Expert: Erin E. Maio-Harrison, MA,CCC-SLP - 11/23/2006

Question
Hi Erin,

Thabks for your response, I contacted the Connecticut Association of Speech Pathologists and they will try to help me also with this task. My son is getting 45 mins speech per week at school and I feel this is not sufficient to cover his needs and I travel 2 hours to the University of Connecticut per week for an extra hour of speech...so Icame to the conclusion that I should just try to find a speech path assistant or recent graduate who can help me design a program that might work for him. Thanks and if you have any suggestions please let me know...

Adriana
 
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hello Erin,

My son is four and he was diagnosed with expressive-receptive language disorder, he also has many characterisitcs of a child in the autistic spectrum: cognitive delay, behavioral issues and limited social interactions. However, experts feel this is secondary to his language deficit. I am trying to implement a home-based speech program what areas should be covered in a home setting? do you know any specialists in Connecticut that might be willing to help me?
Additionally, I wanted to ask you regarding stem cell therapy to address language and developmental disabilities in children? are there any ?

Thank you very much for you help

Adriana
-----Answer-----
Hello Adriana- I am sorry for the delay, I messed up when I set my vacation dates.  So, you are setting up a home-based program?  I have a few questions for you...
Are you doing this on your own?  I don't understand why the person or agency that diagnosed your son isn't doing this.  I can't but feel that the task is a bit overwhelming for a parent.  That isn't your job!  You need to be perhaps coordinating the program, following thru on the program, monitoring the program...certainly not designing it!

I don't know anyone in CT but can do research if you need it.

I agree with you that he may be ASD,  after all it is a spectrum and in theory we can all be "on" it somewhere.  

I do not know of any stem cell research and this area. My understanding is that at present, the research is focused on trauma and progressive disease.

Let me know how you ended up with this burden on your shoulders and I will try to help you...

Erin E. Harrison, MA,CCC-SLP
Speech/Language Pathologist

Answer
Hello again Adriana-

Thank you for the follow up!  I think you are on the right track in taking the initiative to supplement your son's therapy.  If you find a graduate or student to help you should request that the school or private therapist assist with designing the home program.  The student should follow the existing therapy plan of care so everyone needs to be in contact.

Another thing you can do is push for more therapy at school.  The IEP is a contract between you and the school.  You have the right to request a meeting at anytime (not just annually) to review the IEP.  You can refuse to sign what they "offer" and insist on more.  Then it's a negotiation.  They don't have to buckle completely but they usually have some discretion.  It's a sticky wheel situation.  The drawback is during the "negotiation" period it may be considered that he doesn't have an "active" IEP and won't get therapy (that is how it works in the beginning, I am not sure how it works while he is in).  I think you should find an "advocate". This is someone who really knows the system and helps you navigate thru it. They attend meetings with you.  Here is a link for such services and scroll down to your state for 3 of them.  They are usually paid but don't have to be lawyers (I've only met one's who were educated parents, social workers, consulting OT/PT/ST etc)

http://www.iser.com/CAadvocacy.html

So good luck!  Once you have a student in place, if things seem to stall with the program, contact me again. I am hesitant at this point to make any specific suggestions (I don't know your son, therapy goals, progress to date, etc.) and be yet another clinical voice muddying up the plan of care.  I will try to help again of you get stuck.

Erin E. Harrison, MA,CCC-SLP
Speech/Language Pathologist