OT session - no feedback

[Anonymous]

Our son has ADHD and receives weekly OT session (45 min) on campus. He goes to a private school and this is provided by an independent OT who comes to campus. We have to cover the cost on top of tuition, which quickly adds up.

We don't expect it after every session, but is it normal that there is absolutely no feedback coming from OT? After a month or two, I'd like to hear a summary of what areas he is working on, progress he is making, something we can incorporate at home, or just "something" especially considering how much we are paying. The only thing we hear from her is an automatic weekly SMS for credit card payment confirmation.

When we finally asked for some updates, we were told to make an appointment for “consultation” with additional hourly fee. This is the OT who did “full” OT evaluation for $1k, and it was silly of us to assume that an hour of consultation to discuss key findings was included in the fee, not to mention the report even had our son’s name wrong.

Our 5 yo son cannot tell us much about his school life in general, but recently he kept telling us that the main OT did not come, but his session was with another lady, who is a fresh out of college young lady or other times with recently hired intern.

Is it rude to ask the qualifications of these two ladies? And/or reduced rate?
After finding an in-network OT provider, we suggested to the school we may want to go with them, the school staff clearly seemed bothered and insinuated that it’s best to stay with the OT on campus for seamlessly integrated environments.

I’d hate to say this but something feels off, like some sort of collusion with some kick back, or something. Do I sound crazy?

[Anonymous]

I don’t hear from 5 yo son’s (Public school) ot except for at p/t conferences and IEP meetings. I do know she has chatted with our private OT a few times to talk about accommodations for the classroom and just how to support him generally. When we go for weekly private OT, the OT always spends the last 10 minutes of the session showing what she and my son are working on and how to support him at home. She will text or email me briefly if needed to finish reviewing his session. It would be hard to know what they were accomplishing without feedback. Like yours, my son does not provide a lot of info

[Anonymous]

Yes I think it is unreasonable to charge for this. Our private pay providers do not charge for anything under 15 minutes and they are happy to answer questions via email.

[Anonymous]

We basically only hear from our child’s OT during IEP meetings but it’s public school and the services are free of charge. I have done private OT before and have had mixed experiences but you have more leverage with them since you are paying and should definitely expect more in terms of updates and progress reports. If you have other in-network options it may be worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

If this is a private OT, yes they should do much better in communicating. It's ridiculous to charge for an a simple phone call update, especially when they aren't sending home weekly communications.

[Anonymous]

I'll offer a counter position.

In a private school with a private OT, I'm surprised they aren't offering more communication. The other posters seem to suggest you should expect this.

But.... OTs, like all of these therapists and providers, are grossly underpaid for the skilled services they provide. And parents seem to expect a lot of free support beyond the actually paid for services. I suspect the OT brought in by a private school (even when billed to the parents) has the worst of all of this - because every single parent at private school thinks they're entitled to "just a little" free time of the provider. If every parent wants just 15 minutes of free time every week, then the provider is spending 25% of their time providing free services (45 minutes of therapy for each kid plus 15 minutes of parent call). I think that's unreasonable, and I bet in the private school setting, they set up this "you have to pay us for our parent time" system because so many parents were demanding beyond the 15 minutes of free time.

Ultimately, i think all these non-MD providers for our SN kids, all of whom are women, are super underpaid and we should be supporting women in these important roles, instead of undercutting them. If there was a stereotypically male profession who spent time on campus, would you expect the same low rates and free services? Although it's hard to even think of a male analogy, because we relegate all these low pay care jobs to women. We just wouldn't even expect men to go into these low pay jobs, let alone give us free support.

Just my two cents in trying to support women in these roles.

[Anonymous]

Given that you are not there in person for the sessions, it does t sound unreasonable to me that they want to charge. Updates when services are provided by the school and at the school usually come in the form of a report card addendum and once a year IEP meeting. Sometimes you might get some feedback if you run into them at school. For private, it was always the last five minutes of the session and during that time a home program was provided along with any necessary training.

[Anonymous]

Honestly it sounds like a money grab. I’d do it outside school with someone who is covered by insurance. Go to a developmental ped if you want an eval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given that you are not there in person for the sessions, it does t sound unreasonable to me that they want to charge. Updates when services are provided by the school and at the school usually come in the form of a report card addendum and once a year IEP meeting. Sometimes you might get some feedback if you run into them at school. For private, it was always the last five minutes of the session and during that time a home program was provided along with any necessary training.

They should send home a daily report or few minute phone call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll offer a counter position.

In a private school with a private OT, I'm surprised they aren't offering more communication. The other posters seem to suggest you should expect this.

But.... OTs, like all of these therapists and providers, are grossly underpaid for the skilled services they provide. And parents seem to expect a lot of free support beyond the actually paid for services. I suspect the OT brought in by a private school (even when billed to the parents) has the worst of all of this - because every single parent at private school thinks they're entitled to "just a little" free time of the provider. If every parent wants just 15 minutes of free time every week, then the provider is spending 25% of their time providing free services (45 minutes of therapy for each kid plus 15 minutes of parent call). I think that's unreasonable, and I bet in the private school setting, they set up this "you have to pay us for our parent time" system because so many parents were demanding beyond the 15 minutes of free time.

Ultimately, i think all these non-MD providers for our SN kids, all of whom are women, are super underpaid and we should be supporting women in these important roles, instead of undercutting them. If there was a stereotypically male profession who spent time on campus, would you expect the same low rates and free services? Although it's hard to even think of a male analogy, because we relegate all these low pay care jobs to women. We just wouldn't even expect men to go into these low pay jobs, let alone give us free support.

Just my two cents in trying to support women in these roles.

Stop with the underpaid women nonsense. Thus is a money grab and unprofessional. The or sets their fee and is private pay.

[Anonymous]

I pay for private OT for my daughter who pushes into the school setting. She always provides me with a short summary of the session via text immediately upon its completion along with a brief explanation of why they worked on the specific skill, and a note of what to work on at home this week. We pay $125 for a 30 min session every week, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect for a short summary like this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll offer a counter position.

In a private school with a private OT, I'm surprised they aren't offering more communication. The other posters seem to suggest you should expect this.

But.... OTs, like all of these therapists and providers, are grossly underpaid for the skilled services they provide. And parents seem to expect a lot of free support beyond the actually paid for services. I suspect the OT brought in by a private school (even when billed to the parents) has the worst of all of this - because every single parent at private school thinks they're entitled to "just a little" free time of the provider. If every parent wants just 15 minutes of free time every week, then the provider is spending 25% of their time providing free services (45 minutes of therapy for each kid plus 15 minutes of parent call). I think that's unreasonable, and I bet in the private school setting, they set up this "you have to pay us for our parent time" system because so many parents were demanding beyond the 15 minutes of free time.

Ultimately, i think all these non-MD providers for our SN kids, all of whom are women, are super underpaid and we should be supporting women in these important roles, instead of undercutting them. If there was a stereotypically male profession who spent time on campus, would you expect the same low rates and free services? Although it's hard to even think of a male analogy, because we relegate all these low pay care jobs to women. We just wouldn't even expect men to go into these low pay jobs, let alone give us free support.

Just my two cents in trying to support women in these roles.

Stop with the underpaid women nonsense. Thus is a money grab and unprofessional. The or sets their fee and is private pay.

With the rates that OTs get, you cannot possibly say with a straight face that they are in this for a money grab.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given that you are not there in person for the sessions, it does t sound unreasonable to me that they want to charge. Updates when services are provided by the school and at the school usually come in the form of a report card addendum and once a year IEP meeting. Sometimes you might get some feedback if you run into them at school. For private, it was always the last five minutes of the session and during that time a home program was provided along with any necessary training.

They should send home a daily report or few minute phone call.

Well if that’s what OP wants sounds like she needs to find a different provider. But now she knows that some providers do not offer free consultations or updates, she knows to ask about that when she interviews potential new providers.

[Anonymous]

There should be articulated short and medium term goals, an understanding of what is being done to work toward those goals and a report after every session. And then periodic goal check ins and resetting. IMO i would also show up and watch these sessions every once and a while too. You have every right to feel off about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There should be articulated short and medium term goals, an understanding of what is being done to work toward those goals and a report after every session. And then periodic goal check ins and resetting. IMO i would also show up and watch these sessions every once and a while too. You have every right to feel off about it.

Op should pay for an hour of time every session then. And/or the provider should price her 45 min sessions as an hour. But op said she already felt like it was a lot of money for these sessions, so that might not fly. But no one should expect the provider to work for free.