Speech Therapist Coming

[Blackcat31]

The therapists are supposed to make it easy for you. . I was an early intervention specialist for years so it makes me kind of sad that a lot of providers don't seem to want therapists in the childcare.

A good early intervention provider (speech, OT, etc) should not be disruptive to your setting at all. He or she should blend in and support the child. Ideally, if visiting at childcare, the EI provider should also be asking how they can support you too. (Behavior strategies, communication tips, etc).

I do allow therapists in my preschool/childcare. But like the PP said, I wouldn't hesitate to say something or discontinue the service for a particular child if the therapist was too disruptive for any reason. So far, all the therapists that I have had visit have been pretty good.

It's not necessarily about wanting or not wanting them to come...

It's about being able to physically accommodate them. Not all provider's have the space to do so. It's not much different than a parent hanging out. Some simply don't have the space.

For me personally, I am a huge advocate for parents parenting. Meaning I want, encourage and expect my parents to take an active and INVOLVED role in their child's early learning and that means being present and available for their child's therapy.

Also, I did allow a DCM to schedule a therapy visit. Her son needed to have some physical therapy due to needing leg/foot braces. It really wasn't a huge deal.

.....Until DCM figured out that her time was suddenly freed up since daycare allowed therapy visits.... so it began... Monday was one type of visit, Tuesday was another, Wednesday was another and so on and so on....

Then another DCM heard about me "hosting" therapy visits so she began scheduling her twins' MULTIPLE weekly visits at daycare too...

So basically I had someone here every single day at some point. Sometimes two or three different people.

It got to the point that I could not pick and choose as to which child's therapist appointments were more important than the next so per my licensor's suggestion rather than say no to some and yes to others, just say no to all.

So again, it's not that "so many provider's don't seem to want therapists in the childcare" it's that I CAN'T.

[Annalee]

The therapists are supposed to make it easy for you. . I was an early intervention specialist for years so it makes me kind of sad that a lot of providers don't seem to want therapists in the childcare.

A good early intervention provider (speech, OT, etc) should not be disruptive to your setting at all. He or she should blend in and support the child. Ideally, if visiting at childcare, the EI provider should also be asking how they can support you too. (Behavior strategies, communication tips, etc).

I do allow therapists in my preschool/childcare. But like the PP said, I wouldn't hesitate to say something or discontinue the service for a particular child if the therapist was too disruptive for any reason. So far, all the therapists that I have had visit have been pretty good.

The parents of the child needing OT had trouble with the dad accepting the child had a problem so the mom wanted me to host the OT 3 times a week with no end in sight...I didn't like the indefinite time frame and when she used MY music/movement for the child on the first visit, I stopped the visits.....I think the OT found my facility to be more feesible so she did not have to go into town to the child's home....something wasn't right about that!

[spedmommy4]

It's not necessarily about wanting or not wanting them to come...

It's about being able to physically accommodate them. Not all provider's have the space to do so. It's not much different than a parent hanging out. Some simply don't have the space.

For me personally, I am a huge advocate for parents parenting. Meaning I want, encourage and expect my parents to take an active and INVOLVED role in their child's early learning and that means being present and available for their child's therapy.

Also, I did allow a DCM to schedule a therapy visit. Her son needed to have some physical therapy due to needing leg/foot braces. It really wasn't a huge deal.

.....Until DCM figured out that her time was suddenly freed up since daycare allowed therapy visits.... so it began... Monday was one type of visit, Tuesday was another, Wednesday was another and so on and so on....

Then another DCM heard about me "hosting" therapy visits so she began scheduling her twins' MULTIPLE weekly visits at daycare too...

So basically I had someone here every single day at some point. Sometimes two or three different people.

It got to the point that I could not pick and choose as to which child's therapist appointments were more important than the next so per my licensor's suggestion rather than say no to some and yes to others, just say no to all.

So again, it's not that "so many provider's don't seem to want therapists in the childcare" it's that I CAN'T.

I do understand. I guess I see all sides of the issue. I was trained in Oregon. The early intervention agency I worked for used a single therapist service model. This means a single therapist provided all the child's services so it wouldn't be so overwhelming. (That single therapist would call in consults as needed). My "Oregon" perspective is one therapist is not too bad.

But . . . I'm from California, where they use a multiple therapist model, and a child could potentially have 2-3 weekly therapists. When my daughter received services, it was challenging to schedule all those appointments around my work and school schedule.

The few kids I've had receiving services have not had all their services at my place. In California, one of my kids had three. Only one was allowed to visit weekly. I love early intervention but I wouldn't realistically allow a revolving door of therapists either.

[Blackcat31]

I do understand. I guess I see all sides of the issue. I was trained in Oregon. The early intervention agency I worked for used a single therapist service model. This means a single therapist provided all the child's services so it wouldn't be so overwhelming. (That single therapist would call in consults as needed). My "Oregon" perspective is one therapist is not too bad.

But . . . I'm from California, where they use a multiple therapist model, and a child could potentially have 2-3 weekly therapists. When my daughter received services, it was challenging to schedule all those appointments around my work and school schedule.

The few kids I've had receiving services have not had all their services at my place. In California, one of my kids had three. Only one was allowed to visit weekly. I love early intervention but I wouldn't realistically allow a revolving door of therapists either.

me too because I really DO think it's an important part of early childhood for some kids. and for others necessary for proper growth and development overall.

I would welcome ONE therapist. ! ::

Sadly though it seems the trend is to have as many "therapists" as possible for your kid. For many it equates to "special" attention and I'm genuinely surprised at how many parents will take that route if it nets their kid individual attention. :confused:

[racemom]

We had one therapist that came to our center, and she consulted with others as needed. She also met with parents and child at their home, the therapy here was in addition to that, not instead of home visits. It worked well for all of us, because she also gave advice on issues we were having with him.

[Annalee]

me too because I really DO think it's an important part of early childhood for some kids. and for others necessary for proper growth and development overall.

I would welcome ONE therapist. ! ::

Sadly though it seems the trend is to have as many "therapists" as possible for your kid. For many it equates to "special" attention and I'm genuinely surprised at how many parents will take that route if it nets their kid individual attention. :confused:

I allowed several "observation" visits for this child from speech, behavioral, and OT therapists....all in the name of "helping" but then the parents wanted me to take care of it all....WRONG! :confused:

[spedmommy4]

We had one therapist that came to our center, and she consulted with others as needed. She also met with parents and child at their home, the therapy here was in addition to that, not instead of home visits. It worked well for all of us, because she also gave advice on issues we were having with him.

. This is exactly how it's supposed to work. And when it works like this, usually everyone is happier with the arrangement. (Attention seekers may be the exception to the rule)

[Pepperth]

When my son was in early-on, his speech therapist would go to daycare every third month. She wanted to see him at home, at her office and at daycare. It seemed to be a positive experience. His daycare provider liked suggestions she made and gave her fun ideas that she used with all the kids.

[Mummy101]

I don't allow therapists to visit individual children at daycare. These types of things need to be scheduled on the parent's time.

I don't have the space to offer privacy and I don't have the space to go somewhere else with the other kids.

I am currently letting them come, but it so disrupts our entire day! Do you know if different states require us to allow them to come?

[Blackcat31]

I am currently letting them come, but it so disrupts our entire day! Do you know if different states require us to allow them to come?

I am not sure... I don't know which state's say a provider MUST accommodate and which ones don't but I know in MN I am not required to let them come but I am required to work WITH a family 'to the best of my abilities'.~ I am not sure how each state interprets that.

[Mummy101]

I am not sure... I don't know which state's say a provider MUST accommodate and which ones don't but I know in MN I am not required to let them come but I am required to work WITH a family 'to the best of my abilities'.~ I am not sure how each state interprets that.

That sounds very logical, thank you!

[Sunchimes]

I know I am odd man out, but I loved the ECI therapists. Until last year, I have had at least 1 special needs child for the last 6 years. PT, speech, OT, feeding, nutrition, play therapy, and one I called the coordinator, which is what she did, but they called her something like social skills or something. For a couple of years, I had 3 special needs kids and all of their therapists here. It was a revolving door, and I loved it. Since the kids spent most of their waking hours with me, I felt like I was the one who needed to learn the therapies more than the parents. I taught the parents what I learned, and it worked really well. I got really involved. They gave me books to read, videos to watch, taught me so very much, and I had them all on speed dial and was encouraged to call them any time.

When my last s/n child no longer needed services, and I had all typical kids, there may have been some tears that last day. Not only did it keep our day interesting and fun, but they were my friends!! I never felt isolated when they were dropping in. I miss them so much. I have another opening coming up when school starts, and while I would never wish problems on any family, I am hoping that there is a family out there that needs what I offer. If I was in a larger town, I would only do special needs.