6 Month EI Eligibility (or Lack Thereof)

[judecorp]

Punk had her 6-month re-evaluation for Early Intervention, and as I suspected two months ago when they scheduled the appointment, they pushed her out of the program. I say "pushed" because technically, and by technically I mean according to the actual operating standards of EI in Massachusetts, a child who qualifies based on diagnosis rather than delay is eligible for an entire year of services. And she did, six months ago, qualify based on a diagnosis of abnormal muscle tone.

I also think they did some wonky scoring with the gross motor part of the evaluation because they scored her at 12 months, but when she was evaluated at my job during our training inservice she scored 11 months. She has not developed any new gross motor skills between now and then and since I was heading up that training and I am pretty much known for being a hard ass I feel like it was pretty accurate. I'm trying to mentally go through the evaluation and see where they could have passed her. It was amazing to see someone else interpret (wrongly) the test items. For example, there is one that says, "Standing: Throws ball with some cast" and basically is looking to see if the child is sturdy enough in standing to throw a ball with an overhead motion. So PT asks me if she can throw a ball and I am quick to say, "Yes, but not in standing, because she cannot stand." And she tells me it counts if she is standing against a sofa or table and I'm all OH HELL NO because umm, clearly it says "STANDING" and it comes after the test items like "Stands unassisted," and "Takes steps unassisted," and "Walks well (starts, stops, turns)." Seriously, people, you should not mess with my ridiculous knowledge of EI eligibility.

But whatever, I pretty much hate them anyway, so after they told me that my daughter wasn't eligible anymore (but oh, she is), I said, "That's good, I knew you were going to push her out anyway. You didn't want to come see her last month, either, and that's fine. I will keep my eye on her and if I am still concerned in a couple of months, I'll call a program in Springfield and start up again." And the director is all, "Why Springfield?" and I start by talking about how Punk is in a new child care in Springfield so it would make more sense and made sure to tack on 'and we don't really agree on how things are done anyway.' AND I HATE YOU.

She was totally not performing today and the house was full of contractors and plumbers and natural gas guys and electricians but even still she is a genius and way too cute for their stinking program anyway. And the stupid PT was going on about her progress when she is basically doing the same things she was doing at 11 months. So eff them.

Yes, I know she will walk someday. I am completely confident of this and have no real worries that she won't. But I don't understand why they are so reluctant to work with her. I mean, the whole reason I pursued this EI business 6 months ago was because she had the funky tone and wasn't delayed then and I wanted to make sure it stayed that way. But guess what, now she's delayed. Turds.

I am a 898983478934789374289 times better worker than they are. Argh.

Comments

[marlatiara.livejournal.com]

Jerks!

Here in Georgia, once you qualify, you qualify until you are three. And then the schools take over.

So score one for Georgia. I'm going to get fucked over for health insurance (as will Roo someday) in this state, but hey, we get EI. Or something. *sigh*

[sarahaubry.livejournal.com]

those fuckers. i would be all over thier asses....as in writing to the local paper, 6 on your side, or the endorsers of the company.

[indigodove.livejournal.com]

Sheesh, that's terrible! I'm glad she has you, though.

[mayna.livejournal.com]

man, sounds like they're lazy. can I go beat them up for you?