How do you get therapy in the home for autistic child?

Question

My daughter is nine years old and very smart, pretty, and funny. She has high functioning autism, partial complex seizure disorder, memory disorder, coordination disorder, severe expressive-receptive language disorder, etc. She gets speech and occupational therapy at school.

Her speech teacher does not teach social skills training. My daughter is very socially naive and really needs social skills and communication training. I had read somewhere that if your child needs certain therapies recommended by her doctor that the school is supposed to provide it. Does anyone know if this is true and if so who do I contact to get the information?

Her occupational therapist at school does work on some sensory training, but not very much. She mostly works with my daughters handwriting. She only goes to these therapies at school one hour each a week. I feel like my daughter needs more.

We live to far to go to a place where she could get this therapy. I could not afford the gas to go there on top of paying for the therapy. It would be during the week after school and she already struggles with her school work.

My daughter does not do well with transition already. Even if I go to the store after school she does not do well with that.

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Contact the nearest Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). They will be able to give you the type of information that you are wanting.  

Answer 2

Sorry, but she is already getting therapy at school and doesn't qualify for at-home intervention. It has nothing to do with a doctor's recommendation, unfortunately.

As a parent, you have a right to request another IEP meeting and insist your child get more speech and OT services. Point out that to reach her full EDUCATIONAL potential, she needs social skills intervention (i.e., "pragmatics of language"). Be sure to remind them that if she's not getting "appropriate" care through the district that they will have to pay to have it done elsewhere.

Answer 3

NO--the school does not have to provide MEDICALLY prescribed tehrapies.

Schools provide educationally necessary therapies, not medically.

You have to make a case as to why it is educationally necessary-start by including goals in her IEP---maybe under health education if her poor interactions can lead to her being susceptible to health dangers..

it may be covered by insurance as group pyschotherapy--

if you meet certain income requirements you may be eligible for SSI payments--

also contact the division of developmental disabilities--they have various resources...

Answer 4

Your local school district is only responsible for educationally relevant therapies.  The IEP team (of which you are a member) decides on your daughter's plan.  However, they should provide social skills training if it is a concern in the classroom.   If it is not impacting her ability to learn and get along in school, than it is not the district's responsibility.  

Answer 5

The school is not run or funded by the school, so they do not have to provide everything your physician wants.  Have your doc's office find a treatment facility and have them submit a pre-approval to your insurance company for possible approval.  You might be able to go through your county's mental health department.  

Look into some child care options for children with disabilities through health and human services, too.  If you get a case manager, he or she is likely well trained in where and how to find the money for additional therapy, but it's almost never through the schools.  School money is for education, not treating the child's medical needs.  Sorry.

Answer 6

Here are a few ideas that you could do to help your daughter at home.

1. Pick up a copy of the book The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz. This book is all about sensory issues at what you can do at home as a parent to help regulate your child.

2. Google Social Stories. Then once you have read a few social stories online, create some of your own at home for your daughter. Make a list of the social situations that are a priority and create a story at home about your daughter in these situations and what she should do.

Try this site for an example and how to write your own.

http://www.polyxo.com/socialstories/intr...

Sometimes the best way to help our kids, is to help them ourselves. As her mom, you know what she needs and hopefully these ideas will give you the resources to do it yourself.

Best to you

Answer 7

You don't say if your daughter is actually in special education.  If not, you should have her assessed for eligibility.  But even if she is, it appears that her IEP is not adequately addressing all of her educationally related needs, including social skills.  The school district should be assessing all of her needs and developing goals and objectives to address them.

I would suggest talking to someone about her special education rights and the district's responsibilities.  One place to start would be the protection and advocacy agency in your state.  You can find them by going to http://www.ndrn.org and then use the Get Help in Your State menu to find your P&A agency.