to parents when their child has been approved for
occupational therapy services but a therapist is not available to provide these
services for the child in their school.
The parent must contact their district to start this process.
6. What should I expect during the evaluation process?
Your child should be dressed comfortably and well rested if possible. A standard evaluation may take up to 1 - 1/2 hours to conduct. However, other types of evaluations that OT For Kidz offer may take up 2-3 hours or span over a period of 2-3 days to conduct depending on the type of evaluation, concerns and the child's abilities. Our goal is that you walk away having a greater understanding of what's going on with your child, be provided with recommendations on what to do next and if necessary give you the option to have your child treated at OT For Kidz (Although there is no obligation).
7. What happens after the evaluation?
The parent always have the option to pursue occupational therapy treatment services with OT For Kidz although there is no obligation. Children requiring occupational therapy services in the state of New York generally may require a doctor's prescription. This may be mailed or faxed to us prior to initiating treatment sessions. For those evaluations authorized by the Department of Education or the Early Intervention Program, a copy of the report will be sent to these agents and then they will contact the parent(s).
8. What makes the occupational therapy treatment services different at OT For Kidz?
Whether your child is a private client or not, OT For Kidz emphasize "focused therapy" which entails not just practicing skills but treating your child at the level of processing breakdown within their central nervous system that may be hindering thatt child's optimal ability to developmentally obtain age appropriate skills. Sound therapy may be used to optimize the effectiveness of your child's therapy such as the iLs especially if auditory processing deficits are detected by an audiologist specializing in auditory processing disorders. Oculomotor, reflex integration, and other exercises may also be incorporated. Having an understanding in providing the right input, to the right deficit at the right time is crucial. For these reasons, you may immediately see the difference in how OT For Kidz conduct evaluations or treatment which is needed to establish the most appropriate intervention.
9. What are the benefits of receiving PRIVATE OT services at OT For Kidz services?
Although all OTs look at occupational performance and it's affect on functional abilities, occupational therapy services are only approved if the child's deficits are "big enough". This is greatly based on Quantitative measures (how big the problem based on normancy from standardized test) as opposed to the "Quality" of the problem (how a skill is done) and its impact on psycho-social health. Also, if services are approved either for early intervention or school-based intervention, therapy is generally limited to 1/2 hour 1-2 times a week. In some cases a child may receive as little as 1-2 hours a month. In either case, therapeutically this may not be frequent or intense enough to effectively and/or efficiently meet the needs of the child. Therapy is about changing how the brain works! Frequency, Intensity and Duration of input makes a difference!!
In addition, there may also be limitations with time, space, equipment, staff and the type of strategies that can be used to optimize your child's performance in a school or at home. Privately, OT for Kidz treatment sessions are based on the needs of the child. Therefore the number of days a week, duration of treatment session and type of intervention strategies are individualized. Parent education and parent participation in their child's progress is a crucial part in the child's progress.
10. What are the benefits of receiving OT services at OT For Kidz sensory gym as opposed to in school or in a home?
For the school-based age child, they get to spend more time in the classroom and for the child in early interventi