Waukesha Family Gets Reprieve In Special Playset Search

WAUKESHA, WI— Carson Majeske, 5, likes to play in the water and loves the outdoors. His mother described him as very lovable.

"I like to call him my sneaky little trickster. He is such a giggly little guy," Karissa Majeske, his mother, said.

When he was 2, Carson was diagnosed as being non-verbal and having Autism Spectrum Disorder.

What Carson needs and wants is a fun and safe place to play in his backyard. The slide and sandbox that he and his 6-year-old sister Arielle have is not efficient for his needs.

The neighborhood park is intimidating for him because of the distractions and crowds.

Carson needs a special playset to keep him safe and allow his applied behavior analysis therapist to be there with him, Majeske told Patch.

Majeske said Carson can become scared or shut down any progress if he is overwhelmed. The environment at the local park makes it extremely hard to conduct therapy there.

"The one thing about him is he is not good at waiting which we are working on. To try and teach him to play and wait is a lot," she said.

The playset will help him learn how to adapt to social situations and build up his skills at home so that he can play at the local parks in the future.

It will also help him learn how to use words such as "up" or "down" or "my turn." Carson's therapist, Kayla Geissberger, has worked with him and he is starting to sound out words.

Applied Behavior Analysis therapy is a type of therapy that can improve social skills, communication and learning through positive reinforcement.

Emily Levine, executive director at the Autism Society Southeastern Wisconsin, said autism is a brain-based disorder that affects the way people socialize and communicate while affecting their learning and behavior.

She added that people with this disorder may have sensory issues which may also impact the type of noises they can tolerate.

The society provides valuable resources for caregivers, parents and children. It also has support groups and events to bring the community together.

Levine, who has an adult son with autism, remembers it was very difficult to take her son to the park when he was a child.

She added children and parents also face people who do not understand the difficulties of a child with a disability.

"It makes people experience the world very differently," Levine told Patch.

"Having stuff at your house [such as a playset] for your child to do is a good thing," she said.

Playsets can be costly

Playsets that accommodate Carson's therapy and ongoing support are very expensive, according to Majeske.

Majeske said most people can get a playset for $1,200 at Home Depot or other stores, but the sets have a weight limit enough for a few small kids.

"We are looking for one that we can maybe grow onto as we go," she said.

Majeske estimates it would cost around $5,000-$7,000 to have one custom ordered. She added Carson needs a rope ladder and a fireman pole so he can learn about edges and how to get down from places.

Through Waukesha County, Carson's parents have a Children's Long Term Support Waiver (CLTS) and are in a separate program called the the Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP). The CLTS program provides Medicaid funding for children who have substantial limitations in their daily activities and need support to remain in their home or community.

"Last year we tried to get a playset covered [through the program] for Carson's therapy. He was approved but due to COVID-19, all the playsets were sold out," Majeske said.

Majeske said they were approved for $1,200 in 2020.

According to a letter the family received from the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services, which Majeske shared with Patch, the family had to submit receipts for reimbursement by June 15 otherwise the letter said that the CCOP funding is not "reserved."

Patch reached out to the department for clarification about the letter.

Linda Wickstrom, the department's public information officer, emailed Patch and said there appeared to be a miscommunication.

"A coordinator from the Child & Family Services Division talked on the phone with the mom today and resolved her concerns regarding the funding," Wickstrom said. "There appeared to be a miscommunication. The CLTS and CCOP are separate programs."

Majeske said, thanks to Patch, a county staff member reached out to her. The family has the rest of the year to purchase the set and still qualify for the $1200 reimbursement.

"We are still trying to get it within this summer season. Thanks to your [Patch's] contact with them it extended us out and there’s a little less pressure now," she said.

For the portion of the playset cost not covered through the program, they have set up a GoFundMe campaign. As of Thursday, the fundraiser has raised over $600. Majeske hopes to raise at least $5,000 towards the playset.

Editor's Note: GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.