Faith is closing in on her SIXTH birthday, in just a few weeks. I can't believe it! She was just a newborn baby, wasn't she? Six long years that, although they have gone by fast, many moments seem to be agonizingly slow! Surgeries, recoveries, development....etc, etc, etc. Today, Faith had a phsyc. eval for DDSN. In SC, when a child, like Faith, reaches age six, they have to leave the Early Intervention program and apply for entry into Service Coordination (lifetime eligibility). Changes are coming. No longer, will we have an E.I. come to our house to play with her, no more Christmas get togethers with other children in the EI program, no more close relationships with our service provider. When she gets accepted she will be assigned a service coordinator who will be in charge of her case but will only make contact once or twice a yr (or when we need something that they provide). Basically, we fall into the adult program. Even though she is only six! I think it's silly...they should provide services to these children for longer and/or a closer interaction with the service providers. I have seen, as she gets older, a falling through the cracks mentality with the system. At first, we were inundated with providers and therapies and the like but now at five, we never know what's going on in "the system", are almost totally isolated from other families like ours and we never hear about programs that we may qualify for unless it's by accident! But I digress....Faith is leaving the age of little children and babies and quickly becoming a school-age child (regardless that she isn't developmentally there, yet). Many changes, in the next year, are coming our way. I don't know if I am ready.....When did all this happen?
Faith and Gandalf, LAST Christmas....
7 comments:
Candace, you can make the most of the system. EI was there for you, too, to learn the ropes of parenting Faith. The learning isn't over but you can do it.
On the up side...it's amazing it lasts till the age of six...our EI program ends at age 3 :0( Grace "aged out" in July. It is very different...but like the above said..you have learned much and I'm sure, know how to advocate for her. ;0)
Change is always hard.
wow age out at 6 is great, here it is 3. love that photo
lol now that song is going to be stuck in my head all day! :)
Can I just say your pup is cute, and I love his name!
Barbara (same as above).
It's definitely three here as well and then they're off to preschool, which from what I understand isn't nearly as good.
Consider yourself LUCKY!
Our Early Intervention Program is Birth to Three - and then they go to Pre-school! The schools can't afford PT's...so they have one OT and a bunch of OT Assistant's.
Eli gets 30 minutes per week with a COTA. (Certified OT Asst.)
Also, Washington state is so broke, that even though Eli QUALIFIES for Department of Developmental Disabilities programs...there is no money so he can't get any help!
It really stinks here.
But, I must say, our area is blessed with a wonderful children's therapy center and Parent to Parent program....so we get LOTS of parent support programs to keep us going! Share info, and keep our kids involved with their peers! :)
Good luck.... :) I know it's a scary time for you...but your Mommy instincts will kick in and you'll find what your "baby" needs!
:)
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