[JeanLynn81]

I am so tired of speech and developmental therapists who cancel appointments. Alyssa's first speech therapist would cancel every other week. Either she had a meeting she forgot about (seriously-how many meetings can one person forget?), or her daughter's car broke down, or some other reason. Sometimes my dd would go 3-4 weeks without a visit. It became unacceptable behavior so I complained to my First Steps coordinator. The next visit by the speech therapist, I was informed it was our last one by her, and she would NOT be finding a replacement. Grrr. Ok. So now we have a different speech therapist...who is starting the same pattern again. WHAT IS WITH THESE PEOPLE? Are the hiring standards just reallly, reallly low? Do they not drug test? What?! I really would be interested to know why all these suprise pop meetings come along and interfere with their appointments. Isn't that unprofessional?

I am seriously considering pulling my daughter out of the home meeting program, and having it done at an actual office. At least I will get her there and make all the appointments! Geez.

Sorry....thanks for letting me vent.

[MiaCamille]

sorry to hear about that Jean, taking her into an office would be more expensive or the same thing?

[MissyChrissy]

That's ridiculous. I think the problem is most those positions are at least partially funded by state grants, and those grants are getting lower and fewer...so the pay isn't that great. I wish legislatures and others in charge would wake up and realize what is really important here, and put some money into these programs.

[purelegance]

wow! i'm curious too, are the office visits more money? shorter? something needs to change an dyou need to continue to file complaints on those who cancel on you! it IS incredibly unprofessional.

[fostermommy]

I think I might be able to shed a little light on this issue. I am a developmental specialist (not speech) and have been seeing little ones in our clinic for years. When we see kids in the clinic, we can see 8 kids in a day. However, the government officials came down on us - criticizing us for not providing the services in the "natural environment" - and threatened to take away all of our funding if we didn't change our whole program. So-----we now travel all over the place seeing kids in their homes. Now I only have time to see 3 or 4 kids in the same work day. Kids who were getting therapy 2-3x per week are now getting it 1-2x per month. Kids who need to see a variety of specialists can only get one because there are not enough professionals to go around. And -- I can't tell you how many homes I've driven to and knocked on the door -- only to find the family not at home for their scheduled appointment. Our therapists are busier than ever, and providing less actual therapy than ever before. Thus --- our company's income has dropped considerably - yet the cost has increased due to cost of mileage, insurance, etc. It all boils down to less services for the kids. Now - to top it all off - our wonderful government beaurocrats have decided that more and more paperwork, documentation, continuing education, meetings, red tape, etc is necessary. Again - none of this time is reimbursed. So -- it very well may be that the therapists you have dealt with are truly unprofessional - as there are bad apples in every bunch. However, I do know firsthand that providing much needed therapy to kids with special needs is becoming harder and harder. I find it frustrating that the majority of my day is spent driving my car, attending meetings, and doing paperwork instead of working with the sweet little ones I want so badly to help.

Complain to your Birth to 3 coordinator, but please don't stop there. Please complain to your legislators and tell them how ridiculous their expectations are. In terms of seeking medically-based services instead of Birth to 3 services ------every state is different. I know that in my state, most parents don't know this - but they can reject Birth to 3 and demand that their child receive medically based services. Because the majority of the kids are on Medicaid, the family still pays nothing - but often receives more services than they would have through Birth to 3.

I wish you the best of luck with your child. Your therapists may be just as frustrated as you are. I know I am............

[angelic_ky]

it's just unacceptable

[VinniesMommy]

Vinnie had a speech therapist for over a year... He had 2 different speech therapists (we moved to a different county) and they were both wonderful. The first speech therapist never missed an appt. and the second only missed one because mid-day her daughter (who wasn't even 1 yet) spiked a fever and got really sick and she had to take her to the ER. Both agencies that I went through were wonderful as well, and both told me that if I wasn't happy with the therapist that got assigned to Vinnie, another one would be appointed right there and then. When we switched counties, there was a good 1 month window that we waited until a speech therapist became available, apparently there wasn't enough speech therapists available. Also, the second therapist told me the reason I got her so fast was because the neighborhood was desirable, so it was picked up right away. Is it possible that you are close to an undesirable neighborhood? Routes get squeezed together and good neighborhoods get squashed in with bad ones, which makes people less likely to pick them up, or want to deal with the children they get. I lived in Philadelphia (the good part) but was sort of close to a not so good part, and the therapist said that she had to drop some kids because the neighborhood was dangerous and the parents didn't cooperate, didn't show, etc. She had to fight like mad to get them dropped from her route too. I would talk to the coordinator about what is going on, because you and Alyssa should NOT be treated like that. Is it possible to use some one elses address and switch agencies? Good luck to you, I know it's frustrating, but hopefully some one good will come along for you.

[JeanLynn81]

Thanks for the replies!

I just spoke with the FS coordinator and office visits are not an option. They believe in the natural environment at home.

What I don't get is that every visit, they talk about taking her outside of her comfort level. Meaning, if she is screaming her head off, they still try to force the activity on her. So why are they contradicting that by saying it would be uncomfortable to take them into an office? Wouldn't that be better? I think it would.

I am still on the fence about aking her out of the program and into something else. My idea was to enroll her in the Little Gym for 18 weeks (yes, I FINALLY saved the money) and enroll her in a daycare for one day a week.

I admit, she is not around other children often. And the home therapy visits are just MORE one on one time with an adult...and she gets plenty of that. Plus, the therapists don't do anything I don't do anyways. I really think it would benefit her more to be around other children who are talking and interacting in playtime.

I can probably find time for all of that I know, but I am just so dissapointed in this program.

[mcmama]

See what she does at Little Gym. Also, some libraries have story time, with parents staying there, but the kids do connect with each other. Have you thought of that, or a playgroup from the local park?

[JeanLynn81]

Originally Posted by mcmama

See what she does at Little Gym. Also, some libraries have story time, with parents staying there, but the kids do connect with each other. Have you thought of that, or a playgroup from the local park?

Well I love the idea of playgroups, but its not common in the area I'm in. I could form one, but I'm kinda lazy and not so organized!

In the summertime, she is around other kids constantly because we go outside to parks and pools and the Zoo and things like that. But wintertime is just so cold here so we do indoor things. She has one playmate-her second cousin, but its off and on because me and my cousin both have tempers that cause us to clash from time to time.

I really love the library idea, just not sure if she'd sit still for too long. Plus she has a super short attention span, and barely lets me read to her. I will try it though!

I can't wait for her to start classes at the Little Gym. My friend's kid did it and had alot of fun. It's just the kind of thing Alyssa would love!