Special instructor ???

brightyellow2 · July 2012

Had our 3 month progress meeting with EI and DS qualified for extra services(yay). Had to choose between OT and special instructor. Went with the special instructor cause of the SLP recommendation. I figured she knows what he needs. But what is a special instructor? What can I expect? Dx so far is proprioception and sensory.

Cathy827 · July 2012

Our "special instructor" is a special ed teacher. They also use SEIT as a name, although I'm not sure what it stands for. She works with DS 1x/wk on all of the developmental domains.

My DS gets OT, PT, ST and special instruction, or "the big 4" as his service coordinator calls it. I wouldn't sub in one for the other

MummyGruetzie · July 2012

Having to choose which therapy DS gets is not legit. They may give you some primary provider mumbo jumbo, but in reality: if he needs and OT and a "special instructor" that's what he should get. Under the "primary provider" model, they'll tell you that everybody is cross-trained and has had multi-disciplinarian training, but this is just not true. Its like saying, that because your kid's pediatrician went to medical school your Grandma should see him for her oncology issues. Uhhh. No. I'd call the service coordinator back and ask her to explain why you were made to choose and then go up the chain. When our service coordinator made us choose, I called her out on it. (I used to be in the field, so this was much easier for me to do). She said point blank that she'd been instructed not to increase therapy for anybody, because of a finance issue in their office. I get the politics of this stuff. It sucks. But really, this is my kid's life we're talking about. I refused to sign the IFSP then called her boss and demanded both. I also mentioned the situation and some other situations we'd had with the agency when speaking with somebody at the state level and in turn actually got them some funding to help with one of the issues.

Only your SLP knows why she recommended the SI over the OT. Maybe she has some insider knowledge that the OT isn't any good or has no experience with sensory issues. Or maybe she's just better friends with the SI. In either case, I'd ask her at the next session where its just her or shoot her a quick email, so that you don't throw her under the bus in front of other people. Like Auntie said, with a dx of sensory issues the more logical person would be an OT as special educators don't typically have much training in sensory issues. However, if he's got other stuff going on the DT may be able to bring something really good to the table.

brightyellow2 · July 2012

There was a lot said which is hard to comprehend in most the meetings.(honest!) I do believe that they have professional grudges they hold against each other and may choose over that. But I have to trust that they have my child's best interest in mind! The OT's in my area only see in office which I don't have a problem with taking him some where. She said if he needed help with fine motor skills then she would recommend the OT. The special instructor is a teacher with a masters degree who specializes in special education. She said basically that this point it would give him more "floor time" which is what he really needs. He is a hard case to them I think. He has made no progress in his speech at all right now all he is saying is momma which is a word that comes and goes and has regressed in using the few signs he would do. We have tried exercises but it does seem to make him more excited instead of calming him, I have tents, blankets and a trampoline in my home I do ruff housing with him several times a day. He prefers to self soothe by placing him self in tight spaces etc. His attention has seemed to improve greatly since we've placed him in his highchair during therapy. It's really hard to explain him, but his beautiful and my child and I just want to help him.

brightyellow2 · July 2012

Thanks Auntie! Although I wanna defend a lot of what I say I highly appreciate your advice! The SI is on a trial basis they are giving it 2 months and then moving on. I know sometimes it takes longer than that but its something I decided to give I a try. I do believe he needs a diet plan and will look into willbarger protocol. thanks again.

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