One thing that drives me nuts is all the appointments with professionals where the disabled person is expected to show up at the office of the therapist or other medical professional. Quite often there is also a long wait - usually with nothing appropriate to do.
How come so many professional that work with the disabled haven't realized that it is often a major task for a disabled person to travel?
And quite often, the disabled person has an escort - so two people's lives are being disrupted. And, when the escort is a parent, each appointment usually means a loss opportunity for family income as well.
How come the able bodied person isn't the person who does the traveling to meet the disabled person in their own environment?
If the meeting really is necessary, then surely it would also be useful for the therapist or other professional to see the real environment that the disabled person is dealing with?
For example, wouldn't it be useful for a physiotherapist to see the layout of a home or school and be able to make better informed recommendations for equipment?
Wouldn't it be better for a school to provide a room for speech therapists to come into the school and assist students who need help on site? Then teachers could get first hand feedback on how to help too.
Comments for
Why not meet disabled at home or school?
On site appointments for the disabled are a great idea! by: Anonymous
How true!
Coping with disability can be hard enough. Do we really need the disability support folks making life even harder?
I totally like the idea of having a speech therapist show up at school! That makes so much sense.
And you're right about physiotherapists too.
In fact, the people who design wheelchairs, walkers or other special needs equipment should be spending a lot more time in old schools and small homes so they could come up with better designs.
Are appointments to just check in really necessary? by: Anonymous
I agree with this rant too.
Every six months, we're asked to show up for an appointment with a nutritionist, or a pediatrician, just to check in. They measure weight and height, and ask if there are any problems. We're out of there in 20 minutes, tops.
Couldn't someone in the doctor's office just call us at home and just ASK US what my child's weight and height is? !!!
And if they just ASK, we'll tell them if there are any problems too.
Please, please don't waste my time. We've got other things to do. Really.
Who's the real winner? by: Anonymous
My child is 'monitored' by several people who specialize in disability.
The appointments feel like a huge waste of time and are a lot of trouble to actually get to. Not only does it take up my time, but it costs me money.
Every time I have to leave my job for one of these appointments, I don't get paid. And I've got to pay for gas and parking too.
The doctors and staff are making money though.
You'd think that the HMO's and insurance companies would have something to say about it.
From an OT by: Linda
Hi,
I can see people are frustrated with the "system" Unfortunatly, I think both sides (clients and professionals)are frustrated.
There are services where OT, SLP, PT, and others do go to the home. In the US, schools usually have their own professionals on staff. My frustration as a home service OT was that going to a home on a regular basis limits the number of people I can see and help. I cannot carry all my supplies and tools with me. Sometimes the client isn't home when you get there or isn't ready (still in bed, etc). One client is here and the next client is 20 miles away. My costs go up because I'm using my car, gas, etc. Should I charge more? The agency doesn't reimburse all the costs.
Most professionals (I'm speaking as an OT) do not make that much money and the paperwork is enormous. I often did my paperwork at home at night when I would like to see my family. I still have a huge student loan, I am limited by the hours in a day,financial needs, insurance requirements, legal requirements, and more. I would love to work and not worry about time or money!! We are on your side! I wish there was a good solution for all of us.
Hugs
