tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690082237623994514.post5659900039375823201..comments2023-08-01T05:49:15.783-07:00Comments on Navigating the Stormy Seas: An angel named Rose and a community of KindnessDovi's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11832969333062206405noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690082237623994514.post-41229579367427633742012-11-27T17:40:51.489-08:002012-11-27T17:40:51.489-08:00I fully understood Naomi's and TABAC's con...I fully understood Naomi's and TABAC's concerns, and I was always present during the short half hour sessions of the OT and Speech. However, this was extremely impractical for a daily 2-3 hour therapy session. I was especially irked since the original setup had supposed to be twice a week at the center and twice a week at home. Dovi basically had a center-like setup in my house: 2-3 hours of ABA,1/2 hour of speech and 1/2 hour of OT. That meant I HAD to be stuck in the house every single day for four hours. It was very difficult. So this was a lifesaver.Dovi's Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11832969333062206405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690082237623994514.post-59512079880875283512012-11-27T16:34:44.644-08:002012-11-27T16:34:44.644-08:00As a parent of children who had therapy through EI...As a parent of children who had therapy through EI myself, I understand that the rule of an adult always being on site can be very annoying. However, as a Speech Therapist as well, I must tell you that the rule is a very important one and one I strictly enforce with my own clients.<br /><br />It is very scary as a therapist to be working with a child when the parent is not around. What if something happens to the child? Am I the one who has to bear the responsibility of making an emergency decision - one that can potentially cause me legal problems if the parents end up suing because they didn't like my decision? I know that this is not a very common occurrence - after all, emergencies are not too frequent B"H, however even for the small likelihood that something might happen I will not risk my entire career. <br />There are also issues a lot smaller, but way more frequent, that arise when I am the only adult around. Firstly, some parents are not the most responsible and won't always pick up their child on time. They can have the most valid of excuses, but meanwhile I am stuck with your kid until you arrive (you don't want me leaving your child alone obviously). This often causes me to be late to my next client, which has a snowball effect on my entire day, as I typically have a tight schedule with clients scheduled back to back. <br /><br />Another issue is toileting. I don't know if Dovi is trained or not, but either way - I don't want to be the one taking your child to the bathroom and I certainly don't want to be changing a 4-year-old's diaper. Those are the duties of a mother and not the speech therapist. As cute and charming your child is, and as loving and caring as I might be, toileting is a line I will not cross. <br /><br />It is also for my own protection that I insist on having an adult nearby. In today's day and age children can (and do) make false accusations about their teacher/therapist taht are believed. I know of cases where the child's accusation was believed over the clinician's word and the clinician lost her job and the possibility of any future jobs. If a parent or teacher is around and present for my session, a child can't falsely accuse me of something that didn't happen. So having you around is something I need to protect my back. (I know that this is not such a concern with a non-verbal child, but the rule has to be the same across the board.) <br /><br />I hope my explanations have helped to give you some perspective so that you don't view it as some stupid rule that they are implementing just to make your life more difficult. At the end of the day, the therapists are therapists - not babysitters. It's the parent's responsibility to either watch their child, or pay a babysitter or school to watch their child. But therapy is not babysitting. <br />(Btw, I am glad for your sake that Naomi approved of the setup in the basement apartment, using the owner of the home as the 'adult on premises'. Unless that adult is ALWAYS home for the sessions, is easily accessible to the therapist and aware of what is happening downstairs, AND is willing to take full responsibility for your child's diapers, emergency decisions, etc. the setup would not have been OK with me. Speech-Pathnoreply@blogger.com