If you look closely, you will notice a small difference at the top of this blog. It's easily overlooked if you're not paying close attention, but the change is there. It has actually always been there, if you chose to see it.
Today Xander received his official diagnosis for autism. Identical twin brothers, with very un-identical autism.
For a long time we took the wait and see approach with Xander. His behaviors, though still there in some degree, were much more minimal than the ones Sawyer displayed. We could not be sure how much was a reflection of not only having an identical twin brother with autism but also of a very limited peer environment (three boys less than 14 months apart will do that for you).
Quite honestly, Xander's regression was not so total and complete as his brother's, and it simply did not scare us enough to take the difficult road of a second diagnosis at age three. With a much less intense "developmental delay" diagnosis, he was admitted to the same services and benefits as his brother. We were willing to leave it at that for a while.
But we knew this day was coming. It was neither unexpected nor hard to accept. We simply knew.
The good news is that today's evaluation meeting was the next logical step. Every single member of the team, the ones who work with Xander on a daily basis, knew what the end result would be before we ever started. It was a formality, of sorts, an official stamp to a long-held belief.
Both twins have autism, in different degrees.
And it also clears the way for an exciting opportunity. With the official diagnosis, Xander can now participate in the grant program at their Early Start school next year. The grant is for a research study that specifically targets teaching methods to reach children with autism, will involve extensive teacher training over the summer and additional supports throughout the school year. It is an amazing opportunity for both of the boys.
The only down side to any of this is that Xander will have to leave the classroom he's been in the last two school years. We hate to lose the positive influence Ms. E and Mr. K have had on him, to see him removed from a familiar place and familiar people who have been instrumental in the tremendous improvements and strides he's made these last few years. But Ms. E's classroom is not participating in the grant program, and he will have to move to participate.
And that's where we are right now. Three boys, three different paths. Each one continues to move forward in his own time and his own way ... just another bend in this journey we call life.
