talk to me about EI

Does anyone have any experience with EI - specifically OT for sensory issues with Nassau County

I guess a few questions I have are:
How do i get the process started?
How long did it take from when you made initial contact til you were able to get the evaluation scheduled? (should I jump on this now or wait until November as my daycare suggested?)
Did your little one qualify for it when evaluated
do you find it useful?
how did you know your child had sensory issues?

Message edited 9/23/2016 9:44:27 AM.

Re: talk to me about EI

I got the number from my pediatrician

Called and wanna say they were a t my house within 2 weeks

I wouldn't wait. Always better to get he ball rolling

Yes my son qualified for Ot and speech

It is(he still gets) beyond useful. He has done a 180. These therapists are amazing

My son is what you call a sensory seeker. I knew he was a sensory kid when he loved things other kids feared lol

Loud noises. Banging his body into the couch. Leaping off furniture He is non stop motion 24 hrs a day. Beyond typical
Toddler craziness

He also hates hates anything drawing/writing relates so it helps with that

There is different kinds of being a sensory kid (could be he exact opposite of what I described)

There is a great book,the out of sync child

Re: talk to me about EI

Exactly what the PP said... the sooner you call the sooner you get the process rolling. I live in NJ, but everything takes time. Set an apt for them to come and test your LO to see if they qualify. If they do then you get a therapist assigned, but of course there's a lot more that goes into it.

My oldest DS qualified at 1 1/2 and still gets it at 7 at school. It made a HUGE difference in his life. He's the opposite of the PP's son. My DS would fear the unknown like talking stuffed animals, dolls, wasn't good with change, had low muscle tone and needed feeding therapy.

Now he eats so much, doesn't freak out with stuffed animals. He actually loves them and we laugh with him how he used to be. He works on writing and other sensory issues when he goes to OT.

Good luck

Re: talk to me about EI

hello i will ask my mom she works for the county in that department. assuming you mean through the county?

Re: talk to me about EI

Message edited 9/23/2016 12:53:17 PM.

talk to me about EI

I'm in Suffolk, but the process should be close to the same. You call and go in to fill out paperwork and select and evaluating agency.
They come and evaluate and then you meet again with the county to determine service. Then service should begin with 2-3 weeks.
All in all should take less than 60 days.

They use ages for determining service. So if you are close to a milestone age (think every 3 months) I would call sooner than later. That way if they are close to the milestone age and not meeting a goal it may make it easier to qualify. Hope that made sense.

I would never wait if I suspected something was wrong. The sooner everything starts the better.

It's tough with sensory kids. Mine is like Gina409. In constant motion. When we read a book, it's read a page, bounce off all the walls and jump on the couch 4 times, read another page, repeat. It is exhausting.
How old is your child? Do you have a small ball pit or trampoline? Someone suggested getting a yoga ball for my son.

talk to me about EI

thanks for the replies!

My son is 2 years, 4 months old. Hes always been very active (so I would say similar to Gina409 and jamnmore) which is the reason my daycare is suggesting the evaluation.

i had some concerns with some of his behaviors previously but the pediatrician said they were normal at all appts (and i really like my ped and dont feel like he is the dismissive type).
Some of his behaviors were/are:
not liking certain clothing (he outgrew that though)
he will only use one type of sippy cup and it has to be blue, got new ones that were green and the threw them and refused to drink (but will drink from water bottles and non-sippy cups)
he occasionally will hit himself in the head with whatever toy he is playing with (not in a hard/hurtful way - but he does it, says "bonk" and looks for a reaction from whoever is in the room with him)
daycare complains that he throws tantrums during diaper changes, kicking his feet (but we do not experience this at home at all)
he likes things to be in order (if i leave a bedroom door open he will tell me and close it for me)
he CAN sit still to read books, watch tv and play with toys

i called Nassau County a few mins ago; they took my info and and said someone would get back to me next week.

Message edited 9/23/2016 4:05:02 PM.

talk to me about EI

Between my 2 girls, my ped has on three occasions told me to hold off on evaluations or to do it but he didn't think they'd qualify and all three times they qualified! Like you I love my ped and don't think they're dismissive but I think in the limited amount of time they see them and not having specific experience that an ot or pt has they just don't see everything. Go with your gut since you're with them every day. Get the piece of mind from am expert in the area and if he can benefit from services you'll be so glad he gets them.

Re: talk to me about EI

it takes 5-7 days to get back to you to set up a meeting w/ the county worker (EI).
Once confirmed, it's paperwork and choosing agency, etc - whole thing should take no more than 45 days