apraxia and recieves in home speech therapy once a week through Early Intervention. And, 1 hour a week at the local hospital through our private insurance.

[3totsinabox]

 I have the same problem with the school about my Son's apraxia.  They don't seem to understand it.  I was told 'I was one of those moms who reads things on the Internet and scared myself'  Even though I had his diagnosis from Children's hospital in my hand. He only gets 120 mins a months combined with other kids and individual.  I took him to the Hearing Speech and Deaf Center in our area.  His SLP is great, she understands and he is slowing improving.  He now can say at least 3 word sentences to the point you can grasp what he is trying to say :) If you have a center like this in your area, they may take medicaid.  The united way pays my co-pay, thankfully and his speech is at no cost to me.  good luck, stick to your guns and from my experience, you have to get additional help outside school because they have different guidelines to follow and they stick with them no matter what.  Maybe because of funding, idk.

[3totsinabox]

 oh and I also found out there the School for the Deaf in our area has a class for Hearing students with Apraxia.  IF they meet the requirements then tutition is free.  My SLP also, found that for me.  I had no idea :)  Maybe you can look up a similiar school in your area :)