IEPs and Special Services

[pocahontas]

If we try to play "wheelbarrow" with her, she can't hold her body up with her arms and falls. I see these strength problems in her arms and hands all the time! She can't zip, snap, or button at all, either.

Scooter, your DD sounds like my DS who is a year younger than she is. We currently have an IFSP through Infants and Toddlers (what EI is called in my state) and at his transition meeting last October (the one that happens 6 weeks before his 3rd birthday where they try to encourage us to send him to pre-school) they told us that he would qualify to receive OT, PT and ST in school. The caveat was, however, he had to get an IEP to go to preschool and we just weren't ready to go that route at age 3. So we declined their preschool. DS was also diagnosed with hypotonia and he had a tough time the few times we tried to play 'wheelbarrow" even though that was on his PT's list of exercises to do with him. We haven't forced the issue although I do want to try it with him again. DS also can't snap or button. He can unzip his coat but he can only zip it up if someone gets it started for him at the bottom. So I completely can relate. IMHO, EI's OT services just weren't enough (only twice a month for a kid who tested at 18 months when he was chronologically 32 months). So my husband looked into private OT and we found a great one who he has been seeing since July and now he can draw lines, circles, cut paper, rip paper, etc. So I say all that to say...I would definitely pursue an evaluation for your DD and I don't think you are being paranoid at all. For a kid with hypotonia I think it can only be beneficial.

Side note...I am totally with you on Kaiser. I hate them...had them for like 8 years and was beyond happy to switch to BCBS just before DH and I got married. I can't imagine what a lack of progress DS would have made if we still had them.