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Therapy-Free Summer

By Dawn on June 8, 2011 Comments { 6 }

It has officially begun. Not summer, yet, but our break from therapies. I felt like they were handing us the Golden Ticket when D1’s OT said, “You guys need to have a break. Enjoy the summer together as a family and don’t worry about therapies. You deserve it.”

Ten years. 10 years of OT off and on, speech therapy on an ongoing basis, PT part time… it’s all just so… weird to think about right now. In the past parents have said to me, “Wow you have your hands full. I couldn’t do that.” But do what? Drive back and forth and sit in waiting rooms? Lots and lots of waiting in waiting rooms. Going to therapies has really just been a way of life for us.

There were times when we were there three times a week. Others when it was only once, but for 2 hours. Sometimes only D1 was taking therapies, and other times both were. People have asked why we do it. Some parents, homeschoolers who don’t want anyone else’s influence on their kids and don’t think anyone else needs to help them, REALLY don’t understand why. The reason is simple, however: I want my boys to be as successful as they possibly can be.

They were born with big challenges in their lives. Drug affected brains don’t operate like non-affected brains. Certain synapses have to be taught to connect. Muscle groups have to be taught the proper way to move. Sensory systems need help learning what to tune into and what to ignore. These aren’t things that my boys would simply outgrow.

Developmental delays and sensory dysfunction are both in the category of hidden disabilities. You can’t tell there is anything wrong when you see my kids… at least, not at first. They both “look normal”. That’s because they are. And normal, for them, is a bit different than normal for other kids.

For the first time, we get a break. They get a break. The years of early intervention are just about over. Karate, bike riding, and swimming will take over where physical and occupational therapy left off. Afternoons will be unbroken by my hurried yell to wet, playing boys, “Dry off quick! You have OT in 5 minutes!” or “Why are you muddy?! We have to leave RIGHT NOW!” There will be none of that. They can play.

DSCF9308

They can just BE.

categories: Special Needs Kids

Tags: dyspraxia, OT, PT, sensory integration, speech therapy

Comments { 6 } :

Life After OT

By Dawn on May 5, 2011 Comments { 10 }

“When was the last time you guys took a break from therapies?” His OT asked me this question, and I hadn’t really thought about it before.

“Never,” I replied, “we’ve been at this 2-3 times a week for 10 years.”

Wow. The realization hit me pretty hard after I said it. We have literally been in active therapy of one sort or another for TEN years with our boys (D1 in particular). I have sat in waiting rooms for 2-4 hours a week for TEN YEARS. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, all to give them the best tools for life later on.

Her response was a relief to this Momma. “Well, he’s at the age now where I begin to recommend that other activities take over for the work he’s doing in OT. Karate is the second activity I recommend, and the first is swimming, at least for all these sensory-needy kids. They all love to swim. We don’t want them to live their whole childhood in therapies. He’s aging out.”

YES!!!!

Nothing is definite yet, but the main gist of things is that they are noticing huge growth in D1, since he began taking Karate two months ago. They want to, at least, give us a break for the summer. Best case scenario, he will be discharged from his Speech/OT Social group and the Bal-a-vis-X group until he is in need at a later time. Discharged. Maybe for good. WOW!

Our younger son is currently taking PT, and would be happy to stop for a while good. She told me, “We want to give your family a break. You deserve it and you guys should have your summer for your family. It’s time.” We’ll see what the next few weeks tell us, but if this works out, we will be done with therapy appointments in mid-June!

categories: Special Needs Kids

Tags: dyspraxia, OT, sensory integration, speech therapy

Comments { 10 } :

Social Group

By Dawn on August 25, 2009 Comments { 0 }

D1 is in his final two weeks of Speech/OT “Social Group”. He’s been going for 45 minutes each Friday. He has been approved to start full OT again, and the OT and SLP are going to change things up once school starts. There is another boy in his group, a year younger, whom he gets along with very well.

The SLP wants to have the two of them do a 45-60 min. speech session together each week, in D1’s regular time slot. Then afterward, D1 would have OT, again for an hour. It will have him working much longer than he has been but he NEEDS OT again so bad! He’s excited that he and H get to keep working together. I wish H was a homeschooler, but since we don’t have to move D1’s time for speech that is a bonus anyway. I’m just SO GLAD he gets to have OT again for a while.

categories: Special Needs Kids

Tags: OT, sensory integration, speech therapy

Comments { 0 } :

OT Re-Evaluation is done

By Dawn on July 6, 2009 Comments { 0 }

A week ago, D1 was re-evaluated for OT. She didn’t tell me the results right off, but we know his sensory profile is indicative, and she both did observation while he had speech therapy, and then did some things with him herself.

He began a Speech/OT summer group on Friday, which he REALLY likes. There are three other boys, plus an SLP and an OT. What’s not to like? Lots of sensory input stuff, trampoline, ropes, swing, and the Balavisx Program, which is for cognitive integration. They are also doing a refresher on the Alert Program, which he has already been through but will be helpful too! We’ll see if they can get him in for a regular OT slot. I think they have a waiting list.