For being 17 you would think she would still physically be able to do more. Seems strange that she moves like an old woman. I know maybe some is sensory related but you would think she would have more agility. I know somewhere it was mentioned she had some muscle issues. You would think she would have been in physical therapy all these years.
Just speaking from my experience here -
It can be hard to get physical therapy covered by insurance. My younger child has muscle tone issues and a medical diagnosis of dyspraxia. Even with documentation from our pediatrician that some gross motor milestones were not being met, we were unable to get insurance to cover physical therapy and the school district couldn't provide it because the delays weren't bad enough
yet.
I mean, crazy thought, but maybe covering some therapy early on - before problems progress to serious issues like Abbie's - would be better for all involved? Wild.
Anyway, our OT was able to cobble some stuff together for my child and got us some equipment to use at home to help in between OT sessions. And we can get periodic PT covered when my child's medical conditions are causing weakness (but only the non-autism medical stuff!), usually during & after hospitalizations. It's kind of a nightmare but I make do. Kiddo is progressing well physically.
Five years ago the Maasses wouldn't have been able to afford PT out of pocket, and if Abbie wasn't "too bad" yet it may not have been covered for her. If it had been covered, and if she'd received PT, she may not be hunched and unsteady and losing her mobility.
BUT. But they can
bleeping well afford private PT now, and it's sick that they're not getting it for her. There's zero excuse. PT is done on literal comatose patients, on dementia patients who are less oriented than Abbie is, on people with severe physical disabilities. She could do PT and she could benefit from it.