Carlos Said:

ARMY question about having Special Needs child and receiving BAH.?

We Answered:

While he is in training (bootcamp and AIT) he will Absolutely receive BAH. However, once he gets to his first duty station, because he is married, he cannot live in the barracks. He will get BAH but he will need that money to find somewhere to live off-base if you don't accompany him. He would not be considered a Geo Bachelor because you would be choosing not to move with him. Geo Bachelors only rate less than $200 a month for BAH.


My son is also Special Needs. He didn't speak a word until he was 3.5 years old. They believe he may have Aspberger's but it's too soon for them to tell. THe military has something called EFMP. That's the Exceptional Family Member Program. This is an EXCELLENT program that will provide everything your child needs, for free. Your husband can never, ever be stationed somewhere that doesn't have the facilities or programs your son needs to succeed. This has been a wonderful program for us. The military has so far paid 100% of the costs for my son's speech therapy..that's 3.5 years of therapy (he's 7 now). He was eligible to go to a local private academy for his needs (all costs paid) but we decided to keep him the public school where he receives special help and he is THRIVING.

Give the military a chance. They will take care of you and your son where ever you go. Believe it or not, military doctors are AMAZING. If they cannot provide the care your son needs, the will give you a referral to go off-base and see a specialist.

If you go with him, you can live on base or he can get BAH to live off-base. If you child has special housing needs, the base will accommodate as best they can or you can find some place off-base. There is a lovely woman that lives down the street from me her on-base. Her daughter has Cerebal Palsy and uses a wheel chair. Their house was modified by the base just for their daughter, no carpet, ramps everywhere, low counters, the works. The school sends a special bus that picks up her daughter at their doorstep, and she has a teacher that stay with her the entire day and helps her get around and do her school work. The military takes care of it's own and if you get involved withhappenchool system, well, miracles can happem!

Of course, we are Air Force but I can't imagine that the Army wouldn't have the same programs.

Theodore Said:

Anyone tried the Son Rise Program (autism) or any other treatments? Please share your exprience!?

We Answered:

I have not done Son-Rise, but I have seen several posts from people who have. They say they really liked it. Some said it was expensive, but all the posts I have seen said their children benefited very noticeably and they were surprised how much.

I see you also asked about other treatments. My children are recovered. See www.heidinotes.com for my views.