speech therapy

[luckymom]

What is the name of your state? TX

The learning specialist at my daughter's school recommended she recieve speech therapy, because she has problems with specific sounds that make her speech somewhat difficult to understand. The school does not offer therapy in house so she has been going to a private therapist. 60% of the cost is covered by insurance, but ex refuses to pay his 50% of the remainder saying this isn't a medical expense. The therapist also recommended that he find a therapist in his town to work with my daughter during the summer (she's there for 8 weeks), ex refuses to do this. I asked him if I found the therapist (not easy since I live in another state), would he take her? His answer was "no."

What recourse do I have legally?

 

[krispenstpeter]

HOW does your court order for support read WORD FOR WORD regarding the payment of medical expenses?

 

[luckymom]

It says we split the cost of all out of pocket medical and dental expenses.

 

[krispenstpeter]

No it does not.

Now, if you can't read then I'm done with you.

 

[nextwife]

Your child, if they have special needs, SHOULD be entitled to recieve such therapies through your school district. Have you obtained an IEP? If that school does not have the district's speech therapist there, they should be able to make arrangements to share the therapist with whichever school houses the speech therapist. Read up on special ed advocacy. Even if your child is in private school, the public district should be able to provide their therapist to you, but you must provide transport top them. Do some further research. How old is the child? Has audiology testing been done to eliminate any hearing issues as a contributing cause?

 

[luckymom]

My child goes to a private school.

 

[stealth2]

Your recourse is to have a medical professional (i.e. her regular doctor) recommend speech therapy. That would make it a medical expense.

 

[luckymom]

to krist....

Obviously, I am paraphrasing, since I don't have time to haul out my order and type it verbatim. I have a life and job. Maybe you don't. In any case, feel free not to answer.

 

[stealth2]

Re: to krist....

Obviously, I am paraphrasing, since I don't have time to haul out my order and type it verbatim. I have a life and job. Maybe you don't. In any case, feel free not to answer.

Except your interpretation may or may not be correct. There's no way to know w/o the actual wording.

 

[krispenstpeter]

Obviously, I am paraphrasing, since I don't have time to haul out my order and type it verbatim. I have a life and job. Maybe you don't. In any case, feel free not to answer.

Which means to me that this issue isn't that important to you. Poor damn child.

 

[luckymom]

to stealth

Actually, I've done that. Her pediatrican recommended the speech pathologist who did the evaluation and recommended therapy. Her hearing is fine now, but she may have had problems early on because of significant issues with ear infections as an infant and toddler. At least that is the pathologist's opinion.

As for utilizing the public school system, it is difficult to do that because we have to work around their primary clientile's schedule. (I checked) It would mean significantly disrupting both my work schedule and my daughter's school day. The private therapist can work during after school hours and meet my daughter at her school.

 

[luckymom]

to krist...

I have taken my daughter to her pediatrician, to a speech pathologist, and have arranged therapy. I have currently paid $1200 upfront (while awaiting reimbursal from insurance company and ex.) And you imply I am bad mom, because I don't feel the need to quote my decree verbatim to some anonymous guy on the internet. Screw you.

 

[Tinaa]

Something is missing. If a therapist/diagnostition at your child 's school had recommended speech therapy, then you must have attended an Admissal, Review or Dismissal (ARD) meeting to admit your child into Special Education. You would have received an ARD packet explaining your rights, which include the right for your child to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), which includes special ed services. During this meeting, the speech therapist, diagnostition, teacher, counselor, etc. would have set up a plan called the Individual Education Plan (IEP) that outlines what needed and how the school plans to provide it. The IEP tells you how often the service is required, length of session, how the classroom teacher can help, parental involvement, etc. Federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) spell out your rights. Both my children were in speech in Texas public schools and I teach in a very low income area Texas school. These services are free. If the child's speech is so badthat the child must have sevices over the summer, the ARD committee can recommend Extended School Year (ESY) services over the summer. Again for free. What is really going on?

 

[Tinaa]

I missed a lot while I was away typing. If the service can be provided free through the school, why should you ex pay? You are the one insisting it be on your schedule.

 

[Grace_Adler]

Well, I can understand the part about it conflicting with your work schedule. There are very few employers who will make exceptions. I can tell you right now, you aren't going to find many people around here who will put up with it. They will tell you to choose between your personal life and your job. That's just the way it is. Many employers hate to even hire people with children. I had several employers ask me if I had children and what I would do if they got sick, like did I have someone to watch them. Of course the answer is no. Do you think I got hired? Nope. So I'm sure there are plenty of people who have a good paying job with benefits that they don't want to lose because that is what puts food on the table and a roof over their heads. It would probably be really difficult to find another job especially one who would overlook or accomodate a disruption in the work day. No one wants someone around who is going to have to take off from work. So, of course it has to be around your schedule. If your employer tells you, well if you have to take off take a hike.. are you supposed to quit your job? It would be nearly impossible for you to find another job that would work around that schedule. Then if you quit, you would be ripped into for that as well. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. JMHO

Is there anyway your employer would understand you taking off and work with you?

As far as it disrupting the school day well, that is what happens in special ed but it is only for like 30 minutes a day right for maybe 1 or 2 days a week in some cases? It is here anyway. Is the school close enough to the public school that you can take her back for the remainder of the day? I mean it really isn't going to be that bad to take her out of class for that short period of time and it will really help her in her class anyway in the end as far as reading and phonics go. You'll see a huge improvement.

Now as far as the wording of the court order. It's not that anyone is trying to get into your business but in order for anyone to give you an accurate answer, we need to know the exact wording of what it says, not paraphrasing. You'd be surprised at how many people think they know or understand what their court order says when in fact, they may be misinterpreting it. It was not meant as an insult to ask or to get up in your business, it is actually to help you. Any attorney would ask the same. Most attorneys won't even give you an answer if they can't read the court order for themselves to decipher it. So it really is in your best interest to put down what it says word for word to get a more helpful answer. I can't stress that enough.

Not trying to step on anyone's toes on this thread. JMHO