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Hallie was observed
Topic Started: Apr 17 2007, 02:57 PM (252 Views)
hallie_ari_mom
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Rebbetzin
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Hallie is being tested for PT through the school district for earlhy intervention. She's a toe walker and I want it corrected. She also had a psych exam and OT just to be certain it isn't anything else.

Today she was observed in school, and while I haven't heard anything, the director said the observer said she'll qualify. That's huge, but there is only 6 more weeks of school. They seldomly grant summer PT for children who are not autistic. But I feel she cannot meet her goals in the 6 remaining weeks of school.

I have a meeting 5/1 to go over all this. I am recruiting a parent advocate, as well as the director to be there on her behalf to pressure them to give it to her.


Anyone else deal with early intervention? It was suggested that I use wrightslaw.org to help build my case, but I kind of feel that if they are willing to give her help then any specialist will know 6 weeks is not sufficient time to achieve her goals.
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CravingRavioli
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aishes chayil
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I've dealt with early intervention, but I think it's a whole different ballgame when it comes to infants (I contacted the early intervention agency when my second to youngest dd was 9 months old). Also, I think there was a lot more funding a few years ago, so it was relatively easy to qualify. And since I was obviously not doing it through school it was a lot simpler. My ped gave me the number to call, a pt and a social worker made home visits, then there was one more meeting at the agency with a caseworker and a social worker from the city. That was it. My dd qualified for weekly 1/2 hr sessions for one year, and boruch hashem it was more than she needed.

Good luck!
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hallie_ari_mom
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Rebbetzin
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Wow.. that sounds much easier. I'm so glad to hear that it worked though! I guess that's my greatest concern. She's a very stubborn little girl and I don't think she'll change her walking pattern until she's good and ready. With younger ones, the PT becomes part of who they are. I should have started earlier.
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miriam19
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queen
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Gabriel was qualified for PT, OT, and speech without any issues. But again, he's below 3, and between birth and 3 early intervention is state funded and thus easy to get. After he turns 3, we'll have to evaluate him again and see what he needs and what kind of options we have. I'm dreading possible huge bill, but if he needs help - we have to bite the bullet....
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Mandy
aishes chayil
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Quote:
 
But I feel she cannot meet her goals in the 6 remaining weeks of school.


I don't know anything about your little girl and how old she is or what her problems are. But, I am not sure I understand why you need her to have summer sessions for toe-walking. Why is this a big issue, if it is not indicative of another problem ?

I would be careful about the parent advocate. Speaking as a school psych, they can be very adverserial and the school may feel defensive if she is overly aggressive. School teams tend to get defensive even as soon as they hear that an advocate is coming.

Will your insurance pay for PT over the summer ? I think that in order to get summer services, you will need to show that her difficulties will increase over the summer and she will fall significantly below present levels. I don't think that simply explaining that her IEP goals will not be met in the remaining 6 weeks will cut it.

Also, in most states, they have 30 days between the report ( MFE, ETR,) and the IEP implementation. So I don't know if your meeting in May will even begin the services for her, they might decide to start them next year.
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hallie_ari_mom
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Rebbetzin
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Mandy,

Hallie is 4 and was born with hip dysplasia. Along with toe walking, she sits in a V, which is horrible for her hips, cannot run and keep up with her friends, she can gallop, not skip, cannot hop, can't do stairs one foot at a time, has big troubles riding her bike, cannot throw a ball/catch, and has low muscle tone. So while any one of those alone is not a big deal, together her gross motor skills are noticably delayed.

I agree about the advocate bit... but apparently my nursery school sends this particular parent to just about every meeting and she is quite friendly with the other side, so her presence should help us. But, yes, I've thought about your POV in great detail.

If I must do PT privately, it will cost roughly $60 a session, two sessions a week, for the summer. I'd rather go through the school if I can. I don't have that kind of money. It looks like she'd be able to start ~ a week after our meeting, so she'd get in about 6 weeks of PT. But then she has summer and camp and I really want her to be able to keep up with her friends.

She'll be starting K in the fall, not 5 years old yet, far shorter than her peers (still wearing 2T and 3T bottoms. I just don't want to add yet another "teasable" thing at her. Kids are mean and will look to tease her. (I was always teased for being short and Jewish and being a terrible at sports.

I think that having 12 weeks off after starting PT will greatly set her back after starting and she needs continuous treatment until she's done.

Toe walking in and of itself creates your foot to grow in an awkward way and hurts your calf muscles. It's like being in heels 24 hours a day and her muscles are very tight. It's harmful and these are her growing years. She needs to grow correctly.
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conundrum1
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Would orthodics help correct her toe walking?
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hallie_ari_mom
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Rebbetzin
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Good question, and I don't know. She is seeing my podiatrist today, and I'll ask. I don't know, bc maybe that would work if this were habitual instead of muscle related, kwim? But I'll add that to my list of questions for today!
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Mandy
aishes chayil
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Quote:
 
I think that having 12 weeks off after starting PT will greatly set her back after starting and she needs continuous treatment until she's done.


Be sure to say this at the meeting. Good luck with it !


Quote:
 
I just don't want to add yet another "teasable" thing at her. Kids are mean and will look to tease her. (I was always teased for being short and Jewish and being a terrible at sports.


I need to disagree with you here. Kids will always find something to tease each other about and they can be really mean. I was also teased as a kid, for having glasses and being from a different country. However, instead of trying to shield the child from teasing, it is sometimes better to teach the child appropriate ways to react to teasing ( whatever, you're entitled to your opinion, etc.) that will not show the bullies that they can get a rise out of the victim.


Although it is difficult to implement, I agree with this guy's approach to teasing : http://www.bullies2buddies.com./
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hallie_ari_mom
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Rebbetzin
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Mandy
Apr 18 2007, 10:48 PM
Quote:
 
I think that having 12 weeks off after starting PT will greatly set her back after starting and she needs continuous treatment until she's done.


Be sure to say this at the meeting. Good luck with it !


Quote:
 
I just don't want to add yet another "teasable" thing at her. Kids are mean and will look to tease her. (I was always teased for being short and Jewish and being a terrible at sports.


I need to disagree with you here. Kids will always find something to tease each other about and they can be really mean. I was also teased as a kid, for having glasses and being from a different country. However, instead of trying to shield the child from teasing, it is sometimes better to teach the child appropriate ways to react to teasing ( whatever, you're entitled to your opinion, etc.) that will not show the bullies that they can get a rise out of the victim.


Although it is difficult to implement, I agree with this guy's approach to teasing : http://www.bullies2buddies.com./

I agree with you (not with what you were disagreeing with, I think we are on the same page). I need to equip her with the proper words to stand up for herself. At this point she's pretty good. She's got no problem telling others that they are hurting her feelings. As she gets older I'll help her think of snappier phrases as they become necessary.

Her podiatrist said orthodics are not necessary, and he gave me a script for PT. I can use that at the meeting. Sadly, private PT will cost me (with insurance) $30 a session, 2-3 sessions a week. I can't afford that.
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conundrum1
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You know what, you have to do what's best for your kid. I was talking to a lady who had to take two mortgages on her house in order to pay for her child to receive early ABA intervention for autism. She doesn't regret it at all. Sure, they are hurting financially (it costs $50 000 a year!), but her son is doing better than expected.
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hallie_ari_mom
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Rebbetzin
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Of course we'll do what we have to, but "all" we have to do is fight the school district. A lot easier than taking out a second mortgage, bc then I'll have to get a job and then we'll have to send two kids to daycare. Daycare is $1400 a month per child, and I don't earn $2800 a month+ to even break even. (when I worked outside the house)

I got my fightin' gloves on!

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conundrum1
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Yummy's Mommy
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I'm rooting for you! Good luck!
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I am Vo
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halliesmom1
Apr 19 2007, 01:53 PM
I got my fightin' gloves on!

Delurking to say "Good for you" :clap

I call that my "mama bear" stance; as in "Nobody better mess with baby bear when mama bear is around!!"
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ScrappingMom
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Good luck! I've been through this myself. Going against the system isn't fun, but it's worth it in the end.
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