Re: Question about OT in IEP

[Guest guest]

Throwing is such a developmental thing at that age!

Write a letter requesting another evaluation and ask them to please focus on

his strengths. Ask for another IEP meeting with the OT present at this time.

While the school focus is more classroom oriented and the goals are going to

be different than what you had in the birth to 3 program, they can still

include tactile activities. One thing they did with Maverick at that time

was to have him wear a weighted vest when they needed him to sit and focus.

I limited the time they did that more than they wanted. I also had goals

that he did physical activities before he sat for fine motor. And at this

age, I would not have too many sitting, writing goals...if he is anything

like Maverick. Have them work on positive fun activities.

I would NOT allow anything near consultative at this stage. AND, I would

also bring up at the IEP that if the OT has a personality conflict, the

school needs to find a new OT. Your son should NOT be the one to lose out.

The classroom teacher is the TEACHER and while she can assist and support the

OT, PT, and Speech therapist, she is NOT to replace it.

Write you letter and give them a few dates that you are availiable.....(10

days to 2 weeks)....and ask them to resond to you soon with their date. Send

a copy to your DDD casemanager, the Dir. of Sp ed, the principal, the

psychologist, the teacher and the OT.

[Guest guest]

can you suggest that Issac have another ot specialist? I would bring the same

reasons up that you mentioned in your post. Maybe call for a meeting and discuss

these same issues. You sound absolutely correct. He needs a professional and the

teacher would need time.

[Guest guest]

It's been my experience that when a therapist wants to drop my child (for

whatever reasons) that they like to " suggest " consulting instead of actual

therapy.

If she thinks that a 4 yr.old is going to place m & m's in a jar and not in

their mouth.....she's obviously not in control or not very realistic. You

can ask for an IEP review anytime you want and as often as you want. You are

definately not a pest, but a concerned parent.

ps I once had a speech therapist tell me that she couldn't Caty to sit in a

chair for 15 mins. to do therapy (she was 18months old) tehe

Question about OT in IEP

> I'd like some experienced parents input here....

> We had Isaac's IEP (he just turned 4) 3 weeks ago and all of his

evaluations/progress were positive except one--OT. The OT didn't attend the

IEP, but sent her report where she said that Isaac was " uncooperative "

" throws toys during sessions " " his short attention span is a hindrance to

improved fine motor development " " has not made significant progress " . The

other providers (speech & PT) were shocked that this is the same child they

work with. The OT's recommendation is that individualized therapy isn't

successful so it sould be a " combination consultative, in-class service "

where the teacher consults with an OT and then works w/Isaac on a biweekly

basis for 30-minute sessions.

> Ok....so now that I'm over the busy-ness of holidays and have time to

think about this, I'm a little concerned. At home Isaac is throwing

everything he can get his hands on. With his OT in the 0-3 program, she

worked with lots of " brushing " and joint compressions to calm him down and

make him feel more secure as part of the therapy. She was then able to have

her full hour of work with Isaac and he cooperated. I'm afraid that then

once school started, all of his goals were more oriented to self-help,

grasping crayons, stacking, etc. and they discontinued the brushing and

joint compressions. So now, when the OT tries to work with him I think (and

it was the opinion of the PT also) that he is frustrated by the tasks she's

requesting because they are too difficult and so he is doing more throwing

to express his frustration. I also know that when this OT evaluated Isaac

he gave her a run for her money and she doesn't especially enjoy

children....he escaped from the room while she was writing, he threw wooden

blocks, she requested him putting M & M's in a small jar and instead he ate

them (who wouldn't?!), she got her glasses off of her, etc. She just wasn't

in control of the situation. I think it's sort of a personality conflict.

Anyway, I feel she just doesn't want to work with him. She's removed

herself from him now by just " consulting " with the teacher on him. Which

brings me to my other concerns....I trust his teacher and am extremely

pleased with her, but she's not an OT and she's got 4 other children in the

classroom. When is she going to find time to work individually with Isaac

for thiese 30-minute bi-weekly sessions? I'm thinking this isn't too

realistic or in Isaac's best interest. He needs some real OT by a trained

person! So now, what can I do about this??? I don't want to be a pest, but

I think this needs changed now that I've had a chance to think about it.

> Suggestions/advice please!

> Jill

> mom to Isaac (4, ds)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jill,

As a pediatric therapist (COTA), my suggestion is to ask for another

therapist. Sounds like she may not be in the right field.

I let the child lead, to a certain extent, and my kids know I respect, value

and love them. I got hugged today by 4 little men...5 months to 33 months

old. I got kissed, too. Heck, one was so happy to work with me that he threw

up!!!!

Sue mom to Kate 13 and Karrie 6 w/ds

[Guest guest]

The use of a weighted vest should be closely monitored. It should be worn

for no more than 15 minutes at most, at a time. The physical activities,

sometimes called heavy work, are proprioceptive activities that help to

organize the nervous system. Some ideas would be helping to " move the walls

out " by pressing with hands against wall. Child can then turn with back

against wall, pushing against wall. Sometimes, I have a child carry a small

basket of items (no more than 10% of child's body weight) from one area to

another, praising child for being such a big helper.

I agree with ...a teacher should not replace the therapist. I would

really hesitate to take a child on consult at this child's early age.

Sue mom to Kate 13 and Karrie 6 w/ds

[Guest guest]

I agree with lisa. remember when i had a problem with my speech therapist.

She was expecting to much of micah (to sit still in a structured enviroment

also at 18 months old. The best thing i did was get another speech

therapist. She is also an oral motor/feeding specialist. What a

dufference. Micah loooves her and she him and he is making strides already.

Follow your instincts. Loree

Question about OT in IEP

>

>

> > I'd like some experienced parents input here....

> > We had Isaac's IEP (he just turned 4) 3 weeks ago and all of his

> evaluations/progress were positive except one--OT. The OT didn't attend

the

> IEP, but sent her report where she said that Isaac was " uncooperative "

> " throws toys during sessions " " his short attention span is a hindrance to

> improved fine motor development " " has not made significant progress " . The

> other providers (speech & PT) were shocked that this is the same child

they

> work with. The OT's recommendation is that individualized therapy isn't

> successful so it sould be a " combination consultative, in-class service "

> where the teacher consults with an OT and then works w/Isaac on a biweekly

> basis for 30-minute sessions.

> > Ok....so now that I'm over the busy-ness of holidays and have time to

> think about this, I'm a little concerned. At home Isaac is throwing

> everything he can get his hands on. With his OT in the 0-3 program, she

> worked with lots of " brushing " and joint compressions to calm him down and

> make him feel more secure as part of the therapy. She was then able to

have

> her full hour of work with Isaac and he cooperated. I'm afraid that then

> once school started, all of his goals were more oriented to self-help,

> grasping crayons, stacking, etc. and they discontinued the brushing and

> joint compressions. So now, when the OT tries to work with him I think

(and

> it was the opinion of the PT also) that he is frustrated by the tasks

she's

> requesting because they are too difficult and so he is doing more throwing

> to express his frustration. I also know that when this OT evaluated

Isaac

> he gave her a run for her money and she doesn't especially enjoy

> children....he escaped from the room while she was writing, he threw

wooden

> blocks, she requested him putting M & M's in a small jar and instead he

ate

> them (who wouldn't?!), she got her glasses off of her, etc. She just

wasn't

> in control of the situation. I think it's sort of a personality conflict.

> Anyway, I feel she just doesn't want to work with him. She's removed

> herself from him now by just " consulting " with the teacher on him. Which

> brings me to my other concerns....I trust his teacher and am extremely

> pleased with her, but she's not an OT and she's got 4 other children in

the

> classroom. When is she going to find time to work individually with Isaac

> for thiese 30-minute bi-weekly sessions? I'm thinking this isn't too

> realistic or in Isaac's best interest. He needs some real OT by a trained

> person! So now, what can I do about this??? I don't want to be a pest,

but

> I think this needs changed now that I've had a chance to think about it.

> > Suggestions/advice please!

> > Jill

> > mom to Isaac (4, ds)

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

When Bridget was 4 her OT changed in the middle of the year. The new OT had a

major personality conflict and also did not pay attention to the fact that

Bridget was Left handed even though I met with her the first time she treated

Bridget and told her this. I found all this out in May at the IEP meeting and

was able to get summer services with a different OT who also treated Bridget the

next year. We have a wonderful OT assistant that sees Bridget and can do

wonders.

mom to Bridget 9ds in SC

Question about OT in IEP

I'd like some experienced parents input here....

We had Isaac's IEP (he just turned 4) 3 weeks ago and all of his

evaluations/progress were positive except one--OT. The OT didn't attend the

IEP, but sent her report where she said that Isaac was " uncooperative " " throws

toys during sessions " " his short attention span is a hindrance to improved fine

motor development " " has not made significant progress " . The other providers

(speech & PT) were shocked that this is the same child they work with. The OT's

recommendation is that individualized therapy isn't successful so it sould be a

" combination consultative, in-class service " where the teacher consults with an

OT and then works w/Isaac on a biweekly basis for 30-minute sessions.

Ok....so now that I'm over the busy-ness of holidays and have time to think

about this, I'm a little concerned. At home Isaac is throwing everything he can

get his hands on. With his OT in the 0-3 program, she worked with lots of

" brushing " and joint compressions to calm him down and make him feel more secure

as part of the therapy. She was then able to have her full hour of work with

Isaac and he cooperated. I'm afraid that then once school started, all of his

goals were more oriented to self-help, grasping crayons, stacking, etc. and they

discontinued the brushing and joint compressions. So now, when the OT tries to

work with him I think (and it was the opinion of the PT also) that he is

frustrated by the tasks she's requesting because they are too difficult and so

he is doing more throwing to express his frustration. I also know that when

this OT evaluated Isaac he gave her a run for her money and she doesn't

especially enjoy children....he escaped from the room while she was writing, he

threw wooden blocks, she requested him putting M & M's in a small jar and

instead he ate them (who wouldn't?!), she got her glasses off of her, etc. She

just wasn't in control of the situation. I think it's sort of a personality

conflict. Anyway, I feel she just doesn't want to work with him. She's removed

herself from him now by just " consulting " with the teacher on him. Which brings

me to my other concerns....I trust his teacher and am extremely pleased with

her, but she's not an OT and she's got 4 other children in the classroom. When

is she going to find time to work individually with Isaac for thiese 30-minute

bi-weekly sessions? I'm thinking this isn't too realistic or in Isaac's best

interest. He needs some real OT by a trained person! So now, what can I do

about this??? I don't want to be a pest, but I think this needs changed now that

I've had a chance to think about it.

Suggestions/advice please!

Jill

mom to Isaac (4, ds)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/4/2003 8:13:17 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

staceyjc@... writes:

> . I do believe that if the time is 30 minutes,

> 2x/wk, that the therapist must spend that time with the child.

While that might be the standard that OT's use, the fact is that after you

write the goals, then the TEAM decides what amount of time and where the

goals are to be worked on. It's part of the I(Individual) EP.

My son was never pulled out for any services until about 3rd grade when he

started going with a small group to work on articulation. Any OT or PT goals

could very easily be accomplished in the classroom where the child is. If

the child is in a self-contained classroom there is NO reason for ANY

discussion about pullout...he's already pulled out! Remember, MANY of our

children have problems with transitioning...and this is going to be a stress

factor to begin with.

[Guest guest]

ROFL!!!

Judi

Re: Question about OT in IEP

Heck, one was so happy to work with me that he threw

up!!!!

Sue mom to Kate 13 and Karrie 6 w/ds

[Guest guest]

Bottom line is in my 7 years of experience with therapists, is that your child

will not go as far as they could, if there are conflicts between the child and

the therapist. Children sense tension and conflict and will react to it in

varying ways. A therapist who does not show patience and compassion toward a

child will never get that child to do what they need to in order to have a

successful therapy session. Call an IEP meeting and demand another therapist.

Using the teacher as a therapist, when that's clearly NOT her field of expertise

is a violation of your child's IEP. If your IEP states that your child is to

receive therapeutic services x number of times and it's listed by whom is

supposed to be giving those services, then by LAW they must comply -- regardless

of how the therapist feels. His/Her feelings are irrelevant and if that

individual feels they can't work with your child for what ever reasons, then a

replacement must be found within a reasonable amount of time. If the school is

found out of compliance, I believe the district could get their funding yanked

for that. Either case, they have to have a replacement if the therapist is not

compatible with the child.

I have the entire CFR 34 regs here if anyone has any questions.

Judi

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy,

I am not saying that the O.T shouldn't be accountable for being

responsible for the goals and the amount of time she should work

with the the child. I do believe that if the time is 30 minutes,

2x/wk, that the therapist must spend that time with the child. I

just feel that maybe the activities she was doing in pull out

therapy were not appropriate, in that Jill's son was acting out. I

do feel the O.T. should be accountable, but I also feel it is the

responsibility of the classroom teacher to follow through with the

goals written by all of the therapists throughout the child's day,

or the goals are meaningless. We can't expect a child to receive 30

minutes, 2X/week of O.T., speech, P.T. and expect that child to

transfer those skills into naturally occuring situations without the

classroom teacher following through. I feel it is the duty of the

team (ot, pt, speech, teacher) to look at the child as a whole child.

But I do agree, the therapist MUST do therapy for the allotted time

on the IEP.

> Bottom line is in my 7 years of experience with therapists, is

that your child will not go as far as they could, if there are

conflicts between the child and the therapist. Children sense

tension and conflict and will react to it in varying ways. A

therapist who does not show patience and compassion toward a child

will never get that child to do what they need to in order to have a

successful therapy session. Call an IEP meeting and demand another

therapist. Using the teacher as a therapist, when that's clearly

NOT her field of expertise is a violation of your child's IEP. If

your IEP states that your child is to receive therapeutic services x

number of times and it's listed by whom is supposed to be giving

those services, then by LAW they must comply -- regardless of how

the therapist feels. His/Her feelings are irrelevant and if that

individual feels they can't work with your child for what ever

reasons, then a replacement must be found within a reasonable amount

of time. If the school is found out of compliance, I believe the

district could get their funding yanked for that. Either case, they

have to have a replacement if the therapist is not compatible with

the child.

>

> I have the entire CFR 34 regs here if anyone has any questions.

>

> Judi

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/3/2003 5:51:09 PM Eastern Standard Time,

briggsj@... writes:

<< We had Isaac's IEP (he just turned 4) 3 weeks ago and all of his

evaluations/progress were positive except one--OT. The OT didn't attend the

IEP, but sent her report where she said that Isaac was " uncooperative "

" throws toys during sessions " " his short attention span is a hindrance to

improved fine motor development " " has not made significant progress " . >>

Sounds like an eval I got from a SLP a couple of years ago. She asked me to

sit in with her and Liam. He took his shoes off and threw them at her. She

told me it went on all the time. She would force him to sit in a little seat

for 30 minutes. He was so fustrated with her he would act out. He wanted to

speak, but needed more activity and sensory stim to be able to get organized.

She wanted imitation out of him and with apraxia that's sometimes impossible

for him.

In our case a home based SLP realized what was going on and the OTs at school

helped educate the school staff. They realized that when he had OT before

speech he was better. So the OT's set up a small trampoline in the hallway

outside the classroom and encouraged his teacher and SLP to let him jump

around for a while before you ask him to sit and perform tasks. It worked.

Our home based SLP is brilliant. He has many sessions with her in a swing.

That's where we see the most language. My very non-professional advice is

that they concentrate on vestibular and proprioceptive sensory input and that

might help is fine motor performance.

Kathy, Liam's mom(4 1/2)