Alright – so, we probably all heard of this song by Diana Ross. This is how I feel how Lovaas ABA therapy provider treated my son and I. I think Lovaas and the person who runs the Minnesota location – Dr. Larsson are racist pigs. (not a typo and my opinion). I will probably write a book about my experiences in many Minnesota ABA therapy providers, but clearly my least favorite has been Lovaas clinic for their blatant racist and bias tactics.
Back in 2008, when my son was only five years old, I enrolled him after being on a wait list for a long time into Lovaas’ program. They initially told me that I had to take him out of pre-school, speech and occupational therapy because that would be a conflict with their method of teaching. So like an idiot I believed them and took him off everything. Then the clinical supervisor we had who I actually thought was the only sane voice of reason – Ms. Amy N left and we were assigned to a clueless one Ms. Karin Morris who had no behavior certification and was not licensed in any mental health area. In less than couple of months after she was assigned to us – Ms. Morris told me that my son who had non-verbal autism was not “the best outcome” and would be discharged.
Imagine for a minute being a parent and your child’s kinder-garden teacher tells you such cruel words. Your first reaction is WTF – he is only five. He is just starting and what the heck is best outcome. Shouldn’t each child learn to their best ability and their God given potential. I remember I cried endlessly then I begged Ms. Morris, Larsson and even called Scott Wright and his wife Linda Wright who run Lovaas East and West coast. All of these Anglo’s stood together and told me bunch of bleeping lies including – my son was too old for their program. Keep in mind he was only five at the time. Then Mr. Wright said “we usually transfer kids to school by this time”. What time is that I asked and he never responded.
Mrs. Wright seemed to have a little bit more compassion, but she too was powerless or at least didn’t care enough to speak for my son. So, I complained to everyone I can think of and every agency. Sadly, no one could help us. Everyone felt bad and wrote letters to Larsson including my son’s mental health professional, disability law center, the Ombudsman’s office, DHS and everyone in between to no avail.
Larsson was bent on listening to unqualified Morris over logic and reason. He refused to let my son stay in the program and learn. I decided to fight them because there was no mountain high enough, no valley low enough and no river wild enough that was going to keep me from protecting my child as any parent would.
Stay tuned for what happened next!
Above words do not reflect any agency, candidate or committee.
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate