Early Intervention in Washington State questions

[mtemm]

I have a friend from another board who lives in Washington State and is having her twins tested for EI. I had my now 4 year old in EI in NY, my 2 year old in EI in MA (both for speech), I've had a neice who had EI in NH and VA and a nephew who had EI in MD (again, both for speech). my kids and my neice/nephew all had EI services readily available for our children and it took place in our homes.

On the other side of the spectrum is my friend in Wash. State. she is having a horrible time trying to get services for her daughter in particular. Her daughter qualifies for at least speech and possibly ot, and there is some concern that she may actually have SID. They've done several evaluations already and it seems like the quickest she can get therapy is 6 months from now and then she would need to take her child somewhere for it. It just seems so inadequate, every evaluation means another evaluation and another evaluation (none in her home), and it doesn't seem to be getting anywhere, just yes, she needs therapy, but it will take time to get it. In NY and MA when it was determined my children needed speech, they had it started within a week or 2.

Is anybody familiar with the system in Washington? She is so frustrated and any words of advice that I can pass on to her would be so helpful.

 

[FreshTressa]

I'm in Washington state and never could get speech therapy for my son.

My FIL finally just paid for us to do it privately and it is not cheap.

Another friend of mine whose daughter has SID has a terrible time getting her daughter accomodations.

I'm not sure if it is the state or the district or what. I know they have great programs for before the kids start school, but once the kids are in school, it seems like the goal is to mainstream them as much as possible.

sorry I had no words of advice!!!

 

[katedrew94]

I am not familiar with Washington State but I can't imagine that it could be legal for them to have a 6 month delay to start services. I work in MD and we have a 45 day timeline for evaluation, and then 30 days to implement services. Natural environments are part of the federal law, therefore all services should be implemented in the home or another naturally occurring setting.

I found this contact info on the web:

Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Ages Birth through 2
Sandy Loerch Morris, Program Director
Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program
Division of Developmental Disabilities
Department of Social and Health Services
P.O. Box 45201
Olympia, WA 98504-5201
(360) 725-3500
E-mail: loercsk@dshs.wa.gov
Web: www1.dshs.wa.gov/iteip

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I'm not familiar with Washington State, but I feel so sorry for your friend.

My daughter receives EI for speech here in PA. From eval(in home) to start of treatment was less than 2 months. She has a special ed therapist and speech therapist come to the home, both once a week.

Plus she gets private speech through our local Childrens hospital. Now that took 4 months to come through.

My DD also qualified for MA, due to her speech deficit. Is that something your friend could look into? Maybe then she can get private services for her. The MA has nothing to do with income, but your child's need for special services. Good Luck

 

[mtemm]

thanks. I feel so bad for her, and sounds like freshtessa you had a similar experience. they don't have the funds for private therapy, unfortunately. I've just never heard any experience like it before. It does seem like it can't be legal for it to take this long. Her twins turn 2 this week and EI should be good until age 3, but at this rate they will not get much at all in the way of services before they have to cut it off.

And here I thought MA was weird because they do charge a fee for it! Not a huge fee, but still shocking.