[Lise O’Reilly]

To anonymous considering homeschooling.

I'm a homeschooling mom and so it was an easier decision for us to school Philip, our autistic son, at home. But as time goes by, and I hear more and more about the terrible troubles families are having with the school system, it becomes more clear that this is a good choice for kids "on the spectrum".
Here's how I see it. Education has only been mass produced (i.e. one size fits all) for the last hundred years or so. It has allowed for many more children to get an education, which is great, but the quality has suffered. For families who can manage homeschooling (it's a big commitment), they can offer their children a better quality education than even the best of schools.
Some children do better in school than others — that has less to do with intelligence and ability than with the fact that they happen to be the kind of learner who thrives in the group setting. Autistic kids benefit from one-on-one education: they are not that kind of lucky kid who was "made for" school. They end up having to learn their academics in therapy sessions after school, which makes for a terribly long day for children.

So I encourage you to look at the option of homeschooling in a very positive light, not something second-best you do only because everything else has failed. If you want to talk more about it, here's my email address.

liseoreilly@shaw.ca

Hope this helps!
Lise (Philip's mom)

[Lise O’Reilly]

Hello everyone,

Has anyone any experience dealing with Dr. Lawrence Leichtman in Virginia? My brother's daughter has just been diagnosed with down's syndrome, and he is considering targeted nutrition intervention. I noticed that Dr. Leichtman also claims to treat autism. I know this is off-topic, however, since we are helping someone with down's, I thought you would not mind.
Please email me at liseoreilly@shaw.ca or post a reply on the board.
Many thanks,

Lise O'Reilly
Philip's mom and Jenna's auntie

[Lise O’Reilly]

My husband recently became a business co-owner (about 20 employees) and he wants to set up an extended medical plan. I have heard that FEAT-BC has helped advocate with extended medical plans to get Lovaas ABA funded. We have been financing our own ABA program for 2 1/2 years now. Does anyone know which insurance companies have recognised and covered Lovaas ABA in the past? We would try to get coverage with them.
Many thanks.
Lise O'Reilly

[Lise O’Reilly]

To Victor and Anne Silveira:
Re: educational software
We had some success with the Winnie the Pooh Toddler program. They put the mouse on a balloon and it pops; very reinforcing and easy for the mouse. Available inexpensively at Costco.
Reader Rabbit has been popular with our autistic son as well. Also at Costco.
A little more expensive is My First Incredible Amazing Dictionary by DK. Available through Different Roads to Learning (1-800-853-1057 or http://www.difflearn.com ). That may be for later; it's entertaining and reinforcing for expanding vocabulary.
Happy Hunting!
Lise O'Reilly

[Lise O’Reilly]

Has anyone used the medical benefits from the At Home program for Lovaas type ABA therapist expenses? If so, please email me at liseoreilly@home.com

Many thanks,
Lise O'Reilly
Philip's Mom

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