Occupational Therapists
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Occupational and Speech Therapy in San Ramon area
Feb 2011
Hi,
My son is 20-month old and need help from occupational
therapist and speech therapist.
Does anyone have recommendation for a good occupational
therapist and speech therapist around San Ramon area?
Thanks
The Learning Fountain is located in San Ramon off of Crow Canyon. They
are a fabulous group of occupational therapists. I think they also
have a speech therapist who works with them. Another option for Speech
Therapy is the Speech Pathology Group in Concord or The School of
Imagination in Dublin. Good luck.
Anonymous
Private Pediatric OT/PT/Speech center?
Feb 2011
Is there a local pediatric therapy clinic that will accept insurances
(besides Alta Bates and Kaiser's clinics)? Does anyone know of one
in the Berkeley/Oakland area? Also, what should I expect to pay for
a therapy session if I don't use insurance? If you paid out of
pocket, was it worth it, in your opinion? Thanks.
Berkeley Mom
My son went to see Lindy Joffe at Full Circle Development Center in
Oakland - across the street from the DMV. There are 5 or 6 OT's that
work out of the office and they are of the highest caliber. My son went
for over a year and has benefited greatly. You can email me if you want
specifics. Disclaimer, my sister is one of the high quality therapists
in the office! You can google Full Circle to learn more. Good luck.
My daughter had physical therapy for multiple reasons. Part of it was
covered by insurance so we went to Children's Hospital and received
great care there with Shelly at the Pediatric Rehab department. I'm not
sure if they will take you out of insurance, but it was worth it for us.
We also had some help through the Regional Center of the East Bay and
they used Starfish Therapies http://www.starfishtherapies.com/index.html
who came to my daughter's daycare and worked with her there. I seem to
remember getting a ''bill'' that we didn't have to pay and it was either
$60 or $80 for the visit. If your child is under 3 and delayed the RCEB
can help you but it isn't instant and it can take some major phonecalls.
I think all of the help my daughter had early on was great and well
worth it. She was seen from 3m to 15m. I'm pretty sure Starfish
Therapies will take private patients.
Good luck!
Seeking a certified Occupational Therapist
March 2010
Hi, I am looking for a certified occupational therapist (to
evaluate my 8yr. old son) who uses the Sensory Integration
And Praxis Test, and accepts medi-cal, or has a low fee.
Thank You.
anon
You can search a list of California OTs who are certified to give the Sensory
Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) here:
http://portal.wpspublish.com/portal/page?
_pageid=53,83247&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
It costs a LOT of money to take the 4 courses required to become SIPT-
certified, and there are MANY excellent local OTs treating children with
sensory integration issues who do not have this certification. There are many
other methods that OTs use to assess sensory integration dysfunction, and
many other standardized tests out there that provide the same information
the SIPT does. What I mean is: you may find an OT who is excellent at
treating sensory issues, but does not have the certification to give the SIPT
testing. You say your son is 8 years old, and the SIPT is only standardized on
children up to 8 years 11 months, which is one of the huge limitations to the
test itself.
I don't know any private OTs who take Medi-Cal. You may ask your doctor
for a referral to someone, and then simply ask if they have experience
treating children with SI issues.
A Local Pediatric OT
Occupational therapist for handwriting?
June 2009
I am looking for an occupational therapist to evaluate my son's fine
motor skills and development. Handwriting has been a serious struggle
for three years and I'd like to learn if there is something else we
could be doing. This is the only issue we are concerned about at this
time. I hope to find someone who is good with kids and who is located
in Berkeley or Oakland.
Thanks
My son works with Gail Gordon in Orinda, for handwriting and other
OT issues. I highly recommend her. She is very adept at
identifying any issues, explains them thoroughly, and makes clear
recommendations for home and school. She has very creative,
integrated approaches to therapy, and works well with our school
team. Gail's number is 925-258-9935.
Cindy
There is a program called 'handwriting without tears'.
Here is a website link to their
workshops/locations:http://ws.hwtears.com/category/s
If this doesn't work, try the home page: http://www.hwtears.com/
Hope you will get good help.
I am an occupational therapist in Berkeley.
Handwriting is one of my areas of
expertise, as I have worked in the school system for several
years, and have a good understanding of what is required of
children at each grade level. I've seen lots of students have
success using the Handwriting Without Tears program, which makes
handwriting really fun to learn.
May 2009
My 4 year old is having trouble with impulse control and
aggression. He also has some sensory issues and poor fine motor
skills for his age. It has been recommended that he see an
occupational therapist and unfortunately Kaiser doesn't have one
(and probably wouldn't pay for it anyway). I have asked the
school district to evaluate him, but they cannot as he has no
verbal/language issues. So I am hoping for OT recommendations,
preferably inexpensive or who work on a sliding scale as we don't
have the money to spend on this at all and will have to scrounge
as it is. Thank you for your help.
Eh? Kaiser has a number of pediatric OTs. My 5-year-old
daughter got an evaluation and home therapy program for mild
fine motor issues not too long ago. If the person recommending
OT services to you is recommending them for something that
Kaiser OTs don't claim to do then that's different, but they
definitely have pedi OTs. You just need a referral from her
pedi for an evaluation and then they take it from there.
The school district should evaluate your son upon your written
request whether or not he has verbal/language issues. Impulse
control, aggression and fine motor delays will definitely impact
his ability to succeed in school. They have sixty days to
complete the evaluation upon receipt of a written request from
you. DREDF (Disability Rights Education Defense Fund)may be
able to help. They can be reached at: 800-348-4232.
My understanding is that Kaiser provides OT for rehab only.
Samuel Merritt College in Oakland offers free pediatric OT with
student clinicians:
http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/occupational_therapy/free_clinics.
Good luck - Jan
Please don't give up too soon on getting help through public
services. The school district might have pushed you away,
because at first sight your son might not qualify. Typically, if
a child won't qualify for cognitive or speech therapy, they will
be sent away.
However, please send a 'request for a comprehensive assessment'
in writing to the Special Education Director of your school
district. This will trigger a process within a set time line set
by law. List all the issues your son is dealing with, and how
they (might) interfere with his success in a regular classroom,
giving examples of current issues in his daily activities. If he
is ''is having trouble with impulse control and aggression. He
also has some sensory issues and poor fine motor
skills'', there is something going on, that probably should be
addressed, and he should get some help. Who suggested he should
get OT? Can those people give you a report that would
substantiate your case?
What the school district typically does, is an evaluation to
qualify for a so called IEP (individual education plan). Your
son might not qualify for this indeed, so I suggest, you also
ask for a 504 assessment. Your child would qualify if he had a
'disability', which could be physical or mental that limits him
from major life activities. Now 'disability' is a broad term and
includes learning disabilities, which may very well, what your
son is already experiencing, or would experience in school. The
key is, you have to be able to make a case about how your son
will not be able to follow a regular school curriculum without
intervention.
The school district is actually obligated to help you put this
in writing after your verbal request. Since they already
rejected you, you may not want to do this.
If this all overwhelms you, I suggest you call DREDF for help.
Hope you will get good help.
May 2009
Hi - we're considering Ellen Gordon for OT for mild motor planning delay. Would
love feedback about her or other OT specialist in the Oakland area.
Thank You
Ellen worked her magic on my daughter when she was little. Her heart
is H U G E and she is avery gentle and talented OT. I absolutely
recommend her.
V.
I highly recommend Ellen Gordon for Occupational Therapy. My preschool
son has been seeing her for a year and is getting ready to graduate.
Her loving attention and therapy has helped him learn how to process
stimulus calmly. She has supported him and me through some difficult
school behaviors and helped him greatly to gain control of his
responses. She worked with both the school and I to learn how to
understand and work with him to help everyone feel more positive. She
established a strong and caring relationship with him and has been
like a life coach as well as an OT. She works from her home and my son
feels like it is a second home. Her style is warm and caring rather
than high-tech or clinical.
Happy with our OT
April 2009
Could anyone out there recommend a great OT? My daughter has SID,
and so far I haven't found a good fit. She's a little shy and
hesitant to try new things - she thinks very hard before doing almost
anything. I'm hoping to find someone who is patient, perceptive, and
willing to adjust their pace to hers. Thanks so much!
mom of a cautious girl
Susan Campidonico (OT at Alta Bates Herrick) is perfect for your daughter -- she
specializes in Sensory integration issues of all kinds. She is incredinly kind,
perceptive, and encouraging. I sat in on my son's weekly visits with Susan, and
learned how to support what they were working on at home. My son made incredible
progress in 1 year with her. We would have stayed, but she said he was ''done.''
She was right! Blue Cross covers part of it.
mom of SID kid
My 8 year-old son has SID and works with a fantastic OT in Orinda. Her name is
Kristine Hubner, and she is a pediatric OT. She is very familiar with SID issues,
and my son has made great progress since working with her. Her website is
http://www.kidsmovingahead.com/ (925) 254-1137. I have also heard good things
about Nan Arkwright but do not have personal experience with her.
Susan Campodonico (Kam-poh-DAH-nik-oh)is great! She is at Herrick Hospital in
Berkeley. 510-204-5217
When to end Occupational Therapy?
Oct 2008
My question is when to end Occupational Therapy for my almost 5
year old son. I started him in OT about 5 months ago due to the
urging of his preschool teacher about concerns about how he held
his pencil and his lack of drawing ability and inability to
trace shapes. (Here's a square - then draw it on your own below
or next to it) He also has had some behavioral issues due to a
tendency to get overstimulated and out of control.
We are paying out of pocket and have been going once per week,
although I have reduced it to biweekly for the remainder - I
want to end at the end of the year.
I have mixed feelings as the OT person keeps saying he needs
more time. We have seen some improvement with his pencil and
drawing. He loves the OT but sometimes is too tired to focus at
the sessions.
I am torn about ending and here are the issues:
- Of course I want to help my son
- Don't want to throw away 6 months of time, energy money
- Don't want to expose him to unnecessary therapy
- Therapist has not written me notes or a report that I have
requested multiple times
- Therapist has not spoken with teacher as she said she would so
there could be continuity
- Sometimes I am not sure he needs it - perhaps natural
maturation would solve most issues
- Never got a formal ''diagnosis'' of anything - don't really want
one
- I know the therapist needs the client and is good with him -
why can't she give me a report? It's not her strong point but I
have made multiple requests...
Any advice for how to know when to quit?
Do other OTs provide reports?
This is causing me some grief, as I want to do the best thing
for my son.
''Flummoxed''
Your OT should have provided you with an initial evaluation that
listed any deficits in skills or areas of difficulty, with clear
objective goals to improve skills in this areas. As an OT, we
are under obligation to assess progress towards those goals and
to discontinue therapy if the pt has either met those goals or is
plateauing. Your request for the report is 100% valid, and I
would find another OT who can explain what your son is working on
in therapy and why.
- another OT
My son (age 2) has had two OT's so far - the first one always
wrote a report, even though I was right there the whole time.
The second one also writes reports - in fact, she seems to spend
more time writing the report during his session than she does
working with my son. So, to answer your question, yes, in my
experience, OT's write reports. I have heard that many OT's
don't like that part of the job.
jill
WOW. It sounds as if you're going through what our family is
going through right now (actually our OT went to our son's pre-
k, as a sort of intervention so he woudn't get kicked out).
My son spirals out-of-control when over stimulated and is prone
to hitting if frustrated etc... He has been seeing an OT once a
week for 8 months now and has made progress. Yes it's expensive
but what do you do??!! To get into and stay in a school you
have to take some sort of action, usually the schools suggested
route of action.
Like you, I often wonder if this 'progress' would have come
naturally with the maturation process. I am also under the
impression a 'formal' diagnosis cannot be made until a child is
at least 6 or 7. Your ignored verbal requests for an OT report
is cause for concern.
I have not requested my son's OT records yet because my OT
gives a thorough verbal playback of each session. She also
gives us a list of things to do at home. I can suggest an
excellent book titled ''Boys Adrift'(if you have time to read).
It explains (and it makes sense)how boys are not
developmentally ready to read & write as early as girls and how
our educational system has become 'feminized'. If a boy cannot
do or learn what most girls can do and learn at a certain age
he's considered ADHD and/or unmotivated and then put on
medication. Girls will almost always be way ahead of boys
verbally and developmentally during the early school years. The
book goes on to explain in great detail how boys are wired &
LEARN sooooooooo differently. I have 2 boys and am discovering
the hard way with my first; maybe I won't send my 2nd to school
until he's 6 and ready to do all those activities which schools
view as making a preshcooler 'successful': circle time,
holding a pencil the right way, tying shoes, identifying shapes
etc...
I'm very curious about the advice you'll receive for your post.
Wish you lots of luck
hope all works out!
My nephew had a similar issue and his preschool teacher also
recommended that he get some help with handling smaller items
in his hands. His parents considered the recommended therapy,
but decided that he would grow out of it. He did! I think that
there is a race to get our kids to perform at a certain level.
None of us are the same and some are faster than others. That
doesn't mean that we suddenly need to jump into therapy. Let
him be a little boy. My nephew is now in high school and
incredibly smart. Believe me, he writes just fine!
You mentioned that your son can be over-stimulated and out of
control. Join the club of other 5-yr old boys! Sure, we could
decide to drug our children and force them into a behavior that
more suits the teachers or the parents, but why not let them be
the kids that they need to be and teach them what behavior is
okay in certain environments.
Good for you for questioning this!
jj
Oct 2008
I am looking for a pediatric occupational therapist and was
hoping someone might have a recommendation? Ideally, I am looking for
one that specializes in Sensory Processing/Integration Disorder in
preschool age kids. Thanks!
Susan Campordonico at Herrick Ped. Rehab. (510) 204-4599. Very
compassionate and well-versed in SID and has helped and continues to
help our child. Good luck.
Anon.
August 2008
I am wondering how parents decide when their child has had enough
OT. My son is 7 1/2 and I don't really see him making progress
anymore. He started OT 15 months ago for sensory integration and
made rapid progress at first, perhaps because we were doing it
several times a week. But I haven't seen much progress in months.
He gets 25 minutes of large motor and 25 minutes of fine motor OT
a week. His handwriting is awful and he gets tired after writing
the alphabet once -- ie 26 letters. He is quite weak in general
and his core and neck muscles are lacking in strength. He somehow
cannot pump himself on a swing -- he is just lacking the
coordination. I have asked our OT if she will see us more than
once a week and she is not willing. I think if I asked her if we
could stop she would say yes but more because of the lack of
progress than because he is ready to graduate. Money is not the
issue -- it's more just wondering whether we need to find another
OT or whether we can quit. It is really a struggle to get him to do 15 minutes of exercise and
15 minutes of handwriting or math a day and he is starting to hate
me because of all the nagging to do his exercises, handwriting
etc. He seems overwhelmed and stressed and makes jokes about being
stupid. We did daily exercises for vision therapy and his
handwriting and drawing improved markedly, then completely
relapsed just a month after we stopped. I am starting to feel like
intervention is counterproductive. But I have also been told that
this is the last window to work on his neurodevelopmental delays.
Is the problem that we are not doing enough? Or can some things
just not be rushed? When do you decide that it is just enough
intervention and let nature take its course?
concerned mom
With our 3 year old we did OT 1X/week for 45 minutes with a
therapist, and then worked a home program aggressively (like
2-3 30 minute sessions a day) for about 9 months. And at the
end of 9 months, the OT and I just looked at each other, and
said ''he's done'' with the understanding that he would always
need sensory support and work, but it was something we had
integrated into our lives well, and we knew the signs of when
a ''tune up'' might be in order. And while we continue to be
aggressive with facilitating some kind of bodywork daily, now
that he's 5 he also independently seeks the kind of input that
we had to formerly administer, and I can be a little more
relaxed that he's figuring out how to get what he needs. I
can't imagine that we would have seen much in the way of
lasting benefits with just one formal OT session a week, it
was really the home program that cemented the learning for
him. But this was ''fun'' sensory work, bouncing, jumping,
pushing, wrestling, rolling etc, and the kind of work you're talking about sure
doesn't seem like ''fun'' to me! Can you check in with your
OT (or another OT) about whether some of the same skills might
be built through alternate activities that are a little more
fun and less overtly connected to what you want him to move
toward? Can he enroll in a clay class and build hand strength
by throwing pots on the wheel? Horseback riding lessons for
trunk strength? Climbing walls for hand strength? Has there
been any evaluation for hypotonia, or other reasons beyond the
sensory element, that might explain why he's not progressing?
I found that senseory work needs a constant infusion of new
ideas and activities to keep it fresh, maybe that's what's
lacking. But I also found that my gut instinct for when he
was grounded and organized was sound, and that once he hit a
consistent groove of being organized, it was pretty clear.
Sensory mama
We also have a child with SI issues, both gross and fine motor
(terrible coordination and balance, weak core, fatigues
easily, etc.), and tactile and auditory as well. I'm wondering
if your son looks forward to his OT appts. If he doesn't,
then I think your answer is right there: find another OT.
There are lots of incredible OTs out there, and if he isn't
totally excited every week to go, then you definitely need a
different one. All of his therapy will be fun for him (at
appointments and at home) if you have the right OT and the
right setting. Also check out Pediatric Motor Playground if
you don't know about it. It's a fun, exciting place for kids
to go in a group setting to work on their issues. The exciting
part of your post to me is that money is not an issue for you
as far as getting OT goes. That is so great, and I wish I
could say the same!! Also have you read ''The Out of Sync
Child Has Fun??'' That book and ''Raising a Sensory Smart
Kid'' and also some other books have great ideas for fun things to do at home that enhance
your child's occupational therapy. Craniosacral therapy with
Nancy Burke and Rose Stamm (an OT herself) could also help him
a lot. Whatever you do, please don't quit-- our child finally
figured out how to pump a swing just recently!!-- I think it's
true that helping him is now or never.....
Don't Quit!!
Your OT should have goals and regularly asess whether your son
is meeting them. Also, OT can be fun. Maybe you should find
another OT with a different approach that is more playful and
less of a drill. You can also try activities yourself that
your son might enjoy more that will also have some therapeutic
value--swimming, tae kwon do, gymnastics, riding a bike or
scooter. There are tons of fine motor activities and games
that you can do with your child. If you think of it as
something fun you do together rather than something arduous he
has to do himself he will enjoy it more.
best wishes
I’m responding both as a Speech Language Pathologist in my
professional life and as the parent of a wonderful girl with
muscle tone, binocular vision, sensory and other challenges.
Reading through your post, I see what I know as a professional
and yet what is so hard for us parents of special needs kids:
our followthrough on a regular basis outside of therapy
sessions is crucial to our kids daily functioning. I would
encourage you to ask your OT (and other providers) to help you
prioritize goals, and then to think about how you can build
practice into your home routines without driving yourself,
your son and the rest of your family crazy.
In my professional practice, I emphasize to families that
while “every day” may just be too hard, at least 3 to 4 times
per week will make a big difference. Or perhaps for you,
finding 15 minutes a day (versus 30) and alternating the
different groups of exercises. Another possibility that has
worked for our family is having a favored babysitter oversee
exercises/tutorial once or twice per week. We work with our
OT as a consultant, and while we haven’t made the progress I’d
like to see in certain areas, others have progressed enough
for me to say that its definitely worth it. I encourage you
to look at a variety of options before leaving OT altogether.
C
June 2008
This is for the person who wrote some time back wanting advice about her
ADD teen and also a recommendation for an occupational therapist. For an
occupational therapist, I highly recommend Kristine Hubner-Levin at 510-
331-3401 or 925-254-1137. We used her several years ago and she was
phenomenal.
April 2008
Hi our son has sensory seeking issues and we are getting to our
wits end needing some affordable OT help-please Berkeley or
Albany area hopefully?
over stimmed mom
We've been very happy working with
Rita Montez in El Cerrito for sensory issues. We don't have any
personal experience with her, but friends are very happy with
Susan Campodonico in Berkeley.
Sandra
Our son who is now 11 has had similar issues; I highly recommend you get an
evaluation by a local expert - Amy E. Faltz, M.S. CCC-SLP; Amy Faltz has been
treating our son for 4 years and we have seen wonderful results.
sb
Feb 2008
Can anyone recommend a good pediatric occupational therapist for
SPD? I am looking for someone who can do a full evaluation of my
son's sensory integration issues and give us suggestions for a
home-based sensory diet.
Also, since I am sure that my insurance company won't pay for
it, I would appreciate ballpark figures for how much such an
evaluation would cost if I am paying privately and what do
weekly therapy sessions run?
Anon
I would highly reccomend you do an evaluation with a Developmental
Pediatrician before moving on to OT. We were worried about our
son's issues, and considered doing OT before a diagnosis - and I
spoke with a few OT's who were happy to see him. A social worker
who had known him since infancy highly reccomend the Pediatrician
route and I am so glad we went that way. While he has sensory
processing issues, she picked up on other things that may have
been missed - and did a number of blood tests to check for other
things.
We saw Veronica Daly at CHO - really reccomend her. The evaluation
session (2 hrs) was around $500 (eventually some was reimbursed by
our insurance). We saw Gail Gordon, OT in Orinda --I think she was
$90 a session but maybe the frist session was more? She prescribed
a sensory ''diet'' as you say and a year later, my son is doing
much better. But I cannot stress enough that its key to start with
an overall evaluation.
been there
Jan 2008
My 3.5 YO has fine motor delay (my observation, not clinically evaluated)
and I'd like to get a private OT evaluation. I'd love to hear about your
experience with OT practioners and any advice / recommendations.
Thanks!
I have experience with three OTs in the BPN archives and would
wholeheartedly recommend each of them for an evaluation of your child's
fine motor delay: Rita Montez, Susan Campodonico, and Cindy Ng--though
Cindy now works exclusively in San Francisco in her own gym instead of
doing home visits, www.kidspacetherapy.com. All are smart, warm, and
well-connected.
Mom of 8 YO
Oct 2007
Hi - My 3yo seems a little coordinated and to have less fine motor skills
than I would expect (based on seeing peers in pre-school). The teachers
are not flagging anything, but I have a nervous feeling that something
isn't as it should be - I don't want to medicalize everything, but am not
sure what to do. Is an Occupational Therapist the way to go? If so I would
appreciate recommendations.
Thanks!
Hi there- I would trust your own instincts and get an OT evaluation. I had
concerns about my son's speech when he was young...everyone told me I was
''paranoid'' b/c I am a therapist myself. Turns out he had a moderate
hearing loss due to fluid in his ears and adenoids that were swollen and
enlarged. Once he had surgery to correct those, he started speaking more
age-appropriately right away. All that to say- it is better to know for
sure and get things checked out early. You should be able to get a free
evaluation through your local school district. Call the special education
office and ask them to schedule an evaluation. Hope this helps.
An experienced occupational therapist
Hi,
If you are concerned about your son's fine motor development, I recommend
that you at least have him evaluated by a pediatric OT in order determine if
there are any delays. An assessment typically includes a standardized
evaluation which will provide you with an age equivalent of his skills. Of
course, any functional impacts related any delays (such a handwriting
difficulties, unable to manage buttons, etc.) are more important than any
number on a test, so be sure to share those concerns with the OT. I
encourage you to speak with your pediatrician and see if they will write a
Rx for an OT evaluation. Hopefully your insurance will cover the cost of
the eval or a portion of it. Your insurance can also direct you to
authorized vendors that provide pediatric OT, such as Alta Bates or
Children's Hospital Oakland. Best of luck.
a local OT
May 2007
I am looking for an Occupational Therapist who specializes in Sensory Integration
Dysfunction. Even better would be someone who works with Tactile Defensiveness and
is trained in Wilbarger Technique. (And if this person practices in the East Bay,
that would be icing on the cake.) Thanks in advance.
We have worked with two OTs for SID, around primary issues of gravitational
insecurity and tactile defensiveness, and the brushing protocol was something both
OTs advocated for and we used to great success (among the constellation of
interventions that we employed). Cindy Ng (415) 203-8156 has a clinic in SF (but
home visits in East Bay regularly) and Amy Arenberg (510) 525-9710 who works through
Mary Kawar and Associates in El Cerrito. Very different approaches, both very
successful in helping our family to work with our (now amazingly grounded and
pleasant) preschooler. Mary Kawar is a leader in the field of OT for SID, so anyone
in her offices is probably top notch. Made a believer out of me
December 2006
I'm looking for an occupational therapist in the lamorinda area to work with my
child on sensory integration and fine motor issues. Please let me know about
your experiences good and bad with local OTs.
thank you
Please see my posting under Sensory integration.
I'm the PT and mom.
I can enthusiastically recommend Kristine Hubner-Levin, OTRL, in Orinda, phone 925-254-1137.
She worked with my 4.5 y.o. son for 6 months on sensory processing issues (until we found out
he was eligible for services through our school district). My son *loved* going to see
her--she has a fabulous personality for working with kids--fun and friendly, while
accomplishing a lot. She works out of a home office equipped with great gear, and her fees are
affordable based on local going rates. O.T. with Kristine really made a difference for us!
O.T. Fan
My daughter has been working with Gina Banks for almost a year,
and we could not be more pleased! She is a delight to work with
as a parent, and she has been excellent at following the lead of
my headstrong toddler while still getting lots of work done. She
LOVES her kids, and is very familiar and experienced with SI
stuff, too.
We connected with her through Regional Centers, and I believe
that she is a private contractor (not in a group). She has
clients all over the East bay, so she probably would have some in
your area. She is currently expanding her private practice, so
your timing may be excellent! If you would like to email me, I
will verify that she would like you to contact her (rather than
posting her phone number in a public forum!).
Good luck--I know that SI can pose some real challenges, but our
daughter has improved tremendously with occupational therapy!
Nov 2006
I am considering occupational therapy for my Kindergartener, who is having a lot of
trouble with his writing skills (and who is unhappy in school and having occasional
behavioral trouble because of this). My question is, how does one initiate this
process? I am not sure I want to go through the district (people's opinions, lots of
testing, lots of fuss) -- I might just want to do it privately to see if it would
help.
I looked through the BPN recommendations list, and can't actually seem to find phone
numbers and addresses for most of the recommended OTs for whom I've looked (some of
them seem to work only through a hospital, or school district). The couple I did find
seemed to subscribe to some sort of alternative theories of medicine/behavioral
health. I don't want that -- I want some very mainstream help with specific
handwriting difficulties, in a child who is otherwise completely fine.
How does one go about finding an OT, and obtaining services for one's child?
Karen
When my son's first grade teacher suggested that he might need to
see an OT, we went to Denise Killingsworth in Walnut Creek. Her
number is 925-932-4815. She was great and the OT work helped my
son very much. She is especially good with kids who need help
with sensory integration work. My son has settled down at school
now, is reading up a storm and doing very well. The drive out
there was a pain, to be sure, but we made the best of it with
books on tape. mom of a quirky kid
as a first step you might want to try the handwriting without tears approach -
www.hwtears.com. i was a sp. ed. and first grade teacher for 9 years and found
this approch to be helpful for many handwriting problems - but get your child
evaluated by all means if the problem persists....
zoe
March 2005
My 1.5 year old son still refuses to self feed (other than
Cheerios), and also is increasingly resisting being fed pureed
food. When he is spoon fed food with chunks, he either vomits
it up or spits it out. We're working with a gastrointerologist
to rule out any physiological problems, but at this point it's
looking as if it's more of a psychological / behavior issue. My
son is also said to have ''oral defensiveness'' (i.e., hard to
get near his mouth with ANYTHING without a fight). Does any one
know of a good Occupational Therapist for Feeding Aversions
that works independently? We are Kaiser and they've not been
too helpful. I contacted Oakland Children's Hospital, but
without insurance covering the treatment (which it's unlikely
that Kaiser will), we will not be able to afford multiple
visits. Please advise. Thanks in advance.
Speech Pathologist Marjorie Meyer Palmer in Fremont at 510-651-
2285.
Frances Grahamjones is an excellent SLP here in Albany. She has years of
specialized experience. You can reach her at 510-524-0350.
Linda Lawton
2.5 yr old w/Apraxia
June 2004
My best friend's 2.5 yr old son was recently diagnosed with
apraxia. Are there any parents out there who are dealing with
the same issue? If so, what resources have been the most helpful
to you? She has her son in speech therapy and has seen a
developmental pediatrician so far. Any and all advice, words of
wisdom, etc. are very welcome.
Concerned Friend
Try www.apraxia-kids.org. I found that a good OT helped (helps)
tremendously. Locally, Herrick Pediatric Rehab. is experienced
with motor apraxia/dyspraxia (Stacy or Susan C.) 510-204-4599.
Parent of Apraxic Child
April 2004
I am looking for an occupational therapist to assess my 16 year old son's
handwriting problems. Must be able to evaluate within the context of demands of
high school essay and test writing.
Dana
My teenage daughter had handwriting difficulties. I can
recommend the HANDLE program practitioner in Lafayette. She is
an experienced educator as well so she brings a wealth of
knowledge and understanding to the issue. She helped my daughter
with lots of educational issues, including what she needed for
the high school entrance exam taking. Sindy Wilkinson, MA,
Lafayette (925) 962-9506 or email sindywilk at comcast.net
Satisfied parent
July 2003
Does anyone have a recommendation for a good Occupational Therapist in East Bay who is very experienced with young children? My 7-year-old son has been diagnosed with a non-verbal learning disability and has mild sensory motor integration problems and has been referred for OT.
Recommended:
Susan Campodonico
Susan Deutsch
Stacey Frauwirth
Trang Phan
Samuel Merritt College OT Clinic
Rose Stamm
Other advice:
Pediatric Building Blocks in San Leandro has a novel approach to sensory integration and you might find their style more compatible.
Finally, check our www.handleinstitute.org for an excellent modality for learning differences.
A mom
I have a copy of the Spring 2003 Newsletter of the East Bay
Learning Disabilities Association, which focuses on NLD. You
might want to try to get a copy from them (their number is
510-433-7934). It talks about support groups and has an article
about NLD written by an OT named Kristine Wong (it says her
number is 466-5405). Good luck!
Re: Occupational Therapist for 7-year-old (July 2003)
Susan Campodonico has been our OT at Herrick/Alta Bates for
several years now. She has been wonderful with my son, now 4,
and is highly experienced in sensory integration issues. Stacey
F. is also excellent but may not be taking on new patients. Good
luck.
Re: Occupational Therapist for 7-year-old (July 2003)
Susan Deutsch works with the BUSD and also privately. She lives in Alameda and commutes with her bag of tools to your home. Our son enjoyed his sessions
with her.
Re: Occupational Therapist for 7-year-old (July 2003)
I attended a talk given by Stacey Frauwirth, an OT at Alta Bates
and thought she was wonderful. It seems like she really
understands kids and has lots of years of experience. I haven't
worked with her personally but know someone who has and they
like her very much. If you can't find her number feel free to e-
mail me and I'll get it from my friend.
Hannah
July 2003
Re: Gail Gordan O/T
My son was referred to both Gail Gordon and another private OT
Ellen Gordon (not related). The neuro psychologist from
oakland Children's Hosp who tested our son gave us both names,
but prefered Ellen. We chose Ellen because i had a better
feeling about her on the phone. And she's in Oakland which is
closer to home. For a second opinion, you might consider
Ellen. She's very casual, works out of her home in oakland.
But she is very sincere and knowledgable. Did my son get a lot
out of OT? It's really hard to say. He still struggles (11
yrs old) with sensory integration issues (hand writing,
anything with a ball) and has been diagnosed with a ''non-verbal
learning disability''. My son went to Ellen for a year from 7
to 8 yrs old. There is no magic cure for any of this stuff, you
just have to try different things, get good references and
don't stay too long if it doesn't feel right or produce
identifiable results within 3-6 months. That's my 2 cents!
Good luck.
Her # is 510-530-6586
Good luck. Stay calm.
another mom
Re: Adoptive Parents Support Group for challenging kids (April 2006)
For our child with SI issues, we see Rita Montez at Mary Kawar
and Associates in El Cerrito. She is a terrific Occupational
Therapist, and I highly recommend her (if you can get an
appointment - she is very popular). She did a very thorough
evaluation, and has helped our child tremendously.
Been there.
Re: Occupational Therapist for 7-year-old (July 2003)
I don't know if this is of interest to you, but I saw something
in the Montclarion about a free OT clinic at Samuel Merritt
College. It sounds like it might be a good opportunity for folks
whose insurance probably wouldn't cover the costs.
I checked on Samuel Merritt's website and found information on
the department of occupational therapy's website. Here's a link
to the main page:
http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/default.cfm
unfortunately, because of lame website design I can't send the
link directly.
OT savvy
Re: Occupational Therapist for 7-year-old (July 2003)
My 6 y.o has seen Trang Phan, OT at Childrens Hospital and we
liked her alot, but my son's issues are different: fine motor delay.
peggy
Jan 2003
I am taking my 16 mo old son in to be tested for Sensory
Integration Dysfunction (SI) and was wondering if anyone has had
any experiences with SI treatment provided by the Occupational
Therapists at Premiere Physiology in Dublin. Premiere
Physiology is the occupation therapy group that has contracted
with my HMO, Hill Physicians, so it is easy for us to be
referred to them.
Thanks,
Kristin
[no replies received]
Re: Occupational Therapist for 7-year-old (July 2003)
Rose Stamm, in El Cerrito, is a caring, experienced Occupational
Therapist. You can contact her at:
215-7615
Ginger
Feb 2008
Re: Who to diagnose and prescribe for ADD in teen?
This is for the person who wrote some time back wanting advice about her
ADD teen and also a recommendation for an occupational therapist. For an
occupational therapist, I highly recommend Kristine Hubner-Levin at 510-
331-3401 or 925-254-1137. We used her several years ago and she was
phenomenal. As for the ADD teen, this is such a gigantic topic with so many
subtopics, I don't know where to begin and don't have any magic answers,
but just know you are absolutely not alone and this is hard and super
frustrating for many many parents, not to mention the kids. I recommend
reading Driven to Distraction by Hallowell and Ratey, if you haven't yet.
anon
Feb 2008
A family friend recommended Peggy Bledsoe in San Leandro for
Occupational Therapy for our 4 year old daughter who we think
has a sensory processing disorder.
I didn't find any previous posts on her and wondered if anyone
has experience with her and would recommend her? We find that
our daughter's symptoms are very confusing to us despite
having read a lot about SPD and so we want someone who is
really experienced and able to give us good insight if this is
SPD or something else such as ADHD or even bi-polar or a
combination.
Or if there is someone else they might recommend instead that
doesn't have a 9 month waiting list.
anon
My son saw Peg Bledsoe for a year about 12 years ago, also for
sensory integration issues. She can be a little scattered and
disorganized, but is a phemomenal OT and my son made excellent
progress with her. I would definitely recommend her.
anon
Peg Bledsoe worked with my sensory-defensive child through the
OUSD (assuming it's the same Peg Bledsoe, OT) several years ago
and is working with him again this year again. She really was
able to help him in the school setting; she was the only school
district-provided OT who was even willing to talk about and work
on sensory integration (great for us!). For private OT, we would
highly recommend Susan Campordonico, at Herrick/Alta Bates
510.204.4599.
Anon.
Nov 2003
Re: Sensory Integration Disorder
Hello,
Here are a few people who work with sensory integration issues:
Kristine Hubner, OT
Orinda
510-331-3401
Liz Osono, OT
Gail Gordon, OT
Both practitioners can be reached at 925-258-9935
S Aurilio
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