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Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities
Infants and Toddlers Program visit at Daycare
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Anonymous
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Hello,
Has anyone had the county Infant and Toddlers Program conduct the therapy session at the daycare and if so, how was the visit perceived by the workers? Where they hostile, indifferent or receptive? |
Anonymous
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I did it but only as a means of ensuring that the teachers got direct coaching from the OT. I viewed it as a team building enterprise - the OT went to daycare during nap with the express focus of talking to the teachers - getting their direct input. The idea was that the OT would approach them as skilled profesionals whose input was needed and she would then give them coaching on how to think about our issue and specific ideas that they could realistically do at the daycare. We were in a 2 year old room at that time and the ratios prevented us from doing more at daycare. If you have a child under 2 - the ratios being lower you might be able to do it otherwise.
Having the county visit - if handled correctly - can be a very useful way of interacting with the daycare. They get direct instruction and can ask questions from the OT person that they might not ask of you. There can be huge communication challenges when educating your daycare about your child's issues - using the infants and toddlers OT is a savvy way of approaching the matter. Final note - I was in survival mode at the time, so this was all we did with the daycare and did OT with the therapist at home otherwise. In retrospect, I might have analyzed what legal obligations the daycare had to make an accomodation for the therapy (in terms of devoting teacher time) and then planned the involvement. Good luck. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thank you for your input. My DD is in the infant room and so far, they seem to be hostile to the visit. They have taken a know-it-all attitude when it comes to childcare. |
Anonymous
| Sounds like you need a new daycare. |
Anonymous
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We had a ST and PT from Infant Toddlers come to our in-home daycare a few times and the staff were very accomodating and supportive. They were very interested in hearing what the therapists had to say, how they could incorporate therapy into their routines (pretty much everything they were already doing was "theraputic") and what DS's challenges were. They had no problem with DS having his therapy session while he was at daycare but they really didn't have time to participate in therapy sessions. The provider allowed the sesssions to take place on the 'home' side of the daycare rather than in the daycare itself but it wasn't the best situation because it was a new space for DS and he was sometimes more interested in checking out his surroundings rather than interacting with the therapist.
I'm surprised by the hostitility of the staff at your daycare. Having a therapist come speak to them would be like an 'in-service training'. I, too, would consider looking for a new one. |
Anonymous
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Hello,
I wrote this post before the actual visit took place. I was appalled at their reaction, it was much worse than expected. Yes, the county therapist are looking for emergency daycare for me. I am still in absolute shock they that would let the county see their negative reaction. Kimberly |
Anonymous
| once you get out of the facility - please post the name. I think other parents with special needs should know to avoid this place. Also - if there is a way to report them to the licensing for a violation, I would also do so - again only after you have found a new daycare and no longer need to utilize this place. I am so sorry you are going through this but perhaps it is for the best in that now you know you must leave. |
Anonymous
| OP here. I will post identifying details about the facility. |
Anonymous
| Oh, I am so sorry this happened to you and your child! I hope that you can find child care that will be helpful and receptive to your child's needs. I had to fight my own battle around a very similar issue and it was pretty scary. I never thought that the federal daycare my child attended would react the way that they did but nevertheless it was so. |
Anonymous
| My child is at a federal daycare in DC and they were wonderfully receptive about our DC's county speech therapist visiting the classroom. It wound up being a great experience for everyone. That being said, we are in a small federal daycare and our DC's current teachers are very professional and caring. They've also been extremely accepting/accommodating of our DC's quirks and attention issues. They definitely viewed the visit as a learning experience and were interested in any tips the ST had to offer, which was great. Our ST thought it was an overall great experience. |
Anonymous
| PP here, neglected to add that I am so sorry that you had such an unhappy experience. It is stressful enough finding daycare so I can only imagine what a difficult situation this has been for you. Best of luck. |
Anonymous
| I think that the reaction the daycare has to either private or county OT visiting speaks volumes about the daycare's priorities. A visit by an OT is an outstanding learning opportunity for them. If it is an insurmountable problem - well that just shows you the facts on the ground - that they are not a good daycare (for special needs or neurotypical children). |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
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OP here. . . it was Heritage Childcare Center in Hyattsville. The case worker and PT offered to help me find emergency child care after witnessing the event.
The DCP blocked the entrance to the room and said they were not given notice and where not prepared and asked why did the therapy have to happen at the center. In preparation for the appointment, I had brought the therapist to the center to meet the DCP provider three weeks before, mentioned it to the DCP and director several times and faxed the appointment sheet to them the day before. I spoke with the director on the phone the day before to get her fax number. They knew my daughter received private PT and PT from the county because I shared the evaluation sheets with them. I am still in shock. of course, my daughter is no longer at the center. |
Anonymous
| OP thank you for posting this. That place is no place for a child with needs. |