June 28, 2007
Free Oral Motor Therapy Exercise Sites Online
Here are some sites that offer free exercises for oral motor therapy. Do you know of an oral motor therapy site? Please share with us! Just post in the comments section.
Are you unable to pay for speech therapist? We may may be able to help. Call 1-800-4MyChild to find out if your child is eligible for free speech therapy.
You can also chat online with one of our Care Specialists now.
A PDF file that has some good exercises: http://www.clarian.org/pdf/neuro_oral_motor_exercises.pdf
Designs for kids with cleft palate, but they work equally well for anyone : http://www.widesmiles.org/cleftlinks/WS-563.html
Excellent oral motor exercises, games, etc : http://www.speakingofspeech.com/generic.html?pid=1
http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/index.htm?page=fiocca.html
Good info here: http://www.speech-therapy-on-video.com/oralmotorexercises.html
Another PDF muscle based oral motor therapy : http://www.mshausa.org/2007/Purdy.pdf
More Information about exercise for children with cerebral palsy.
December 13, 2006
Preparing for IFSP meeting (Individualized Family Service Plan)
The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is the foundation of services that are family-centered. Your IFSP is based on your child’s strengths and your family’s concerns and priorities for your child. You can participate actively in the process of assessment and planning by getting together information your child’s medical and developmental history. Take note of their strengths, talents, preferences, and challenges. Identifying current needs for needs for transportation, child care, or interpreters.
When getting prepared for your IFSP meeting with service coordinator collect information about your child- such as medical records, their a baby book, growth chart, or any other other evaluations or reports.
The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a process of looking at the strengths of the Part C eligible child and family, and developing a written plan to identify individualized supports and services that will enhance the child’s development. The IFSP is an ever changing planning tool - reassessed at six month intervals - or more often if necessary.
If you need help understanding the IFSP process or have question- speak with one of our live CareCenter Specialists now.
A service coordinator will facilitate the family’s participation throughout the planning and development of the IFSP. The IFSP should be created within 45 days of the family’s first request for a plan.
The IFSP process will include the following information:
-An assessment of child’s current level of development, including strengths, interests and areas of concern.
-The family’s concerns, priorities and existing resources .
- A statement of the major outcomes (or goals) expected to be achieved for the child and family. It should include the criteria for determining the progress.
- Supports and services to achieve the stated outcomes - using resources available to child and family.
- The date the services will begin and their anticipated duration. A variety of funding resources may be used to pay for these services including state and federal government resources, private insurance, family resources and/or local agencies.
-The name of the service coordinator.
-The identification of the service coordinator. The service coordinator must initiate this plan at least six months before the child’s third birthday.
Preparing for your first meeting can be overwhelming, we are happy to help. Contact one of our live CareCenter Specialists now for help and support.
December 4, 2006
Yellow Pages for Kids with Special Needs or Disabilities
What a great idea, yellow pages set up just for kids with special needs or disabilities. You will find tons of links and resources for cerebral palsy here.
Find educational consultants, psychologists, educational diagnosticians, health care providers, academic therapists, tutors, speech language therapists, occupational therapists, coaches, advocates, and attorneys for children with disabilities on the Yellow Pages for Kids for your state.
You will also find special education schools, learning centers, treatment programs, parent groups, respite care, community centers, grassroots organizations, and government programs for children with disabilities.
Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities
November 21, 2006
Setting up a Special Needs Trust for Special Needs Children
Parents of children with special needs, such as those with cerebral palsy should visit a lawyer set up a Special Needs Trust. A special needs trust is set up to allow use of property for the beneficiary without losing access to essential government services and benefits.
As it stands now a person who is disabled cannot inherit more than $2,000- it will interrupt his or her government benefits. Especially important are long-term care and nursing home benefits under the Medicaid welfare program.
Government benefit programs are now recognizing that family contributions can only improve a disabled person’s life. As long as the family’s contributions are supplementary and do not duplicate government benefit programs, they are allowed. Some current government benefit programs do let the family to provide some supplementary income and resources to the person with a disability. However, government regulations are very strict, and they are carefully monitored.
Special Needs Trusts are frequently used as a way to receive an inheritance or personal injury settlement proceeds on behalf of a disabled person in order to allow the person to qualify for Medicaid benefits.
A special needs trust can be used to buy such things as:
- Out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses
- Eyeglasses
- Transportation (including vehicle purchase)
- Maintenance of vehicles
- Insurance (including payment of premiums)
- Athletic training or competitions
- Personal care attendant or escort
- Rehabilitation
- Essential dietary needs
- Purchase materials for a hobby or recreation activity
- Purchase a computer or other electronic equipment
- Pay for trips or vacations, pay for entertainment like going to a movie, a ballgame, concert, etc.
- Purchase of goods and services that add pleasure and quality to life: videos, furniture, or a television
It is strongly advised if you are a parent of a special needs child that you speak with an attorney regarding the set up of a special needs trust.
For more info on Special Needs Trusts:
http://thearc.org/misc/futplan.html
Kid Source
Trust Funds & Care Giver Support
Michigan Trust Fund
