i have to share this in hopes it can help someone else-
our insurance severly cut back on ot and other therapies this year. my son like many others will no longer be eligible to coverage because he does'nt fall under their narrow definition of whom is eligible.
in hopes of finding some resources for ot in our area vs the high cost place we are using now (had to go with them because when our insurance did cover they were the contracted provider) i embarked on a google search. i looked at providers, i then went a step further and looked at weather there were any programs that might assist with expenses or perhaps because we have an ot program at a local university there might be some resource within their on site facilities. then-just as a lark, never thinking i would find anything i typed in the name of our state and 'free occupational therapy'-
OMG-i got a hit!!!!!
i found that a national organization's chapter in our state has provided free ot to kids for decades. the program provides it when insurance does'nt or is lacking, when the child lives in a remote location and providers are distant, or when a child's health is fragil and it would be beneficial for the services to be provided in the home-they also provide for kids who are receiving via iep's but need more than that plan provides for.
IN THE HOME-that's the concept that amazes me, these services are provided in your home and parents are educated in working with the kids in between the weekly appointments. staff will also go to a child's school and if the teacher is willing help them to help the child.
i did an email to the group in our state and was told that they would refer it for evaluation but they did'nt know how long their waiting list was-and we were amazed when just a couple of days later we received a call that there was an opening in our area. the therapist came out today and our son was ACCEPTED
so starting next week he will finaly receive the services he needs and we will finaly receive the education we need to support these services-and all at no charge through the generosity of an organization that reccognizes what a difference ot can make in a child's life
this is what we've dreamed of finding-and i found it in a short google search.
i encourage people to take the time and do a search in your state-you never know if a private person or an organization has established a program that could dramaticly assist your own or another person's child in ways you never dreamed.
our insurance severly cut back on ot and other therapies this year. my son like many others will no longer be eligible to coverage because he does'nt fall under their narrow definition of whom is eligible.
in hopes of finding some resources for ot in our area vs the high cost place we are using now (had to go with them because when our insurance did cover they were the contracted provider) i embarked on a google search. i looked at providers, i then went a step further and looked at weather there were any programs that might assist with expenses or perhaps because we have an ot program at a local university there might be some resource within their on site facilities. then-just as a lark, never thinking i would find anything i typed in the name of our state and 'free occupational therapy'-
OMG-i got a hit!!!!!
i found that a national organization's chapter in our state has provided free ot to kids for decades. the program provides it when insurance does'nt or is lacking, when the child lives in a remote location and providers are distant, or when a child's health is fragil and it would be beneficial for the services to be provided in the home-they also provide for kids who are receiving via iep's but need more than that plan provides for.
IN THE HOME-that's the concept that amazes me, these services are provided in your home and parents are educated in working with the kids in between the weekly appointments. staff will also go to a child's school and if the teacher is willing help them to help the child.
i did an email to the group in our state and was told that they would refer it for evaluation but they did'nt know how long their waiting list was-and we were amazed when just a couple of days later we received a call that there was an opening in our area. the therapist came out today and our son was ACCEPTED
so starting next week he will finaly receive the services he needs and we will finaly receive the education we need to support these services-and all at no charge through the generosity of an organization that reccognizes what a difference ot can make in a child's life this is what we've dreamed of finding-and i found it in a short google search.
i encourage people to take the time and do a search in your state-you never know if a private person or an organization has established a program that could dramaticly assist your own or another person's child in ways you never dreamed.
