Speech Early Intervention

DD will be 19 months this month and besides trying to say Mickey or Mouse she hasn't clearly said any words. Says all her sounds but no real words. Her ped. wants her to have EI done just in case. He gave me a number to call and its EI through the state. The woman said that in 3-5 business days I will get a call and I will have to go down and meet with someone in the Uniondale office. She also said to bring my insurance card. I asked why would I need that and she said they will not charge me anything, they will only accept whatever the ins. pays. I said I thought someone would come to my house and she said that it depends on the evaluators schedule....I heard from friends that I should go through my school district because it will be free. What's the difference between going through the state or your school district?

I am in the Plainedge school district. I just left a voicemail for someone at the school that is supposed to point me in the right direction but the first woman I spoke to said she thinks the cut off was March 1st and that they wouldn't be doing anymore evaluations for a while!!!??!?!?!?

Does anyone have any info they can share? TIA

Message edited 3/20/2015 12:39:09 PM.

Speech Early Intervention

Early Intervention is until the child turns 3 then the child "ages out" and the school district will be one that provides the services.

As for where the child is evaluated, it will depend on which provider you chose. They will give you a list of providers that perform EI evals and you pick one. Once the evals are done, if your child qualifies for services, you will meet with a rep from the county again to see what services the child qualified for.

Re: Speech Early Intervention

I just had daughters 21 month appt and she can communicate through some jibberish phrases but besides "no" she doesn't say concrete words. She babbles in baby talk all day long. They gave me a brochure for an organization in Plainview. I called this morning but they never called me back. I'm wondering if I should just try and call some places on my own.

Re: Speech Early Intervention

School District evaluates the child closer to 3 years of age. Ei does birth to 3. Most of it is done at your home. Usually the initial intake also. They will attempt to place the claims through your insurance and get paid and the state covers the rest. but there is no payment from you. To the best of my knowledge the evaluators come to you.

Speech Early Intervention

Second to what everyone else said.

Just so you know, you do not have to provide your insurance for ei if you do not want to. It is optional. Least that's how it was initially explained to me. I don't know if the rules changed in the last year

Re: Speech Early Intervention

Speech Early Intervention

My son had ei for physical therapy. When I initially called the ei office i was told the same thing as you. I had to actually go down to uniondale in person for the initial meeting. This part sucked. Then a evaluation took place at my home. Once the results came in and he qualified i had to go back to uniondale so they could approve service. Then service began in my home. You have the option to not provide your insurance info but i did. Regardless nothing comes out of your pocket.

Re: Speech Early Intervention

My son receives services now through EI, as others said you only call the school district once they are getting near aging out (they age out at 3). I just had a 12 month meeting at the county in Uniondale and the eiod said they are starting to push for people to meet with them at the county vs. them going to people's houses. As far as insurance, they collect that info so they can recoup whatever costs they can from your insurance company but you can decline of you wish, they will still provide services free of cost

Re: Speech Early Intervention

Re: Speech Early Intervention

Yes up to 3 is through the county. I chose the center to get the eval with and the evaluator came to us. If you call a center and they can't call another. We use all about kids. Another good one is hagedorn/little village and also up we grow.

EI/county level is better in a way bc they don't work on school schedules so your child gets services through summer and on breaks. They also let the child stay in EI for about 3 mo after they turn 3. Both EI and SD are free. They take your ins card bc they bill to ins. You pay nothing if your child qualifies.

Re: Speech Early Intervention

Re: Speech Early Intervention

Re: Speech Early Intervention