The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation is fighting to get SPD into the DSM-V. For those who don't know what it is, it's basically the big book of everything and anything that's wrong with people. If it's not in there, insurance companies don't cover it. My son was first diagnosed with sensory issues and insurance wouldn't cover it, but once he was diagnosed with PDD-NOS insurance started covering OT.

We are in the same position as Amy in the post above. Right now DS is in public school pre-k in a class with 6 special ed kids and 10 regular ed kids. He received speech last year but did not need it this year. His major issues are sensory and our district does not provide OT for sensory issues since "they don't impact educational performance." Are ya kidding me? He gets OT for fine motor skills, but I do more at home with him than the OT does at school. He goes twice a week for therapy at a private clinic. He does wonderful in this small class now with a special ed and regular ed teacher, but when he gets to kindergarten in 2012 with 32 kids and just a regular ed teacher I think it will just be setting him up for constant failure. We are almost certain that we will begin homeschooling then. For now I think it's good he's with his peers. They don't care and they aren't judgemental. But once he gets to K and 1st grade I think they will start to notice he is a little bit different not to mention the major sensory overload.

PDD-NOS is on the autism spectrum. This is the way I was taught in college: Think of autism as an umbrella and PDD-NOS, Aspergers, high functioning autism and classic autism are all under it. It's a specturm. Kids with PDD-NOS down at the left end of the spectrum seem to have less autistic tendencies than kids way down at the right end of the spectrum. My DS was diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Some days I'm absolutely convinced that diagnosis is correct and he has some form of autism. Other days he acts like a typical 4 year old. Hopefully the nuerologist will be able to help you out. That long of a waiting time seems to be the norm with those kinds of appointments.

My mother and aunt teach in Catholic schools and they told me this is unfortunately the way my son with PDD-NOS most likely would be treated if he was sent to a Catholic school. My husband and I feel that public schools are not an option due to the area we live in so that is why we are seriously considering homeschooling. Have you talked with the principal? What does s/he say? I say it is completely unfair of this teacher to do that to your son, but a lot of people just do not understand autism.

I found some at Target on clearance. I will PM you.

Ohh....I think I would have bought that instead too. I liked the book because it gave specific activities to help you with particular parts of your day. Like before bedtime, try these things. Before you go to the grocery store try this. I thought it also explained sensory issues in an easy to understand way. I used to be a special ed teacher so I understood why DS was doing the things he did. DH, not so much. But after reading a few parts over, he got it better.

I found Growing an In-Sync Child: Simple, Fun Activities to Help Every Child Develop, Learn and Grow by Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman full of lots of activities that parents can do at home to help sensory issues.

I found it. It's called a Hugg Me tank top. Google to find the cheapest price. They seem to be $20-$25 but my son loves his!

I can check my Target to see if they have any left on clearance. The ones I have a long sleeved. I also bought a tank top one on-line. I'm trying to find that link.

Do you have a Michael's by you? Before I bought the bulk box, I would buy my bags one at a time from Michael's with their 40% off coupon. I think it made it about $5 for a 2 pound bag.

I sewed mine for my son. I think I paid about $40 total for materials. I've been making them for a while for others so I found it cheaper to buy the plastic pellets in bulk on-line. I've been told that the blanket should be 10% of your body weight, but you should check with your OT. Mine said it was ok to make the one he sleeps with heavier because the blanket is spread out over a larger space.

I think the brand at Target is C9 by Champion. I just checked the Target web site and I didn't see any. I had to buy the girls ones for my son because the boys ones at my Target only went to small. ETA: I'm pretty sure I am going to Target tomorrow. I will look to see what the short sleeved ones look like. What size is your son? I had to buy the size smaller.

DS4 with PDD-NOS 30 minutes OT at school weekly consult for SLP (he had it last year for 45 minutes/week and is on target right now, but they think he will need it again next school year) 1 hour OT twice a week at private clinic

My son is left handed and his OT recommended Handwriting without Tears.

:iagree:Luckily it only took us just under a year to jump through all the hoops to get insurance to cover OT through the autism law in our state. We still have to get "recertified" every 3 or 4 months and we still have a copay, but it's better than when we had to pay $170 a session out of pocket. DS1 now has OT twice a week, but I would go back to extremely thrifty shopping, cutting cable or whatever I had to do to make it work. OT has helped my son come so far.