Here I am posting a list of providers for therapies you may be seeking out for your child. I have shared the providers I know of in the central Ohio area, and I've included their address, phone number, website, therapies they offer, and funding they accept. Please email me at autismpuzzlemom@gmail.com if you know of additional providers that I should add to this list. I am not familiar with every provider listed here, but my sons have attended several if you have specific questions. On this list - OT refers to Occupational Therapy, ST refers to Speech Therapy, MT refers to Music Therapy.
Pediatric Therapy Partners
640 Enterprise Drive, Lewis Center 43035
(614) 433-0132
offers: OT, ST, Groups
accepts: County funding, Autism Scholarship
www.ptpohio.com
Helping Hands Center
2500 Medary Avenue, Columbus 43202
(614) 262-7520
offers: ST, OT, MT, Groups
accepts: Medicaid, County funding, Autism Scholarship
www.helpinghandscenter.com
Columbus Speech & Hearing
2 locations: 510 E North Broadway St, Columbus 43214
10567 Sawmill Road, Suite 105, Powell 43065
(614) 263-5151
offers: ST, OT, Groups
accepts: Medicaid, Insurance, Autism Scholarship
www.columbusspeech.org
The Learning Spectrum
125 Dillmont Road, Columbus 43235
(614) 844-5433
offers: OT, Groups
accepts: County funding, Autism Scholarship
www.thelearningspectrum.com
Nationwide Children's Hospital Close to Home Centers
more than 10 locations in Canal Winchester, Dublin, East Columbus, Gahanna, Hilliard, Ironton, Newark, & Westerville.
(614) 722-4250
offers: ST, OT, PT
accepts: Medicaid, Insurance, Autism scholarship
www.nationwidechildrens.org
Specialized Speech Technologies
8425 Pulsar Place, Columbus 43240
(614) 734-7777
offers: ST, OT, Groups
accepts: Medicaid, Insurance
www.specializedspeech.com
Allied Therapy
170 Mill Street, Gahanna 43230
(614) 414-5437
offers: PT, ?
accepts: Medicaid, ?
www.alliedtherapy.com
ABC Pediatric Therapy
2 locations in West Chester & Western Hills
(513) 755-6600
offers: ST, OT, PT, Groups
accepts: Medicaid, Insurance
www.abcpediatrictherapy.com
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Hiring Therapists
Hiring therapists can be a challenge. There is no more important job than choosing the right people to work with your child with special needs. I have had great success in hiring the right therapists to work with my boys, and because of that we have an excellent in-home team. I currently have 4 aides, and we've had so little turnover that every therapist we've hired has been with us a year or more.
There are a few great resources I know of to advertise for therapists/aides. These resources can be beneficial whether looking for aides to do ABA therapy, play therapy, provide respite time, transport your child to school or therapies, serve as a school aide, etc. Here are a few options that could help you and your child:
1. The Lantern: I have had incredible response when I have placed a classified ad in The Lantern, Ohio State's student newspaper. The cost to advertise is inexpensive and I have received 20-50 responses to every ad I have placed. If this sounds like a good option for you, here is a link to The Lantern's classifieds:
http://adproserver.soj.ohio-state.edu/online/entry/start.do?refresh=true
2. ABA Connections: I found our lead therapist on this website, and she has been with us more than 2 years now. This is a free service that allows families looking for aides to post a personal ad, and vice versa. If interested, check out this website:
www.abaconnections.com
3. Otterbein College: This is another free option that can get your ad to college students at Otterbein. You can send an email to the psychology department at MAman@otterbein.edu and they will place an ad on the bulletin board in the psychology department as well as the career center.
4. My favorite way to find therapists...word of mouth from your fellow autism mommies. I have 4 therapists on my boys' in-home team. I have shared 3 of them with close friends, and the fourth was sent to me by someone already on my team. This is the easiest and often best way to find the best therapists. Ask around, ask your friends if they have any aides looking for more hours, and ask your current team if they know any other therapists that would be a good addition to your child's team.
Hiring therapists can be a very selective process, and it should be. Only interview the best applicants, and when they come to your home, see how they interact with your child. My older son has truly chosen every team member I've hired. As the parent, you can ask all the right questions, and the therapist may give you all the right answers...but the most important factor should be how the therapist interacts with your child. Does your child warm up to them? Do they get down on your child's level and play and seem comfortable with your child? Do they seem energetic and willing to learn and adapt? My lead aide had never done this before I hired her, she was a swim instructor. She did have experience with kids, just not in a therapy environment, and not much experience with kids on the spectrum yet. But when I saw her interaction with my son I knew she should be a part of our team. With my other 3 therapists it was the same. They had experience in the field, but the most important factor was how my boys warmed up to them...and it was an instant connection. One of my favorite interviews was an aide who barely knew I was in the room she was so engaged with my son. Keep this in mind when you choose your team. Education and knowledge are a great background, but that won't impress your child - their playfulness and the right connection could make all the difference :-)
There are a few great resources I know of to advertise for therapists/aides. These resources can be beneficial whether looking for aides to do ABA therapy, play therapy, provide respite time, transport your child to school or therapies, serve as a school aide, etc. Here are a few options that could help you and your child:
1. The Lantern: I have had incredible response when I have placed a classified ad in The Lantern, Ohio State's student newspaper. The cost to advertise is inexpensive and I have received 20-50 responses to every ad I have placed. If this sounds like a good option for you, here is a link to The Lantern's classifieds:
http://adproserver.soj.ohio-state.edu/online/entry/start.do?refresh=true
2. ABA Connections: I found our lead therapist on this website, and she has been with us more than 2 years now. This is a free service that allows families looking for aides to post a personal ad, and vice versa. If interested, check out this website:
www.abaconnections.com
3. Otterbein College: This is another free option that can get your ad to college students at Otterbein. You can send an email to the psychology department at MAman@otterbein.edu and they will place an ad on the bulletin board in the psychology department as well as the career center.
4. My favorite way to find therapists...word of mouth from your fellow autism mommies. I have 4 therapists on my boys' in-home team. I have shared 3 of them with close friends, and the fourth was sent to me by someone already on my team. This is the easiest and often best way to find the best therapists. Ask around, ask your friends if they have any aides looking for more hours, and ask your current team if they know any other therapists that would be a good addition to your child's team.
Hiring therapists can be a very selective process, and it should be. Only interview the best applicants, and when they come to your home, see how they interact with your child. My older son has truly chosen every team member I've hired. As the parent, you can ask all the right questions, and the therapist may give you all the right answers...but the most important factor should be how the therapist interacts with your child. Does your child warm up to them? Do they get down on your child's level and play and seem comfortable with your child? Do they seem energetic and willing to learn and adapt? My lead aide had never done this before I hired her, she was a swim instructor. She did have experience with kids, just not in a therapy environment, and not much experience with kids on the spectrum yet. But when I saw her interaction with my son I knew she should be a part of our team. With my other 3 therapists it was the same. They had experience in the field, but the most important factor was how my boys warmed up to them...and it was an instant connection. One of my favorite interviews was an aide who barely knew I was in the room she was so engaged with my son. Keep this in mind when you choose your team. Education and knowledge are a great background, but that won't impress your child - their playfulness and the right connection could make all the difference :-)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Using your Medicaid card
When your child receives a waiver in the state of Ohio, they qualify for a Medicaid card. The Medicaid card can be an amazing tool for your child, not to mention it can save you a TON of money! Let's face it...autism is expensive...and a Medicaid card can help in many ways. The only downside is it doesn't come with any instructions or a "Where to use your Medicaid card" booklet. I have learned many uses for the Medicaid card over the last year, and I share them with you here:
1. The card can be used at any medical establishment that accepts Medicaid - Children's Hospital & Close to Home locations, possibly even your pediatrician's office. It can be used secondary to your primary insurance, and it will pay any co-pays and any balances your insurance does not cover (at least in my experience). This means every trip to the hospital, every blood draw...you won't have any balance due out-of-pocket.
2. The card can be used at a local pharmacy to pay for prescriptions. The prescription coverage is excellent, at least in comparison to our primary prescription coverage. I use a compounding pharmacy out of Cleveland to fill many of the prescriptions prescribed by our DAN doctor. They bill Medicaid, which saves me over $600 every month with my boys. Our local Kroger pharmacy does the same, and between our primary insurance and Medicaid, we rarely ever have to pay a dime out-of-pocket for prescriptions.
3. Chances are when dealing with a child with autism, when your child turns 3 years old, they may not be potty trained yet. If this is the case, Medicaid will pay for pull-ups for your child once they turn 3. There are some "order from home" delivery services you can get the pull-ups through that bill Medicaid. I am very happy with the name brand pull-ups, so I chose to have our pediatrician write a prescription and I have it filled at our local pharmacy. I am able to pick up enough day and night diapers to last an entire month at no cost.
4. Your Medicaid card can provide home health hours for your child. There are many home health agencies in Central Ohio that accept Medicaid. Many of these agencies will even hire your providers that might already be working with your child or that you hire to do so. Your child is entitled to a minimum of 14 hours per week, and in some cases your pediatrician will write a prescription for additional hours. Most agencies pay the aides $8-$10 per hour, so it is significantly less than waiver rates. But many families find ways to utilize these hours for respite time or self help skills. Home health hours can be a great resource.
5. Most importantly, the Medicaid card can provide your child with the therapies they absolutely need. With a prescription from your doctor, Medicaid will provide speech therapy and/or occupational therapy and/or physical therapy. Children can receive each of these therapies totally funded by Medicaid anywhere from once a month to twice a week. There are not many Medicaid providers for therapies, so you want to get your child on any wait lists as soon as you are offered a Medicaid waiver, if not before. I'll be posting a blog soon with a list of all therapy providers I know of, and it will indicate which providers accept Medicaid.
6. The Medicaid card gets you some great discounts locally. The best one I know of is at COSI. Just by showing your Ohio Medicaid card, you can get a family access annual membership to COSI for just $25! That cost $88 without the Medicaid card, and my kids absolutely love COSI, so we get more than our money's worth from this membership.
This post may provide you with additional information about your child's Medicaid card, but it probably also raises many questions. Please ask them here so that others can benefit and learn at the same time.
1. The card can be used at any medical establishment that accepts Medicaid - Children's Hospital & Close to Home locations, possibly even your pediatrician's office. It can be used secondary to your primary insurance, and it will pay any co-pays and any balances your insurance does not cover (at least in my experience). This means every trip to the hospital, every blood draw...you won't have any balance due out-of-pocket.
2. The card can be used at a local pharmacy to pay for prescriptions. The prescription coverage is excellent, at least in comparison to our primary prescription coverage. I use a compounding pharmacy out of Cleveland to fill many of the prescriptions prescribed by our DAN doctor. They bill Medicaid, which saves me over $600 every month with my boys. Our local Kroger pharmacy does the same, and between our primary insurance and Medicaid, we rarely ever have to pay a dime out-of-pocket for prescriptions.
3. Chances are when dealing with a child with autism, when your child turns 3 years old, they may not be potty trained yet. If this is the case, Medicaid will pay for pull-ups for your child once they turn 3. There are some "order from home" delivery services you can get the pull-ups through that bill Medicaid. I am very happy with the name brand pull-ups, so I chose to have our pediatrician write a prescription and I have it filled at our local pharmacy. I am able to pick up enough day and night diapers to last an entire month at no cost.
4. Your Medicaid card can provide home health hours for your child. There are many home health agencies in Central Ohio that accept Medicaid. Many of these agencies will even hire your providers that might already be working with your child or that you hire to do so. Your child is entitled to a minimum of 14 hours per week, and in some cases your pediatrician will write a prescription for additional hours. Most agencies pay the aides $8-$10 per hour, so it is significantly less than waiver rates. But many families find ways to utilize these hours for respite time or self help skills. Home health hours can be a great resource.
5. Most importantly, the Medicaid card can provide your child with the therapies they absolutely need. With a prescription from your doctor, Medicaid will provide speech therapy and/or occupational therapy and/or physical therapy. Children can receive each of these therapies totally funded by Medicaid anywhere from once a month to twice a week. There are not many Medicaid providers for therapies, so you want to get your child on any wait lists as soon as you are offered a Medicaid waiver, if not before. I'll be posting a blog soon with a list of all therapy providers I know of, and it will indicate which providers accept Medicaid.
6. The Medicaid card gets you some great discounts locally. The best one I know of is at COSI. Just by showing your Ohio Medicaid card, you can get a family access annual membership to COSI for just $25! That cost $88 without the Medicaid card, and my kids absolutely love COSI, so we get more than our money's worth from this membership.
This post may provide you with additional information about your child's Medicaid card, but it probably also raises many questions. Please ask them here so that others can benefit and learn at the same time.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
My Warning Signs
There are many lists of warning signs for autism, but no 2 children present the same symptoms. I am listing some of the early signs I saw from my boys. The second time around I was watching my son Ty's every move, so I was able to identify these signs very early on. Here are some things I saw...or didn't see...from my boys:
1. No response to name: Both of my boys had this skill and lost it. Brady lost this skill around 14 months and Tyler around 11 months. When you call your child's name, they should turn their head to you, orient their body toward you, give you some response. If they don't do that at least 8 out of 10 times you call their name...something is wrong. Starting out with a hearing test ordered by your pediatrician is a good starting point, we did so both times. Although it wasn't the problem for my boys, it is a good thing to rule out. If their hearing is fine and they still do not respond to their name...this may be a sign.
2. No clapping/pointing/waving: Brady clapped and waved at 11 months, but around his first birthday those skills slipped away. To this day he has never pointed. Tyler never developed any of the 3 skills. These are gestures that a child should naturally develop through imitation. If a child loses these skills, or never develops them at all...this may be a sign. You may even notice a child's inability to imitate anything...this may be a sign as well.
3. Loss of speech: This is probably the most well known sign of autism. I remember Brady's first word - it was Mommy. He was 11 months old and we were in a furniture store picking out a new couch for the home we were moving into. He yelled it across the store to get my attention...it was a beautiful sound. After his first birthday, Brady never spoke again. He finally gained speech again a few months ago, just before his 4th birthday. Tyler has a small amount of babbling, but no real words. At 18-months-old, a child should have some words. Don't put your suspicions off if everyone tells you "he's a late talker, boys always develop slower than girls"..don't wait, this may be a sign.
4. Loss of eye contact: Both of my boys experienced this, but it was a gradual loss. Brady lost it later than Ty did, but Ty has quickly gained it back through lots of engagement. If a child won't look at you, dodges your gaze, that could be a sign.
5. Obsessions: Ty at 15 months had already started to obsess over doors - wanting to open and close them repeatedly, or if he saw a door open he would immediately go close it. This didn't show up in Brady until much later, around 2-1/2 years old. Both of my boys at an early age fixated on puzzle pieces. They both wanted to flip over the pieces and look at (or even mouth) the small metal screw. Some kids line things up or spin wheels on toys rather than play with the toys appropriately. These may all be warning signs.
6. Sensory behaviors: Both of my boys exhibited odd sensory behaviors at an early age. Both wanted to be inverted or stand on their head for long periods of time, wanted to play with the tags on clothing or toys for long periods of time, didn't like messy substances such as sand or playdoh, avoided many food textures or were insanely picky eaters, and most kids on the spectrum either crave swinging or are scared of it. I will write an entire blog on sensory behaviors and ways to use a sensory diet and occupational therapy to improve these soon.
Finally, don't let people convince you that since your child is loving and affectionate that they couldn't have autism. My boys are both incredibly affectionate, they love hugs and kisses, love to be around people, and this has always been the case for both of them. Although some children on the autism spectrum refuse affection, I believe that to be the minority in the families I have met. If you suspect any of these signs, or any other delays, take action...do something about it...talk to your pediatrician, if they don't give merit to your concerns - get a new pediatrician. Call your county Help Me Grow program and communicate your concerns about your child as soon as possible. Do whatever you need to do to have your child professionally evaluated and get them the help they need.
1. No response to name: Both of my boys had this skill and lost it. Brady lost this skill around 14 months and Tyler around 11 months. When you call your child's name, they should turn their head to you, orient their body toward you, give you some response. If they don't do that at least 8 out of 10 times you call their name...something is wrong. Starting out with a hearing test ordered by your pediatrician is a good starting point, we did so both times. Although it wasn't the problem for my boys, it is a good thing to rule out. If their hearing is fine and they still do not respond to their name...this may be a sign.
2. No clapping/pointing/waving: Brady clapped and waved at 11 months, but around his first birthday those skills slipped away. To this day he has never pointed. Tyler never developed any of the 3 skills. These are gestures that a child should naturally develop through imitation. If a child loses these skills, or never develops them at all...this may be a sign. You may even notice a child's inability to imitate anything...this may be a sign as well.
3. Loss of speech: This is probably the most well known sign of autism. I remember Brady's first word - it was Mommy. He was 11 months old and we were in a furniture store picking out a new couch for the home we were moving into. He yelled it across the store to get my attention...it was a beautiful sound. After his first birthday, Brady never spoke again. He finally gained speech again a few months ago, just before his 4th birthday. Tyler has a small amount of babbling, but no real words. At 18-months-old, a child should have some words. Don't put your suspicions off if everyone tells you "he's a late talker, boys always develop slower than girls"..don't wait, this may be a sign.
4. Loss of eye contact: Both of my boys experienced this, but it was a gradual loss. Brady lost it later than Ty did, but Ty has quickly gained it back through lots of engagement. If a child won't look at you, dodges your gaze, that could be a sign.
5. Obsessions: Ty at 15 months had already started to obsess over doors - wanting to open and close them repeatedly, or if he saw a door open he would immediately go close it. This didn't show up in Brady until much later, around 2-1/2 years old. Both of my boys at an early age fixated on puzzle pieces. They both wanted to flip over the pieces and look at (or even mouth) the small metal screw. Some kids line things up or spin wheels on toys rather than play with the toys appropriately. These may all be warning signs.
6. Sensory behaviors: Both of my boys exhibited odd sensory behaviors at an early age. Both wanted to be inverted or stand on their head for long periods of time, wanted to play with the tags on clothing or toys for long periods of time, didn't like messy substances such as sand or playdoh, avoided many food textures or were insanely picky eaters, and most kids on the spectrum either crave swinging or are scared of it. I will write an entire blog on sensory behaviors and ways to use a sensory diet and occupational therapy to improve these soon.
Finally, don't let people convince you that since your child is loving and affectionate that they couldn't have autism. My boys are both incredibly affectionate, they love hugs and kisses, love to be around people, and this has always been the case for both of them. Although some children on the autism spectrum refuse affection, I believe that to be the minority in the families I have met. If you suspect any of these signs, or any other delays, take action...do something about it...talk to your pediatrician, if they don't give merit to your concerns - get a new pediatrician. Call your county Help Me Grow program and communicate your concerns about your child as soon as possible. Do whatever you need to do to have your child professionally evaluated and get them the help they need.
Monday, October 5, 2009
From me to you
My older son, Brady, was born in September 2005, and was diagnosed with autism in June 2007, at 21 months of age. My younger son, Ty, was born in March 2008, and was diagnosed with autism in June 2009, at 15 months of age (although I diagnosed him myself at his 1st birthday party, if not before). My two amazing, loving, beautiful little boys have taught me more than I thought I would ever know about autism. They have made me a better mother than I ever would have been otherwise…caused me to research endless hours online about therapies, funding sources, supplements, schools, development milestones, special diets, doctors…the list goes on. I love both of my boys more than I thought I could ever love a child, their smiles are the light of my life and they bring me joy every day. It is because of this joy that I want to give back and this website is my way of doing so.
The one and only way I have learned all I know about autism is through other mommies (and sometimes daddies). I am no expert by any means, but I do have a wealth of knowledge to share about this world I call “The Puzzle”. I have spent countless hours sharing knowledge about the Puzzle with other parents beginning the journey, but I want this information to reach a larger audience…all of the autism community that need it. So, this is my way of giving back to all of those who reached out to me at the beginning of our journey. My boys wouldn’t be where they are today without the guidance of other warrior mothers…and I want to be able to do the same for you, your daughter, your sister-in-law, your next door neighbor…whomever needs this.
I’ll do my best to post a new topic at least once a week, often more, and I encourage you to post with questions/comments/concerns anytime as I will check the site daily. There is also a link to email me privately if you have a question you’d rather get an answer to that way. If I don't have the answers, I will find them. This site is meant to be a source of information and an inspiration to all the families out there fighting autism and looking for the best for their kids. Our kids are amazing and they deserve the chance to succeed in life...to make friends...to have a voice...and it is up to us as their parents to give them that chance.
The one and only way I have learned all I know about autism is through other mommies (and sometimes daddies). I am no expert by any means, but I do have a wealth of knowledge to share about this world I call “The Puzzle”. I have spent countless hours sharing knowledge about the Puzzle with other parents beginning the journey, but I want this information to reach a larger audience…all of the autism community that need it. So, this is my way of giving back to all of those who reached out to me at the beginning of our journey. My boys wouldn’t be where they are today without the guidance of other warrior mothers…and I want to be able to do the same for you, your daughter, your sister-in-law, your next door neighbor…whomever needs this.
I’ll do my best to post a new topic at least once a week, often more, and I encourage you to post with questions/comments/concerns anytime as I will check the site daily. There is also a link to email me privately if you have a question you’d rather get an answer to that way. If I don't have the answers, I will find them. This site is meant to be a source of information and an inspiration to all the families out there fighting autism and looking for the best for their kids. Our kids are amazing and they deserve the chance to succeed in life...to make friends...to have a voice...and it is up to us as their parents to give them that chance.
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