[shelbean91]

Crap! So, yesterday, I take Jake to speech and our ST says 'I have some bad news'. What, I ask. She's taking a job at another facility and her last week at this place is the last week in July. It's a good opportunity for her, closer to home, etc. I don't begrudge her this AT ALL. I ask if we can move with her and she said the people running the new place said no b/c they want to give the opportunity to have other kids get speech instead of kids who already had speech. The current facility doesn't have any other ST, so we're likely going to be without or be on waitlists forever. Jake has been seeing her 2x/week for about 2 years. She's wonderful, amazing, great with him (and me).

I'm going to try to get the number to the new place (which doesn't even open until August) and get on a wait list. Even if we can't continue to see her, I don't want to lose ST. He's been making SO much progress lately.

We've been SO fortunate at the amount of services we've had and I understand other kids need it too, but that doens't mean we DON'T.

WAAAHHHH!

Ok, besides that- please give me ideas for a going away gift for the best therapist ever!

Great update below....post 14

 

[Lovenest]

Oh wow, that must be so hard. My sons OT left for 2 weeks for vacation and I was like ohhh no.

Good luck with the waiting list.

I saw a cute idea on here about a flower pot with a card that says "thank you for helping me grow". I thought that was so sweet.

 

[mamaverdi]

What in the world about the new place? That is so strange.

How about the yummiest popcorn ever. www.daleandthomas.com

:

 

[LauraLoo]

This happened to us, too. We had the best ST for a year, and then she moved an hour away. I actually considered doing the commute, but realized how tough that would be on the dc's. We have never found anyone better than her.

Definitely call the new place and see what can be arranged. They're looking for clients, so IMHO, you're just as good as somone else. And if they place you on a waiting list, I'd keep following up - nicely! Squeaky wheel gets the grease!

 

[mom3b1?]

I'm so sorry! Can she give you some things to work on at home to tide you over? My son gets ST through school and they sent us home with summer work. They always send us stuff to do at home, but this is more substantial.

Kiley

 

[shelbean91]

We do work on things she gives us, based on his goals, but the 1:1 she does is so invaluable. I can do what she tells me, but I don't know the 'next step; you know?

Hopefully, she'll give me a contact number to get on the wait list. She really loves working with Jake (she says, I assume she's not bs-ing me) and will be sad to not work with him.

 

[sbgrace]

How sad. I hope you do end up with her again at the new place. I really don't understand the thinking of the new place to leave all her clients without speech altogether/why they would limit who comes.

 

[bobica]

That's just so sad for ds! (and you too!) It's so nice to hear how much you appreciate your ST (last year at this time i was posting a pity party thread b/c not one kid thanked me with anything at the end of the year).

Anything homemade is always welcome. If she's a coffee drinker- a travel mug and/or gift card to dunkin donuts/starbucks/wherever is great. i got a yankee candle & jar topper today & it's fabulous!

a gift card to www.superduperinc.com would be very cool too- we all get supplies from them.

i hope you find a new ST quickly!

 

[mamaverdi]

Oh bobica! I've been so wrapped up in what is going on with my boys that I haven't thanked my therapists lately. I will do that first thing next week.

to you

 

[shelbean91]

They limit who can come b/c there are SO many people waiting for therapy. People who have NONE and haven't for a long time. We've been blessed to have ST 2 hrs a week- most people who are lucky enough to have a spot at all only get 1 hr/week.

Bobica- I'm sorry you don't get proper thanks. You definitely deserve it.

I did get the name to the new place and found the online enrollment (I think) to get on the wait list.

Now, the next question- if I can't find someone else, do I put ds in all day kindergarten, so he at least gets SOMETHING or just give him the afternoons off in hopes of finding someone mid year.

 

[mamaverdi]

I say it depends on his age, the program, his needs, and how the program would meet those.

 

[aiccerb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelbean91 Now, the next question- if I can't find someone else, do I put ds in all day kindergarten, so he at least gets SOMETHING or just give him the afternoons off in hopes of finding someone mid year.

Hard call mama....theres a lot of variables to weigh in there. We cant find anyone right now for speech services where we are either. My ds has been on the waitlist for 1.5 yrs, and they figure by the time he get another assesment and access to regular service through the public funding he'll be too old to access the service

:

Our last SLP set us up with an outline of goals and areas to work on ds and some books and suggestions to work on at home in the interim till we can find someone else.

 

[shelbean91]

I will ask her how to progress in the interem. I'm sure I can email or call her with questions as well. Right now the only thing going in our favor for not waiting a HUGE amount of time is the fact that we can go in the afternoon, but while the 'big' kids are still in school.

 

[shelbean91]

Well, I signed up for the wait list at her new place- hopefully it's just a CYA thing and 'non compete' clause or something. But GOOD NEWS either way- I asked at the place where we have music therapy and the timing was JUST RIGHT b/c they have a brand new therapist, just hired, with openings EXACTLY where they fit into our schedule!! YAY! Also, they can do an eval for PT and do that as well. WA- HOO!

Of course, if I can get in with our current therapist, I'll probably choose to see her, even though it's a further drive.

 

[shelbean91]

I got a call yesterday- the new place opens 8/6 and we can get in for OT, PT, MT (music), and ST! We can only have 1 hr of speech b/c they only have 1 therapist at this time. The only condition is that my MIL (who is our trained hab/respite provider) must get hired through the same company instead of the company she's currently going through. The reason for this is they believe in the 'whole child- takes a village sort of thing. Which is FINE. IT's easier to have everything in one place. Her pay will be the same (it's regulated by the state) and she'll be able to get BENEFITS and paid time off.

It's a bit further from the house, but I've got it set up on 2 days instead of 5. We'll be going M and Tu from 12-2.

The only bad thing about this is we have to change music therapists- and the guy we've been seeing for over 2 years is GREAT. Changing OT isn't too bad, we've been seeing her for about a year and I really seem to not be too impressed w/the other ST we have been seeing for a couple of sessions. We just started w/a PT and have only seen her 2x.

 

[Jennifer3141]

Hooray Michelle! It looks like it's all going to come together for you after all.

 

[sbgrace]

That sounds terrific!!! Yay!

 

[shelbean91]

I took a tour of the place today and it's GREAT. Everything will be on the computer, so all the therapists have access to what the others are doing. They have 2 way glass on a couple of the rooms and web cams in other rooms. LOTS of space, great waiting room (the places we currently are impossible to sit inside and wait comfortably) with toys, doors (keypad locked) to the back so I don't have to worry about ds2 trying to crash the party. I'm really impressed and very excited.

 

[USAmma]

yeah!!

 

[MillingNome]

Yahoo- It looks like it's all working out