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General
Assistive Technology & Augmentative/Alternative Communication
Occupational Therapy
How do we get started?Call (310) 295-1024 or email our office to discuss the options for an assessment or consultation. How do I get services funded?There are several different ways that services are funded, depending on the age of the person receiving services, their needs, and the type and scope of the desired services. We are service providers with the Regional Center and can provide services to people who qualify for that program. Sometimes school districts can fund services for school-aged children who have educationally-related needs. Believe Ability, Inc. is a Non-public Agency (NPA) certified by the California Department of Education. As of August 2007 our vendorization with Department of Rehabilitation is pending approval. We also contract with other government agencies. At this time Believe Ability, Inc. does not accept assignment of benefits by third-party payers, i.e. insurance plan(s). However you can submit our invoices to your health insurance company for reimbursement. We have some additional insurance information that should help with filing a claim. We can assist in this process by providing information, additional documentation, and/or advice. Where are the services provided?We provide services throught out Southern California in the home, school or community setting. We believe that working with people in their typical environment is superior to having clients come to a specialized facility. We have found that working in these "natural" environments allows us to more accurately evaluate a client's abilities and their support systems (people and resources). We believe working in the home and community settings enhances communication and collaboration between our staff, the individual, his/her family, and support people. And lastly, that it improves carry-over of the client's new abilities to their real life settings. Do I or does my child need a diagnosis?At Believe Ability, Inc. a client does not have to have a diagnosis or an identified disability in order to receive and to benefit from any of our services. However a diagnosis often is needed or helpful in getting services paid for by outside funding sources. What is Assistive Technology?Assistive Technology is any tool allowing individuals with disabilities to use their own unique abilities to reach their goals. Assistive Technology is defined as technological tools (lite tech to high tech, computers and communication devices) used to access education, employment, home, recreation or communication opportunities, to enable a person to live as independently as possible.
How do I know if my child or I need Assistive Technology?Assistive Technology gives children and adults the means to compensate for a disability allowing them to demonstrate their full knowledge, ability, or skill in a particular area. People who benefit from assistive technology may have mild learning disabilities, autism, or they may have physical or cognitive disabilities that range from mild to severe. How does Assistive Technology help someone with a disability to compensate?Technology can be a powerful “equalizer” for people with disabilities, allowing them to “get around” a limitation in any number of areas. Here are some examples of how technology enables people to compensate:
Am I or is my child too young/old for Assistive Technology?It is never too soon or too late to consider using Assistive Technology. The early years in a child’s life are a critical time for learning and exploring. Here are some suggestions for when to evaluate an individual for assistive technology:
What does an Assistive Technology assessment include?A good AT assessment has many components. Believe Ability, Inc. uses client, student, and family-centered assessments. Our functional approach allows the individual opportunities to try a variety of technology to see what works. We also engage in a dialogue, with the client and the team members, in which we facilitate, rather than direct, the process to ensure the best outcome.
What is AAC?Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems involve the use of personalized methods or devices to aid a person’s ability to communicate. There are many types and methods of AAC and most individuals use a combination of systems/devices depending on their needs. How long does an Assistive Technology or AAC assessment take?Assistive Technology and AAC assessments are extremely personalized to the needs and wishes of the client. Assessments vary from a one-hour long consultation with a person who has a specific need to an eight-hour long assessment for an individual with complex issues. Turn around time for the report is four weeks, on average. What happens after the Assistive Technology or AAC assessment?If the assessment process has shown that a child or adult can benefit from Assistive Technology or AAC and the type of technology recommended in the report is purchased, then training begins. Training the client or student to use the technology may require one session or several sessions and the involvement of parents, teachers, aides, or other professionals is often needed. Training sessions usually last from 1-2 hours. What happens if we have a problem later, after the training? What if our needs change?It is our intention that the training provides all the information that a child or adult needs to use their technology independently and successfully, however it is not uncommon for additional issues or complications to arise. Believe Ability, Inc. is available for on-going consultation over the phone or in-person, as the client’s needs change. We also provide technical troubleshooting ourselves or we can refer the client directly to the product’s vendor, who may provide troubleshooting free of charge. Believe Ability, Inc. may need to charge for these additional services, depending on the scope or the situation. Ideally, technology recommendations are updated or revisited on a periodic basis as technology improves and client’s needs change. What is Occupational Therapy? What does a Pediatric Occupational Therapist help with?Occupational therapists view “occupation” in the broadest meaning of the word, as a “purposeful activity”. As adults, besides paid work, we engage in a myriad of “occupations” everyday. Cooking, typing, making a bed, brushing our teeth, driving, reading a book—are all occupations. An infant’s occupations include rolling, sitting, crawling, and eating. Children’s occupations include play, social interactions, school participation, and self care activities. Your child or infant may benefit from intervention with a pediatric occupational therapists if he/she has:
How do I know if my child needs Occupational Therapy?If your child exhibits one or more of the difficulties listed above they may benefit from Occupational Therapy. A comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment is conducted with the child and the parents to identify the child’s areas of skill and areas of need. This assessment helps determine if the child would benefit from therapy and prioritize areas of weakness that would be addressed during intervention. What is a sensory processing disorder (also known as sensory integration dysfunction)?Sensory processing, or sensory integration, is the neurological process by which children (and adults) take in sensory information, make sense of it, and use it during daily activities. Sensory integration theory and treatment were originially developed by Dr. A. Jean Ayres, researcher and occupational therapist. “Sensory information” refers to our 5 Here are some characteristics of children with sensory integration dysfunction:
What does an Occupational Therapy assessment include?At Believe Ability, Inc. an Occupational Therapy assessment typically has several components including:
How long does an Occupational Therapy assessment take?Assessments are, on average, two hours in length. About an hour and a half is spent with therapist working one-on-one with the child. Afterward the Occupational Therapist discusses initial impressions with the parent and answers questions for about a half hour. Written reports are completed and sent to parents about 4 weeks after the date of the assessment. At any point in time during the process parents can contact our office if they have questions. What happens after the Occupational Therapy assessment?After the assessment is complete and the decision is made to move forward with therapy you can contact our office to schedule your child’s therapy time. Children are scheduled on a space available basis. How long does an Occupational Therapy session last?Individual sessions are typically 50 minutes in length with about 5 minutes afterward for us to discuss your child’s progress. Sessions occur 1-2 times per week, depending on the results of the assessment. How long will my child receive services?Duration of services varies greatly between children from a few months to a few years. On average, Believe Ability Occupational Therapy staff work with children from 6-12 months. |
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