I saw quiet a few kids who were non verbal using the chart and refused to say a word after using them for years, even after showing signs of being verbal. I knew that Mario was verbal but was echolaliac so I worked on getting him to speak correctly rather then copy. It took me a long time but by the time he was at kinder he was able to comminicate verbally. I had ever dame specialist tell me what I had to do without either listening to me or brush off what I had to say as I was only a mum and hadn't studied the specturm.... I had an OT come here one day telling me I should do this and that (should is a pet hate word for me) and when I said brushing doesnt work for us she laughed at me and asked me what I would know....it took me alot not to punch her in the face. Her supervisor went very white (supervisor know's me personally) but I stood up...looked her in the eye and told her I llived it every ****ing day..is that not enough??!! Then I politely thanked her for coming but asked her to walk back out the front door she had walked in and forget were we lived.
I spoke to our pead about Mario and he said I know what works as the proof was infront of him. He has supported me so much with what Ive done and agree's the board is sueless for mario.