https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 05 May 2026 21:36:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778813 Wed, 11 Oct 2017 07:14:30 +0000 arosebyany 2778813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Found the scale, she didn't even give me the correct numbers?! WTF I'm not even anywhere near the max, or the number she gave me!</p> <p><a href="https://hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files//documents/services/disability/eci/eci-family-cost-share-mthly-max-charge.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files//documents/services/disability/eci/eci-family-cost-share-mthly-max-charge.pdf</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778812 Wed, 11 Oct 2017 07:12:07 +0000 arosebyany 2778812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found the .gov website for Texas and it does say on a sliding scale based off of income and family size with allowable deductions. So either I heard wrong or she explained it wrong,not sure why she said 50/50? Im starting to feel like it was a complete waste of time to have ever called them in the first place now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778808 Wed, 11 Oct 2017 07:04:38 +0000 arosebyany 2778808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: the case worker told me 8 years ago Texas covered the total cost of everything, like a lot of other states. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778797 Wed, 11 Oct 2017 05:50:13 +0000 travellingbee 2778797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@arosebyany: I don’t know when the legislation changed so maybe her sons was before that. He’s 5ish now so it was a couple of years ago. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778770 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 21:24:13 +0000 arosebyany 2778770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LML: thank you! :heart: I was starting to wonder if I was the only person in Texas with the problem 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778769 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 21:18:51 +0000 arosebyany 2778769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: I wonder if it's because y'all are in an urban area? Where I'm at (super rural) it's one location for the entire county. Maybe she explained it to me wrong? She did specifically say that we (my DH and I) would be required to cover the full cost of therapy with a $625 max, but that we wouldn't hit that max because they don't have the resources for our area to get that many therapy sessions. TBH I expect that once DS is diagnosed I'll be taking him to pearland or sugarland because I doubt anybody in my area even does ABA therapy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778768 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 21:16:37 +0000 LML 2778768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh yeah, TX is bad. Every time I read posts from people in other states saying, "Call EI! It's great and free!" I just shake my head. For us in TX, it was neither great nor free, or even close. When we started it was under the old legislation, so we paid a lower amount. I can't remember what it was - maybe like $150/month. But my daughter hardly got any services even though she automatically qualified due to hearing loss (state statute says children with hearing loss automatically qualify for speech therapy). But then the new legislation went into effect and our cost would have been like $500/month or something ridiculous. For us, private therapy was substantially cheaper (with insurance, anyway) and substantially better in terms of the services we received. I regret wasting even one minute on EI. I understand your vent entirely. It wouldn't be so frustrating if it weren't for the fact that we know it doesn't have to be this way. Other states actually understand that every dollar spent on early intervention pays off in spades down the road. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778767 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 21:13:14 +0000 travellingbee 2778767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@arosebyany: Interesting. A coworker of mine was just raving about her EI services here (in TX). She said that fee was on a sliding scale, That they had services once or twice a week and that they even went to his daycare if it was difficult for her to get to the office that week. She was saying how great it was that they were so flexible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778756 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 20:24:06 +0000 pinkb 2778756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Glad to hear you are not giving up in the least after that crappy news about EI! DD was in EI from 18 months til she was booted out at 2 because of all kinds of budget cuts. Just isn't right these kids need all the help we can get them. Our pediatrician had a few more places for us to check out for services and every place I talked to I asked if they knew of any other services that we might qualify for. It was crazy how many things were out there that you just don't hear about. You are doing an amazing job so far keep on chuggin along!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778741 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 19:42:34 +0000 arosebyany 2778741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the feedback ladies!<br /> @Truth Bombs: yea, it really hit me like a ton of bricks.<br /> @looch: I haven't even called them yet. I know it's probably going to be a headache so I was puttin that off till the last possible minute. I wonder if ABA therapy(if he needs it) will be the same argument 🤔.<br /> @Chuckles: man Illinois sounds awesome right about now lol.<br /> @nwm: I would never have thought about this! Thank you I am going to look into it once we get everything sorted out.<br /> @magnolia: yes there is a college, thank you for this idea! It standard practice in our peds office for them to give out the MchatR at thier 2 year we'll visit. When I've taken it on the autism speaks website he scores between a 9 and 11 just depending on what kind of day he's having. So I know they automatically refer you to a developmental ped once your considered high risk. I just figured there would be a lag in time between the two visits and regardless he will need speech therapy, so I was just trying to go ahead and get the ball rolling on that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778733 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 19:29:25 +0000 magnolia 2778733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@arosebyany: well your experience is definitey making me grateful for the EI services where i live (despite its flaws it's entirely free) </p> <p>Is there a college or university nearby? The colleges where I live, that offer speech pathology degrees, have students who are supervised by professors and provide speech therapy at a discounted rate</p> <p>I would also ask your pediatrician for a referral to see a developmental pediatrician who could possibly diagnose autism (or other developmental delay). That way insurance or a Medicaid waiver could cover costs going forward</p> <p>Your son is so lucky to have an awesome mama like you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778731 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 19:21:36 +0000 nwm 2778731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That really stinks! Federal law is actually very good when it comes to providing services for students who qualify for therapy or intervention. I would suggest looking around your area for a relatively low-cost or pro bono attorney who specializes in this stuff (or, even if they're far away, if in the same state I bet they could give you a phone consult). They might be able to give you some insight into what options you have. I know more about what happens in grade school than preschool, but in grade school if your state isn't providing you what clinicians think your child needs, the state may be required to provide funding toward private therapy or private schooling. Might be worth asking a lawyer there what your options are with a little guy. Though it sounds like a lot of people have experience with this and end up having to go the private route. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778699 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 15:44:41 +0000 Chuckles 2778699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That is really too bad. We're in Illinois, and my son ended up seeing speech/feeding, PT, OT (for awhile), and nutrition. So for many months we had 13 EI appointments a month. They did bill our insurance first, but what we owed was only about $125 a month total. It was amazing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778636 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 13:22:50 +0000 looch 2778636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would also look into your private insurance...when I was getting my son some OT services through our private insurance, I had a long conversation about when they actually cover OT. As an example, they covered it when a child had a car accident, but not when a child was diagnosed with Autism. I was surprised at the reasoning, which was that according to the insurance company, OT was not proven to provide significant benefits. I was shocked they could get away with that kind of explanation.</p> <p>It's really difficult when services like this are left up to the states to decide and fund. One state may offer better services, but it's not realistic to think everyone can or wants to relocate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778620 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 12:17:59 +0000 Truth Bombs 2778620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm guessing these shortcomings are largely due to TX's lack of state income tax, and extremely conservative base. When the people don't support state provided services (financially or philosophically) then you have to expect they will fall short of expectations. If this is something you feel strongly about I think you should reach out to your representatives. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778578 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 09:55:23 +0000 bubblegum 2778578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@arosebyany: Hey EI mama! Jeez that is so sad that their EI programs are set up that way. If that was the case for us, I know we wouldn't be able to afford it. Are their any daycares in your area that maybe have in house speech therapist? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778559 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 09:03:26 +0000 DesertDreams88 2778559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So so sad that this is just one more way that low income families get further disadvantaged, making poverty more cyclical. </p> <p>Sorry that you are in during this hard road during parenting, but I wish you all the best as you proceed to get services for your son! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778538 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 08:08:07 +0000 arosebyany 2778538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Toad: I understand helping the parents by giving them pointers on things they should be doing daily, but the way she made it sound like Having to do EI is somehow someone's fault. It just rubbed me wrong </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778537 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 08:05:25 +0000 arosebyany 2778537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pickle: yea, by the end of the call I had decided not to even have him reevaluated with EI since we have a high deductible insurance I'm going to hit it either way and the private practice offers more services. She told me that a few of the families they see through EI at a reduced cost also go to the private practice and speak very highly of it. She also kept telling me that our county is spread super thin and she was telling me things she wasn't suppose to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778536 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 07:58:59 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2778536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry to hear about Texas' EI program. I liked it a lot in Maryland. However, I will say that the Maryland program also uses it as a program to help the parents help their children. We started with a lot of teaching signs and how for us to teach him signs and how to talk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778535 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 07:54:18 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2778535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD was evaluated around the same time your DS was. They explained the payment process as a sliding scale based on income level and number of people in the household. It's interesting to see the different information we got. I'm getting ready to call EI back too after DD's 2 year well check today. I'm sure she is still behind on speech. It took 30 days from my first call to get an evaluation last time. One thing is for sure, it's a long drawn out process here. Are you going to go the private route? I agree that 3x a month doesn't really sound like much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-disappointed-in-texas#post-2778530 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 07:39:23 +0000 arosebyany 2778530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Guys I am so frustrated right now, and normally I would just put this on the EI thread that's going on, but I dont know who all reads that and I want this out in the world.<br /> All the time, all over this thread I see you ladies exclaimed how amazing and fantastic EI services are. Well in Texas...not so much(more so my specific county).</p> <p>Background: DS was evaluated by EI at 16 months old for some delayed fine motor functions. He didn't qualify for anything because he wasn't behind enough. However I was informed that should we. We'd services it would be $625 a month. She heavily reccomended is going thenprivate route, if he did qualify.<br /> I thought that was weird, but now I understand why she did it. Fast forward now 6 months later. I'm sure that DS is Autistc and I've been doing my research and preparing, so I called EI to set up another evaluation. This time I asked her to break down the reason behind the price. According to her in the state of Texas the cost of services are income based and either paid in full by the state, split 50/50 with the state, or the parents are responsible for the full cost of services. The price is broken down as $125 per therapy visit, with a cap of $625 or 5 therapy sessions. To me that sucks, but I can live with that it's for my child.</p> <p> So we started discussing the different therapys and how many times a week he would have them, and she stoped me right there and informed me it would be no more than 3 times a month because they just don't have the resources or staff for more than that, and technically they don't even have a speech therapist that services my area, so I'd have to drive to thier location for his speech. WTF Texas? My child is almost 2 and non verbal, he's going to need more than 1 speech session a month. I am so disappointed right, I do t even know how to feel?! She informed me that EI services In Texas are used as a tool to teach parents how to take care of thier children. Like she legit said that. I know this sounds like I'm ragging on her, but she was very understanding and empathetic. She remembered DS from the first time. I know she's just stuck with what Texas gives her. We even had a lengthy discussion about how 8 years ago it was different and totally state funded. She's worked for EI for 29 years. So pretty much for children in Texas with special needs, you better have great insurance, because your going the private route.</p> <p>I did call one of the local private practices around here and it's $200 for the eval and $90 a 60minute session. The assistant informed me 99 percent of patients go twice a week. Those numbers aren't anywhere near what I expected, so yea for small victories. If you e read this far, bless you and thank you all for letting me rant! This whole experience has definitely been eye opening for me. </p>