Kimberly, Pardon me for butting in.  Do you live in America?  There is this
thing called the IDEA and it's not if the therapist's are interested in
self-help skills.  Your child needs them to access his school environment
(lunch room, rest room, etc)  you bet ya you can get this as an IEP goal.
The goals can be small but, they can be part of the IEP, don't let them talk
you out of it.

beth t the OT

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Kimberlee Ames
Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2002 1:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Living On Own


Dear Pam,

I was very interested in your response to Kathy Jo's request, and I hope you
don't mind me asking, but I would really like to know who helped you with
learning how to do the things that you are able to do.  Did a therapist
teach
you, or your parents?  I know this sounds like an odd question, but I have a
4 year old, and he has severe spastic quad CP/dystonia, and I would like to
help him be as functional as possible.  He cannot currently feed himself,
transfer himself, etc.  The school therapists don't seem that interested in
teaching him self-help skills, and I was wondering if I should try and
locate
an outside therapist who can start working with him on that.  He is very
motivated, just limited physically.  We are currently working on finding
ways
for him to communicate with assistive technology also.  Thanks for your
help.

Kimberlee, mom to Stefan (4) and Alex (9)