ESDM

[mamason]

Hello All,
This is my first thread on MN.
My toddler son is showing traits for autism. The pediatrician we saw did not want to diagnose him officially however and wanted to adopt a wait and see approach (until he is around 2 in a few months time). However as many of you parents will appreciate I am so worried about him and have been looking at the possibility of starting early intervention and in particular the Early Start Denver Model. However when I checked for qualified ESDM therapists based in the UK, I found that there are none. This is from the official source. I know however that some ladies on here have used this method in the UK. A google search also suggested that there are people offering ESDM methods in the UK. I am a little baffled and would be so so grateful if anyone would be able to shed a little light!
Many thanks in advance X

[sickofsocalledexperts]

I thought there was one ESDM qualified person? There is also a similar one called PRT via Blue Skies Therapy - has offices now in London as well as Scotland. I did ABA and that has been been great for me boy - certainly "wait and see" is a cop-out and not a strategy

[amunt]

I second ABA. I wish, I'd known enough to start earlier.

[openupmyeagereyes]

I have started reading this book which is based on the ESDM, giving you techniques you can incorporate into everyday life. I’m only a couple of chapters in myself and haven’t yet got to the techniques but I thought it might be of interest.

[EssexMummy123456]

there's a website www.marybarbera.com/ which has some free and some paid for videos about DIY ABA, mary barbara wrote the verbal behaviour book on ABA and runs a facebook support group.

there is also an ESDM place in suffolk btw, personally i found the ESDM book a bit much to try and do myself and prt a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, neither seem to take into account verbal dyspraxia which commonly co-exists with autism. For now my little boy is seeing a great speech therapist and we try to do ABA ourselves.

[theuntameableshrew]

The early start book openup mentioned is great

[mamason]

Thank you all for your input.

sickofsocalledexperts, I thought too that there was one ESDM qualified person (in Scotland or something), but appears not. Yes, I too do not agree with the Wait and See approach so am pretty stressed and overwhlemed with everything at the moment. There appears to be so little help out there in the NHS yet this is such a critical time. Can I ask what sort of ABA programme you did?

Thanks for recommending the book, openupmyeagereyes. Will have a look.

EssexMummy123456, yeah I had a look at that place but I think they are going through the qualification process so aren't yet qualified as such. We are going to see a speech therapist shortly so hopefully we will get some professional input as to the extent of his speech problems and get some strategies to help him.

[IfilolMour]

Hello there,
i just got certified so my name and details will be on the next ESDM certified therapists list. As far as i know i will be the second certified person in the UK (London). I am currently booked for weekly sessions but if someone needs information/one off parent training sessions please contact me on [email protected].
Thank you.
Ifi