Early Intervention in DC?

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07/24/2008 17:37

Subject: Early Intervention in DC?

Anonymous

I think things have changed a bit since my almost 6 y.o. was in DCEIP, but here's what I learned at the time:

*DC uses contractors (pvt. companies) as providers, unlike in Mont. Co. where the individual therapists work for the county
*Yes, services are free in MC, but the amount of services you get will be more limited, so often people end up supplementing with private services anyway. For us, having more people available to come to our home more often was better for us -- esp. when he was very young -- b/c our son somehow had a gift for falling asleep just before it was time to leave for any therapy or doctor appointment. He would end up being groggy for half of any session outside the house. Keeping him home gave us more flexibility, esp b/c he had one or two therapies every day. Since your daughter is older, maybe going outside the house would be more beneficial.
*DC providers will submit to your insurance first. After that, you pay the remainder according to an income-based sliding scale. At first we were deemed 100% pay according to income, but when I detailed in a letter our son's medical expenses, DC reduced the percentage that we owed.
*If you don't like one of your therapists, push for another one.
*For most of my son's time in EI, we lucked out with the OT and PT we had through a company called Out Came the Sun. Both were moonlighting from their day jobs at Children's Hospital. When our OT left, we did notice the difference in the quality of the next person we got, but it was only for a few months before he turned 3. Speech therapy was another story. We had one that was OK but quit her job and then 2 completely unacceptable therapists. We ended up going to a phenomenal private therapist, and then managed to persuade DCEIP to pay a portion of the cost because it wasn't our fault that they were unable to find an acceptable therapist.

Great therapists:
OT:
Leaps & Bounds in Tenleytown area of DC, as mentioned above. Allison Mistrett is the owner/director and my son's therapist. I also love Shiraz (blanking on last name right now). I also love that I live close enough to walk there.

ITS (Integrated Therapy Services), as also mentioned above. Very big on sensory stuff and the Astronaut Program.

Lynne Israel & Associates in Friendship Heights area of DC. Also big on sensory stuff. My son isn't an SID kid but is at their fabulous camp this summer. They will provide his OT and PT next year at his new school.

Lynn Balzer Martin, the OT in The Out of Sync Child, is available for evals, but I don't know if she treats.

PT:
There are two therapy practices in Rockville. Early Intervention Associates and Next Step Pediatrics. We've been at both and see pros and cons of both. We currently see Zahava Alon, the owner of Next Step. We used to see Becky Leonard, the owner of EIA. VERY different techniques, personalities. I'd be happy to tell you more on the phone. Marsha Rosenberg at EIA is great, too.

Lynne Israel has one PT, and I hear she's good, but I think her whole day is spent at the school. I don't think she treats in the office, but I'm not sure.

Speech:
We LOVE two therapists:
Chris Huang at Communication Enrichment Services in Bethesda (widely known Diane Lewis is the owner)

Laura Glaser (and her colleague Alicia Goldstein) at Kids Communication Center. (They share space with Leaps & Bounds). The great thing about them is that if your child is at one of a couple of preschools in DC, they will see your child at school.)

There are good therapists at ITS, too, but I don't have personal experience with them.

If you want to pick my brain more, e-mail me at dccoach (at) gmail.com and we'll chat offline.

Good luck!
Michelle