Since the economy has been down and more and more people are losing their jobs or having financial hardships, I wanted to share some possibilities with you, on how to try to get services or support at some level for your child.  These are trying times for many, and finding resources for your child may be tough, but here are some suggestions that may be worth considering:

  • First of all, be careful with credit cards!  If you have a history of spending more than you can afford to pay off in a reasonable time frame, then be very cautious.  Your child may really need services, as sensory kids can put a big strain on their family, but financial hardships and large debts are an enormous burden too. If you are generally good with not over-spending, then using your credit card to pay for therapy can be a short-term fix if you know you don’t have the money now, but expect to have it in the near future (the next few months).
  • There are Early Intervention programs available to all children under three years of age in every county.  These services are provided based on the severity of the child’s developmental needs and the program’s local funds- for all children of need, regardless of their parents’ ability to pay.
  • Medicaid is a government-funded program which has different programs set up in each state, such as straight Medicaid benefits, Medipass, Medwaiver, etc…  These programs are available for children needing health care benefts due to their family’s low income.  Children may also become eligible for ongoing funding through this service when they have life-long disabilities diagnosed by their doctor such as Autism, Down Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy.  You can look into these services online, under the Medicaid program in your state.
  • Read books! They are inexpensive and highly informative! Find books online using the search terms “sensory integration” or “sensory processing disorder”. Two commonly referenced books we recommend to our clients are: The Out-of-Sync Child Book by Carol Stock-Kranowitz; and Sensational Kids by Lucy Jane Miller.  There are more and more books becoming available online, so just do a quick internet search and you will find some great choices.  These books are approximately $15 each, you can’t beat that!
  • You can always ask your local sensory therapist to support you and your child with consultations on home program ideas and a schedule of sensory activities you can complete on your own each week.  Then plan to meet with the therapist on an “as needed” basis, when you feel like you need to make changes to your weekly plan, or when finances allow you to add more one-on-one treatments with the sensory therapist.  Phone consultations may be another option, although the more the therapist can spend hands-on time with your child, the better they will be at understanding your child’s individual needs and giving you the best recommendations for home and school.
  • Scholarships may be available through local organizations to support children with therapeutic needs or families that have financial hardships.  There are not any “sensory scholarships” that I am aware of at this time, so try to broaden your search when looking for help.  Local churches, clubs, networking organizations, or not-for-profit agencies may offer scholarships or financial assistance to those showing a significant need.
  • Support groups are extremely helpful for those parents who feel like they are out there all alone! You can find groups through local therapy centers and through the internet.
  • Medical savings plans may be helpful to you and your family, as you can choose how you want to spend the money you allot to this fund each month, with less restrictions on it than some people have when going through a PPO or an HMO insurance plan.  This is something you can look into at your place of employment, and then the weigh the pros and cons of a medical savings plan against the current insurance plan you have, or you plan to get.
  • Last but not least, ask for family support!  It is so incredibly valuable to have a network of people in your area that can help you out on a weekly basis (i.e. pick up your child from school once a week, run an errand for you, or help with other siblings so you can give more time to the child that has more needs, or just rest, etc…).  This support system can be your family or a network of friends.  Even having someone to talk to about challenging events that occurred over the past week can be helpful if you are stressed and need someone with a good head on their shoulders to listen and help guide you.

I hope these suggestions can be helpful in some way to you and your family.  Continue to do your research to help your child get the services that are needed.  Remember, you are your child’s best advocate so don’t give up, just do what you can! A little help now can really go a long way!

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