[tri-med] Caroline's PT update

I have been complaining for a while about Caroline's PT.  She is SO
incredibly nice, but I just didn't think she was doing a great job.  We had
been also taking Caroline to Shriners for AFOs, wheelchair, stander, and for
her scoliosis.  We talked to the doctor there and they recommended a PT
evaluation with their therapists.  We finally, after 4 rescheduled appts,
were able to do that yesterday.  HOLY COW is all I can say.
I am actually almost sick at how much better their PTs are compared to her
early intervention PT.  They spent a while just looking at how she is
positioned in her wheelchair (her EI PT has never even heard of the Kid Kart
and never looked at how she sits in it).  They worked on stretching for a
while, recording exactly what her % of range of motion is in every aspect
(her EI PT has NEVER done any stretching whatsoever!).  They talked to me
about how exactly your spine strength develops and gave me NUMEROUS ideas on
ways to increase her strength.  Caroline sits propped on her hands fairly
well, but she is very hunched over.  She also scootches her butt out when
sitting in her wheelchair.  They advised me that she needs to increase her
lower back strength and were so creative in finding ways to do that.  They
gave me at least 10 new ideas on ways to work with her JUST in regards to
strengthening her back.  I learned more during this hour than I have during
the last 2 1/2 years with her EI therapists.  Sad.

I am going to be taking her to Shriners every other week from now on.
Unfortunately, they are about an hour away from us, so it is not convenient,
but I HAVE to do this for Caroline.  I am just sick I didn't start this long
ago.

So, my question is whether I should also keep the EI PT or just discontinue
services.  She has been basically doing the same exact things with Caroline
for 2 1/2 years.  On one hand, I feel like I could just tell and show her
what Shriners is doing, on the other hand, that should be HER job!  I
shouldn't be instructing her on how to work with Caroline.  She doesn't seem
to be offering me anything, other than the fact that she does make sure
Caroline gets a hour devoted to some type of PT each week.  I just feel like
I don't need her in my house a hr a week and I am really getting annoyed at
how little she has done.

Another thing that really irks me is how many parents who just accept EI
therapists not realizing how much they are missing out on!  It is really
scary!  I wish there was a way I could get the word out, but not sure how
you would do this.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation?

Thanks!
--
Irene
Christina (4), Caroline (2 with partial trisomy 17p) and Kallie (born
6/23/05)
Caroline's site:  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carolinesmith

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

Other related posts: