Speech therapy for special needs kids

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Forum -> Inquiries & Offers -> Lakewood, Toms River & Jackson related Inquiries

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amother

Wed, Jul 08 2020, 1:40 pm

I'm a speech therapist and specialize in working with kids with special needs, especially kids who are nonverbal or don't have much speech and use AAC devices to communicate. I live OOT and most of my clients aren't Jewish. I would love to work with more Jewish families and help kids within our community with my skills and expertise. I'm not a typical SLP, I'm a specialist, and my kids usually make great progress b"H. How could I go about getting teletherapy (Zoom) clients in Lakewood? What social media or print resources do Lakewood families look at that I could advertise in?

I don't accept insurance so would also love information about how families cover out-of-pocket therapy expenses in NJ. Where I live, the board of DD provides some funds, and I help my families get additional funding from various nonprofits. My families also use flexible spending accounts etc.

Thanks so much for any advice you can give!

(I'm posting anonymously because I don't want my SILs figuring out who I am.)

amother

Wheat

Wed, Jul 08 2020, 1:45 pm

Working with special needs is hard enough. How will you do it over zoom?
There are so many great speech therapists here I don’t see anyone paying out of pocket for zoom.

Speaking as a special needs parent in Lakewood.

amother

Wheat

Wed, Jul 08 2020, 1:46 pm

Also there are no funds given for extra therapies here. It’s either covered or out of network or private pay.

amother

Wed, Jul 08 2020, 2:12 pm

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. Do you happen to know which SLPs in Lakewood specialize in working with nonverbal kids who use devices to communicate? Thanks!

amother

Cerise

Wed, Jul 08 2020, 2:14 pm

As a mother of a special needs child who uses augmentative communication I concur with Wheat; I can't see a parent paying for zoom therapy. DC's school sent tablets to do zoom therapy during the COVID shutdown and it was not easy. This was with wonderful therapists with whom dc had an in-person connection from before. Additionally, I needed to be involved throughout to help my (severely physically disabled) dc implement what the therapist instructed.

In terms of payment, in NJ there is the Catastrophic Illness in Children Fund which may reimburse (usually after at least a year) uncovered medical costs for children who qualify. We have used it to help cover additional therapy but it was with an OT whom we new well and saw her effectiveness. She helped us apply (knew what to write, how to fill out the extensive paperwork) and actually waited to be paid by them.

amother

Wed, Jul 08 2020, 2:26 pm

Okay, thanks, that's good to know. Wow, a year is a long time to wait for payment!

I've been doing teletherapy since our schools shut down back in March, and to be effective with this population you definitely need a parent right there, actively involved in facilitating the session. At first I thought it wouldn't be effective, but I've been happily surprised by how great it's been going. Zoom sessions aren't for everyone - some of my families are opting to put therapy on hold until in-person sessions resume - but for the families that have the time and want to be actively involved in sessions, it's been really great because they see exactly what we're doing and coaching occurs throughout the session rather than in little pieces at the end. In some ways it's been more effective than regular therapy sessions because of the heavy parent involvement, which carries over into the week with whatever home carryover activities I assign. Definitely not for everyone though! I know how stressed and busy people are - corona has been really hard.

amother

Navy

Wed, Jul 08 2020, 2:32 pm

Do you have a way I can message you?
My colleague specializes in AVT therapy and does everything over the computer, even before COVID was around. You should for sure connect with her and maybe get tips.
I know she utilizes AAC devices as well.

amother

Wed, Jul 08 2020, 2:48 pm

Quote:

Do you have a way I can message you?

Okay, I set up an email for this: aacslp2020@gmail.com.

Thank you so much! Really appreciate it.

amother

Aquamarine

Thu, Jul 09 2020, 12:37 am

As a staff member who works in Lakewood, with children who are nonverbal and use augmentative devices, I can tell you that most of my students' parents won't be using you. Sorry for putting it bluntly. But I work with SLPs who also specialize in working with this population. I can't see anyone paying way extra money to work with someone they never met, online, etc.

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