OT seems to be Grady's weakest area. He still doesn't want to do a pincer grasp. We're still working on lines up/down/across, and circles. He's making progress but seems, to me, to be at a plateau lately.

He officially gets 30 minutes a week, but since his preschool is a SN preschool, he gets a little more than that. Maybe just not one on one with the OT.

I'm thinking of asking for more. But I'm wondering if I should try to get more through school or get an outside therapist. There's only 2 months of school left, but he does go to school 7 weeks of the summer. But that is "camp" and they don't have to follow the IEP during that.

I could apply for ESY services though I suppose.

What do you think?

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~Kathy
Grady (DS 5/26/04)
Hailey 9/20/06
Expecting #3 8/1/10

Wes is just a bit younger than your son and he gets 30 min twice a month in school. We had really great luck with doing private therapy for OT. He did once a week for 45 min for about a year. Results they could get in a private setting w/o distractions of school were huge in comparison. We stopped the private OT due to health insurance issues, but we're picking it up again this summer as sort of a "camp". He'll just do once a week for 45 min for the whole summer in prep for Kindy.

Nate is 5 1/2 years old and he is not getting any. I so wish he would. He was evaluated in early December and I went in for an IEP meeting thinking he would qualify to find out that he did not. This is the kicker...she told me she could not use any one or any exam because he had Down syndrome. So he was never really evaluated according to an assessment and she could make the results whatever she wanted the results to be. Hence, he didn't qualify. She told me to go buy him an easel. She said he has all the ability...he just needs more fine motor activities and practice. So it looks like mom will need to put on the OT hat.

His teacher later at his conference a few weeks ago told me to ask for another assessment and to specify evaluation from another examiner. She was not happy that this OT so didn't get Nate. She assumed he doesn't know his letters or letter sounds. She told me he cannot be taught how to write till he knows these and that may not be till age 8 or 10! Surprise Surprise...he knows them!!! His teacher said..."Mom, this is the time for you to step up and start advocating for your child!" Sadly she is most not likely the last person Nate will encounter in his journey through education who will prejudge him and under estimate his ability.

I hope to have some group therapy this summer. Summer school is not an option for Nate...you have to be invited..and a preschooler cannot be invited....maybe next summer. I also plan to try to get him in to a HWT program.

Note: Nate has not had official OT since he was 17 months of age...we discontinued it at his 18 month IFSP meeting.

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Sherry
Evan 9, Olivia 8, and Nate 5*

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Anna who is in kindergarten has 2 30 min. sessions per week as a pull out and 2 more as a push in, but the push in ones are done for the entire class (15 typical kids, 4 with special needs). Our school district is of the opinion that all kids could benefit from OT skills so they do something called Kinderfingers with the entire class and yoga with the entire class which is supposed to help the core. Given that, Anna's small motor skills are still her worst area--she is just now able to write her first name although only her teachers or her parents could read it (and she really only needs to know 2 letters LOL). She is working on writing letters but it is very slow going.

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Mary
Mom to Libby 6/92, Alex 9/93, Anna (DS)12/12/03

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Andrew just turned 5 and is getting 30 min/week OT in preschool and 2 hours/week private OT.....for now.

He will be getting ESY this summer as well, and our district does follow the IEP so his 30 min./week will stay.

However, he seems to be spinning his wheels in OT the last few months. Our private OT said that our insurance is talking of not granting him anymore units (sessions) if they don't see some progress. We can either keep going and have the insurance 'cut him off', so to speak, or take a break on our own and have him reassessed in 6 months or so.

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Nicki, proud SAHM to:

Brady the Magnificent (15.5)
Li'l Miss Ellie (9)
Mr. Mikey-Monkey-Man (6.5)
Sir Andrew (DS, 5)

SherryinWI wrote:

Nate is 5 1/2 years old and he is not getting any. I so wish he would. He was evaluated in early December and I went in for an IEP meeting thinking he would qualify to find out that he did not. This is the kicker...she told me she could not use any one or any exam because he had Down syndrome. So he was never really evaluated according to an assessment and she could make the results whatever she wanted the results to be. Hence, he didn't qualify. She told me to go buy him an easel. She said he has all the ability...he just needs more fine motor activities and practice. So it looks like mom will need to put on the OT hat.

This is just ridiculous for that OT to say! I think I'd be requesting a new eval w/a different examiner. Hire private if you have to do so. Private OT's use the same tests as your district one will and kindly offer to share the results.

None. We had an OT evaluation about 3 months ago and were given a program and told that if we want a review in 12 months then give them a call but that they don't have resources available for regular therapy (this is UK). Even when we were in CA Callum got very little OT as the OT basically gave up on him at 18 months old and said there was nothing else she could do! PT and speech were our priority at the time and we never did manage to find another OT.

Callum can write reasonably well though and is just starting to do cursive (joined up) writing. He gets tired easily though so uses a computer for longer pieces of work. He still has lots of trouble with small things like school shirt buttons and coat zips but he's slowly improving.

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Naomi
Mum to Callum (DS) 3/03 and Kieran 8/04
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Hi Kathy, Naomi & everyone!!

William is getting private OT two times weekly with Interactive Metronome, then an additional IM 1 x weekly, then Hippotherapy/OT 1 x weekly, plus speech. My poor child. He goes with the flow thankfully.

Kathy, congratulations on baby #3. Hope you're feeling well!

Libby

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Mommy to William (12/17/01 Ds);Sam (6/17/03); Ellen (10/5/04) & Charlie (6/6/06)

half way thru they dropped my kid because of lack of progress. I am in the middle of filing a complaint with the state.

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Lori
Wife to Wes (briarsdad)
Mom to Will(11)9-14-98 Briar(8)DS 6-22-01

Talitha gets none. I managed to get her OT for about 3 months - half an hour once a week. That was about 18 months ago and haven't been able to get it since.

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Karyn
Mum to Nikki (Jul 89), Stefanie (Sep 96), Joel [June 98] and Talitha (DS) (Nov 05) AVSD/PDA repaired 23 March 06

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:14

Hi!!!
When Olivia was in preschool she got 30 minutes a week with group( she's a group gal) but she also got an hour one on one at her old ei center in addition to that, until she got into kindergarten then she only received 30 minutes a week at school. Now looking back I believe she would've gotten more out of it had she been given 30 minutes in preschool group and the 30 minutes when she was in kinder in addition to the xtra hour in her old ei at that age. Right now at 12 there r trying to drop her ot. So I had to request an IEE and put a stayput in until we work this out. This is the first time I have ever had to do this as we've been happy thus far. California has made so many cuts it's crazy but ahem they're NOT dropping her OT. So I am learning the in's n outs of IEE's and stayput etc. So that is that . Good luck!!! Stephanie