Re: Are you involved with your child's therapy?

December 15, 2007

I always stay with my therapists and learn what to do with my 2 daughters. I

have had the therapists ST, PT, OT, DT all tell me that there are parents out in

this world that do not help their children with special needs. They depend on

the therapist to do the teaching. So if a child gets PT on Monday, there is no

therapy until the following Monday. Why don't parents want to help their

children? I teach my daughters so much because I want them to learn. For 5

years now, I have had therapists say they wish that all parents were like my

husband and myself because we care so much for our girls and want them to get

the best and learn all that they can. I have also heard that when the

therapists goes into the home that the parents goes into another part of the

home instead of staying to watch and learn so that they can teach their child.

I feel for the child because it seems their parents don't care much for them

since they don't want to participate and help their child. Why did they even

keep the child if they don't help them?

Are you involved with your child's therapy?

Hi Everyone

I have a question that I would like for us to all discuss.

When Tim was young I took him to his OT and ST. This was a " group therapy "

where about 6 children would " play " and the OT and ST would teach the parents

how to teach their children. This way, we would know what to do at home and we

were all very involved with all that our kids did. Also, the kids were much more

responsive to the parents than they were the therapists.

Now, after talking with many families, it seems that the kids are dropped off

at the therapists and parents are not involved in the actual therapy sessions at

all. Parents don't seem to know how to do any therapy at home because the

therapists are doing it all in the session and not teaching the families

anything!

Is this your experience? Can you share with everyone what you do for therapy?

Do you know what the therapists do? Do you do it at home?

Thanks for sharing! I think this is a very important topic and perhaps with a

lot of input we can get something changed to make this issue better.

Thanks

Kristy

December 15, 2007

I think this varies from state to state. In many areas the parents are not

allowed to go back with the children. I think this is where the problem is for

most parents on this group who can not be involved. It isn't that they don't

want to, many are told they can't.

I am glad that you are able to be part of the therapy and use it in the home

on a daily basis. I think it is very important and the only way your child is

going to succeed at a good pace.

Kristy

Bolduc wrote:

I always stay with my therapists and learn what to do with my 2

daughters. I have had the therapists ST, PT, OT, DT all tell me that there are

parents out in this world that do not help their children with special needs.

They depend on the therapist to do the teaching. So if a child gets PT on

Monday, there is no therapy until the following Monday. Why don't parents want

to help their children? I teach my daughters so much because I want them to

learn. For 5 years now, I have had therapists say they wish that all parents

were like my husband and myself because we care so much for our girls and want

them to get the best and learn all that they can. I have also heard that when

the therapists goes into the home that the parents goes into another part of the

home instead of staying to watch and learn so that they can teach their child. I

feel for the child because it seems their parents don't care much for them since

they don't want to participate and help their

child. Why did they even keep the child if they don't help them?

Are you involved with your child's therapy?

Hi Everyone

I have a question that I would like for us to all discuss.

When Tim was young I took him to his OT and ST. This was a " group therapy " where

about 6 children would " play " and the OT and ST would teach the parents how to

teach their children. This way, we would know what to do at home and we were all

very involved with all that our kids did. Also, the kids were much more

responsive to the parents than they were the therapists.

Now, after talking with many families, it seems that the kids are dropped off at

the therapists and parents are not involved in the actual therapy sessions at

all. Parents don't seem to know how to do any therapy at home because the

therapists are doing it all in the session and not teaching the families

anything!

Is this your experience? Can you share with everyone what you do for therapy? Do

you know what the therapists do? Do you do it at home?

Thanks for sharing! I think this is a very important topic and perhaps with a

lot of input we can get something changed to make this issue better.

Thanks

Kristy

December 15, 2007

During the ealry intervention years there were many times that the parents were

to stay and help and learn what to do. There were other times that they felt

the parents should not be in the room. At those times we sat behind one way

mirrors and watched what was going on, so we could learn the techniques. Giving

the children a sense of independence, in my opinion, was very beneficial. But

the biggest help our children can get is from what they learn at home and we

need to be taught those extra bits of help.

Once in the public school system, I showed up all the time to make sure the

therapy was there and to pick up on any extra help I could get. You can never

gain too much information.

(mds-24yrs)

Are you involved with your child's therapy?

Hi Everyone

I have a question that I would like for us to all discuss.

When Tim was young I took him to his OT and ST. This was a " group therapy "

where about 6 children would " play " and the OT and ST would teach the parents

how to teach their children. This way, we would know what to do at home and we

were all very involved with all that our kids did. Also, the kids were much more

responsive to the parents than they were the therapists.

Now, after talking with many families, it seems that the kids are dropped off

at the therapists and parents are not involved in the actual therapy sessions at

all. Parents don't seem to know how to do any therapy at home because the

therapists are doing it all in the session and not teaching the families

anything!

Is this your experience? Can you share with everyone what you do for therapy?

Do you know what the therapists do? Do you do it at home?

Thanks for sharing! I think this is a very important topic and perhaps with a

lot of input we can get something changed to make this issue better.

Thanks

Kristy

December 15, 2007

Personally early intervention has been wonderful. They come to the house and

write down what they do in a notebook all 3 therapists share. They also tell me

what to do and gave me a catalogue on EI toys to help Brookie. I am in NY and

very happy with the therapy thus far.

Kim

mom to Kylie 4 and 21 mos. MDS

Are you involved with your child's therapy?

To: mosaicds

> Hi Everyone

> I have a question that I would like for us to all discuss.

>

> When Tim was young I took him to his OT and ST. This was a

> " group therapy " where about 6 children would " play " and the OT

> and ST would teach the parents how to teach their children. This

> way, we would know what to do at home and we were all very

> involved with all that our kids did. Also, the kids were much

> more responsive to the parents than they were the therapists.

>

> Now, after talking with many families, it seems that the kids

> are dropped off at the therapists and parents are not involved

> in the actual therapy sessions at all. Parents don't seem to

> know how to do any therapy at home because the therapists are

> doing it all in the session and not teaching the families anything!

>

> Is this your experience? Can you share with everyone what you

> do for therapy? Do you know what the therapists do? Do you do it

> at home?

>

> Thanks for sharing! I think this is a very important topic and

> perhaps with a lot of input we can get something changed to make

> this issue better.

>

> Thanks

> Kristy

>

December 16, 2007

Hi Everyone,

Our EI requires that the parents be present. The idea is for the therapist to

teach the parents how to work with their children. Each week each therapist

gives written instructions of suggestions for the week.

It is an individual session at our home with only my son and other family that

may be present.

We are located in PA.

Ashton (3) Braxton 17 mos (MDS)

To: mosaicds@...: imdsapresident@...: Sat, 15 Dec 2007

06:43:11 -0800Subject: Are you involved with your child's therapy?

Hi EveryoneI have a question that I would like for us to all discuss.When Tim

was young I took him to his OT and ST. This was a " group therapy " where about 6

children would " play " and the OT and ST would teach the parents how to teach

their children. This way, we would know what to do at home and we were all very

involved with all that our kids did. Also, the kids were much more responsive to

the parents than they were the therapists.Now, after talking with many families,

it seems that the kids are dropped off at the therapists and parents are not

involved in the actual therapy sessions at all. Parents don't seem to know how

to do any therapy at home because the therapists are doing it all in the session

and not teaching the families anything!Is this your experience? Can you share

with everyone what you do for therapy? Do you know what the therapists do? Do

you do it at home?Thanks for sharing! I think this is a very important topic and

perhaps with a lot of input we can get something changed to make this issue

better.ThanksKristy

December 16, 2007

We have only been to the PT so far as Hunter is only 9 weeks old but I stayed in

the room and got down on the floor with her to learn what was being done so I

can do it at home with Hunter. Through the whole session she explained what she

was doing and why. She also gave me a booklet with exercises in it, that I can

do at home with him, in case I forget what she taught me.

Very happy so far with her. We live in Melbourne, Australia.

Fiona

Mum to Hunter 9 weeks mds

From: Kristy Colvin

Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2007 1:43 AM

Hi Everyone

I have a question that I would like for us to all discuss.

When Tim was young I took him to his OT and ST. This was a " group therapy "

where about 6 children would " play " and the OT and ST would teach the parents

how to teach their children. This way, we would know what to do at home and we

were all very involved with all that our kids did. Also, the kids were much more

responsive to the parents than they were the therapists.

Now, after talking with many families, it seems that the kids are dropped off

at the therapists and parents are not involved in the actual therapy sessions at

all. Parents don't seem to know how to do any therapy at home because the

therapists are doing it all in the session and not teaching the families

anything!

Is this your experience? Can you share with everyone what you do for therapy?

Do you know what the therapists do? Do you do it at home?

Thanks for sharing! I think this is a very important topic and perhaps with a

lot of input we can get something changed to make this issue better.

Thanks

Kristy

December 16, 2007

We are very fortunate that Isabella's Develomenatal therapist comes to our home.

I am not sure about the rest of the country, but in the county I live in they

send all therapist to the home before the age of 3. I am right there with them

and I work on the entire week everything he went over with her so when he comes

back the following week we can show him and move on.

Sue

Isabella almost 1

-------------- Original message --------------

Hi Everyone

I have a question that I would like for us to all discuss.

When Tim was young I took him to his OT and ST. This was a " group therapy " where

about 6 children would " play " and the OT and ST would teach the parents how to

teach their children. This way, we would know what to do at home and we were all

very involved with all that our kids did. Also, the kids were much more

responsive to the parents than they were the therapists.

Now, after talking with many families, it seems that the kids are dropped off at

the therapists and parents are not involved in the actual therapy sessions at

all. Parents don't seem to know how to do any therapy at home because the

therapists are doing it all in the session and not teaching the families

anything!

Is this your experience? Can you share with everyone what you do for therapy? Do

you know what the therapists do? Do you do it at home?

Thanks for sharing! I think this is a very important topic and perhaps with a

lot of input we can get something changed to make this issue better.

Thanks

Kristy

December 16, 2007

Kristy,

These are parents that stay home with the child and get home therapy. The mom or

dad goes off and do things around the house rather than stay and watch and learn

so that the rest of the week they can help their child. I do understand that

some parents work and can't be there for the therapy and I wasn't talking about

them at all.

I just wanted to clarify that.

Are you involved with your child's therapy?

Hi Everyone

I have a question that I would like for us to all discuss.

When Tim was young I took him to his OT and ST. This was a " group therapy "

where about 6 children would " play " and the OT and ST would teach the parents

how to teach their children. This way, we would know what to do at home and we

were all very involved with all that our kids did. Also, the kids were much more

responsive to the parents than they were the therapists.

Now, after talking with many families, it seems that the kids are dropped off

at the therapists and parents are not involved in the actual therapy sessions at

all. Parents don't seem to know how to do any therapy at home because the

therapists are doing it all in the session and not teaching the families

anything!

Is this your experience? Can you share with everyone what you do for therapy?

Do you know what the therapists do? Do you do it at home?

Thanks for sharing! I think this is a very important topic and perhaps with a

lot of input we can get something changed to make this issue better.

Thanks

Kristy

December 16, 2007

We have never done any group therapy, never had that opportunity. All of

our early therapy, before age 3 was done in our home and I always

observed, interacted and learned what I could from the therapists. After

age three we did some OT and ST through independent agencies. With both

of them I started out joining in on the sessions but after they felt

was comfortable with them, they asked me to wait outside. I think

if I had it to do over I would have refused. I think the idea was that

most children are more cooperative when the parents are not present. I

do think this is true for most children after a certain age. I'm sure it

would be the other way around for young children in EI.

Hope

December 16, 2007

I have to echo here. Even tho Austin has been out of EI for 2 years now,

back when he was in EI his therapist came once or twice a week to work with him

and in those sessions towards the end she brought along an ST when we began to

work with Sign Language. Both came to our house, and I was with Austin and his

therapist Rosemary, the whole time. At first I have to admit I didn't think it

was doing anything, good or bad but I saw him improve in leaps in bounds after

his heart surgery. Poor little guy just didn't have the energy to do anything

for longer than 10 minutes before surgery.

The down side to EI here in VA (at least the county I'm in) is that it is NOT

widely known. I had gotten the number from my mailman whose daughter has DS

(Eliza is a doll!) Austin didn't start EI until he was 4 months old due to us

moving and the lack of knowledge about how to contact EI services.

I have been very involved in both of my boys' education since they each started

pre-school. Trey's had ST since he was 3 and we are thinking this will be his

last year in it (he's in second grade now) and Austin has the same ST as Trey

does (Austin's at Head Start just across the parking lot to the Elementary

School Trey goes to). Another good thing about being in a " villiage " (literally

that's what the sign says in " downtown " Fairfield, Welcome to the Villiage of

Fairfield est. 1784...) is that the Kindergarten teacher Trey had, has already

told the rest of the kindergarten teachers that they ARE NOT allowed to have

Austin in their class.....only she is! When she was in College she did her

Theisis (I believe) on children with DS and ever since Trey was in her class,

she's been patiently waiting for Austin LOL

And Austin's preschool teacher at HeadStart taught little Eliza way back

when...Miss Eliza is now in 6th grade at the middle school and doing wonderful.

Just one quick question....Austin this weekend has taken to running around the

house without his pull ups on.....should I take this as a sign that he's ready

for the " potty " or a sign that he doesn't like his new bigger size pull-ups? Any

thoughts?

Thanks,

Becky

Mom to Austin 5, (MDS) and Trey 7, (ADHD)

God Bless,

Rowe

www.myspace.com/beckyrowe5150