Which therapists would you recommend form Step by Step?

Platinum Member Joined: Nov 30 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 8702

My baby went for an evaluation today. She is eligible for every therapy they have to offer. Physical, occupational, speech and special ed.

Which therapists do you recommend?
I had Melek Nathan doing the OT eval. I saw her name mentioned in my other thread and I found her to be excellent.
The PT- I don't remember her name. Marie or Marianne or something. I couldn't get a feel for her because the speech therapist was talking to me during the PT evaluation. But she seems nice. The special ed teacher was nice as well, but the speech therapist... ugh. I hope never to bump into her again. She was just awful. Showed me a chart of what my baby is supposed to be eating at 10 months and basically blamed all her problems on the fact that I'm still nursing. She kept going on how at this age she should be having 3 full meals a day, blah blah blah. How nice, I come for an evaluation because my baby clearly isn't developing properly and she shows me a list of things a normal baby should be doing and asks me why she is not. Rolling Eyes

In any case... I don't think I will get these same people as Adel's therapists, but I'd like some recommendations so I shouldn't get another one like that.

Does Melek Nathan do at home therapy, too?

Our service coordinator (Malkie Gottlieb) is nice. I don't know if we match personality wise, but I have no reason to change. Our social worker is Hadassah and she's great.
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Posted: Thu, Aug 27 2009, 9:21 pm Post subject:

darlene janis (sp?) was absolutely amazing as a SPED therapist for my dd.

I went through a few speech therapists there and was unimpressed but my last one was pretty great. her name was meryl silber I think.

Gold Member Joined: Jun 16 2009 Posts: 2088

Another vote for Meryl- She is a TSHH, I think thats what is called, not a speech therapist, and as long as the child doesnt have any oral issues like choking on food etc. she can do it. This goes back 7 years ago and she was AMAZING with DS. She was not quick to label as others had labeled him with Apraxia, and she was patient and great with kids. Even though she is not Frum she knew all the right words- about Shabbos Yom Tov etc. Superb!!!- (And I pretty much fire therapists like I change socks- if the job is not getting done, I dont need them to just come and "play")

If a guy by the name of Ed Perez ( I think) is there, as long as you dont mind an amazing Hispanic- (also I think) guy- he is the one. He always stayed 45 minutes instead of 1/2 hour, never looked at the clock, was gentle and soft spoken and even if it was for a girl instead of a boy, I wouldnt care. Amazing as well.

Active Poster Joined: Dec 11 2006 Posts: 97

As an occupational therapist, I can say Keith Van Tassle is an incredible OT, if you can get him you are extremly lucky. I shawdowed him for a few cases and was very impressed
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LF

Gold Member Joined: Mar 12 2006 Posts: 1318

for siet we used gayle gross
we loved her

Platinum Member Joined: Nov 30 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 8702

I am SO confused with all the abbreviations and all.

I'm very new to this, and don't know a thing.
What is SPED, TSHH, siet?

Are all these people working at Step by Step?

Gold Member Joined: Mar 12 2006 Posts: 1318

siet is special ed
gayle worked with my son from age 1-3

SPED= Special Ed (but on the paperwork you'll see it listed as SI - Special Instruction)
TSHH=Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped (but all the speech therapists I know are SLP's (Speech and Language Pathologists) as well as TSHH's. (On the paperwork it will be called ST - Speech Therapist)

and SEIT is Special Ed for kids ages 3-5, not early intervention, and step by step is only early intervention (under age 3)

Gold Member Joined: Mar 12 2006 Posts: 1318

ok so gayle was a sped si

Senior Member Joined: Nov 30 2008 Posts: 236

Ok-here are the abbreviations-SPED stands for special educator-in EI it is really called SI-special instruction. TSSH-teacher of speech and hearing. It is a license that is not given anymore-and was given to speech majors who finished their BA-while doing their masters. SEIT-is a special educator that works with preschool children in the classroom-this is not for EI. As for the speech evaluator-I can guess who you are talking about. She evaluated my children and does not have the greatest bedside manner. I actually requested her-because I know her personally-and she is known to approve almost any child to receive services. I am a speech therapist myself and disagree with her a lot of the time-and she makes every child appear extremely delayed-which is great if you want to get services. Basically-ignore what she says and thank her for the eval-you will probably never see her again!!

Posted: Thu, Aug 27 2009, 10:19 pm Post subject:

the people I mentioned work for SBS.

Senior Member Joined: Dec 19 2007 Posts: 243

I have had therapy for dd-she was a preemi also thru step by step. they have great therapists. I know the speech/feeding therapist you are talking about. She is amazing with kids that have major/medical feeding issues. She is a wonder therapist, thou I didn't fall for her the way you didn't either. She does give a very poor impression but really know her stuff. I can't say she is always right, not with your lil princess either. Maybe she just wanted to get her point across to you the wrong way. Any way the Thursday team they have as evaluators are all the top. Melek is a doll! Speak to your service coordinator about having her on your case. She might not service your area or have a full caseload.
For a sped Mary McClellen is amazing. She is irish and speaks a fluent yiddish. Tell your s.c. that you want her cuz she might have space on her caseload.
For ot Jill Anderson (I had for my daughter) is one of the top ot's. or Esther Husarsky is also great.
for st Sharon Golden,
pt-if you want a man Jonathan Orgel
Your service coordinator is really great! she will get you great therapists. Just stick with her!

Platinum Member Joined: Nov 30 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 8702

Thank you all so much. This is a great help!

Posted: Fri, Aug 28 2009, 7:47 am Post subject:

Rivka Steinmetz was my sons PT when he was very young. She was really sweet and down to earth.

I am sorry to hear that the lady there blamed your daughters difficulties on still nursing, that's ridiculous. We both know thats not true.
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Boy 10, Boy 8, Girl 7, Boy 5, Boy 3, Boy 15 months

My son receives all his services through Step by Step and we have some great therapists working with him but I don't think they service your neighborhood.
You can pm me though. I don't think there's any use in me posting their names.
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"You can say this for ready-mixes - the next generation isn't going to have any trouble making pies exactly like mother used to make." ~Earl Wilson

Also, the therapists who do the evaluations are often just evaluators and won't come to your home.
And don't forget about YOUR role. If you are not happy/comfortable with a particular therapist working with your child ask for someone else!

Posted: Fri, Aug 28 2009, 9:18 am Post subject:

I had Chanie Margulies for speech for one child & Kristina (from the Phillepines - sp?) for PT for another. Both were absolutely amazing. Problem is, I'm in CH & I think therapists tend to work all day in 1 area.

Platinum Member Joined: Nov 30 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 8702

Thanks.
Shopaholic, I was told that many therapists will be free now because when children end therapy, they end in August. Now everyone is regrouping. So I can just have a list of therapists that you guys recommended and they will give me whoever is available.

Does Melek Nathan also do therapy, or only evaluations?