CPSE Q

Quick Q...after seeing a dev. pediatrician, we found out he has sensory integration disorder (has to constantly touch/rub my hand/arm; scratches our leather couch, and smells make him gag & as I mentioned he eats nothing & is extremely clingy.)

She suggested we call CPSE to get OT/speech. I filled out paperwork in our town & my Q is do we have to use the town's evaluators? She pushed to use the school district but gave me paperwork on other evaluators. On the paperwork though it said, "reason for not using XX school district". Is it not in my best interest to use the school district?

They also told me they don't provide feeding at all & that the OT services would only be related to how it affects him in a school setting.

Message edited 12/1/2011 8:38:57 PM.

Re: CPSE Q

Once they turn 3, I believe the district "takes over" so to speak.

DD gets EI now and we have a meeting next week to set up a meeting with the district for transition in September. (crazy)

I do believe, they give me a list of agencies to choose from to do the evals and I **think** it gets sent to the district.

I'm trying to remember from 2 years ago when we did this with DS, but, I'm not 100% sure.

Hopefully, someone will come on and make it clearer. Good Luck to you!

Re: CPSE Q

when is he turning 3? Because he qualifies for EI if he is 2 yo until he is 3 yo. You can start CPSE before 3 yo though.

Now, for CPSE and evaluation, it depends on your district. Mine does their own evaluation at the school. Some districts will send you to one agency they work with. Other districts will give you choices.

You don't really have a choice on how your SD proceeds on evals. I mean unless you want a lawyer, etc... But I would start by following what your SD wants.

I think you will get a lot more services out of EI than the SD to be honest.

Message edited 12/1/2011 11:57:07 PM.

Re: CPSE Q

even if your child turns 3 Jan 1 2012, he is still eligible for EI until Aug 31, if you get him into EI in 2011.

but to answer your question.... depends on your SD...

usually when you start with CPSE they tell you where to go... or make very strong suggestions on who to see.

we transitioned from EI to CPSE, so it was relatively smooth... the SD visited him at school (2 year old program) and then we used LV for evals since it was one of the agencies we were using for services.

Re: CPSE Q

If he is already 3 and you are just starting the eval process then it would be the CPSE system not EI. Don't worry so much about what orgaization is doing the evaluating, just get him evaluated and stress how his areas of delay are impacting his ability to learn, play, socialze etc... His abilty to function needs to be impaired by his delays inorder to receive services. Also they do address feeding at the preschool level. Once they hit school age (kindergarten and above) we dont address feeding, just what impactts their ability to function in the school environment.

Re: CPSE Q

Thanks everyone! We had him evaluated through EI this past summer but he didn't qualify; however at the time he was still eating yogurt/cake (since then he's eaten nothing at all). Also at the time he wasn't talking very much so we didn't notice his speech issues--now his feeding therapist said he has pragmatic & articulation issues (probably due to poor muscle tone in his mouth/jaw from lack of chewing, etc.). We are currently paying out of pocket for his feeding (he did not qualify for anything through EI).

The developmental ped. suggested going straight to CPSE (as he'll be 3 in May) & she said sometimes it's not very smooth going from one to the other.

I just wasn't sure if we HAD to go through the school evaluators b/c she just put it down on the paper, but then she also gave us a list of evaluators.

Re: CPSE Q

i would try EI again... because he is older, the scales maybe in favor this time.

Re: CPSE Q

I would call EI again. Now he is not eating anything but liquid food and speech is also now an issue.

In term of evaluation, whether with EI or your SD, you can't just pick evaluators. You have to call EI or your SD and see how THEIR process are for evaluations. Even if you pay out of pocket for evaluations they may not accept it anyway and you will need to have him re-evaluated. Waste of time and $$.

Re: CPSE Q

I'd contact EI again too. No disrespect to your doctor, but they don't always understand the system the way other parents do. Since he's already "in the system" with EI, the evaluations may go quicker and as someone mentioned, he can stay in EI until August 31, 2012.

In our case, EI was more generous with services. The OT may not work on feeding specifically, but should be able to help with some of the sensory issues, which might be tied into feeding. Also, the OT may be able to give you some oral motor activities to do to help him with his feeding. DS was approved for speech/feeding in EI and the speech therapist did work on feeding with him and getting him to drink out of an open cup. The district/county was very clear in telling me that *they* don't provide feeding therapy. EI does, though, because we got it - one session per week of speech, one session per week of feeding. As someone else mentioned, he is older now, and the expectations are higher, so where he didn't qualify a few months ago, he might qualify now.

See if he qualifies first, then talk to the therapists about your concerns. I suspect they may be able to do something to help, even through speech and OT. Don't rely 100% on what the doctor is telling you. Cindy, give me a call if you want to talk more about it.

Message edited 12/2/2011 2:22:55 PM.

Re: CPSE Q

Definitely request re-Evals through EI. He is still eligible because he is not yet 3 years old.

Re: CPSE Q

Cr*p I had all ready filled out the paperwork for CPSE & they are calling early next week to set up the evals. I also figured b/c he was evalauted 5 months ago through EI that CPSE may be the better bet (but now I see that's probably NOT the case).

Sophie, yes I'm aware of the EI eval process (did it 2x); they give you the list of evaluators & you pick from the list. They did that this time too w/ CPSE but she kept pushing the actual school district (hence my q)--I wasn't sure IF we had to pick the school district (I actually did though).

Worse comes to worst, we pay out of pocket for OT/speech & continue our feeding I guess (& then they'll all be in 1 place--although 45 min away).

Thanks for the advice & experiences ladies.

Re: CPSE Q

Re: CPSE Q

Message edited 12/3/2011 10:57:27 PM.