Resources
Blog Posts
What is the SOS Approach Feeding Difficulties
What is the SOS Approach Feeding Difficulties By Brenna Hicks True or false? The #1 priority of the human body is eating. Well, believe it or not that statement is FALSE. Breathing is actually the 1st! Our bodies require good oxygenation, and without it our bodies...
What Is PROMPT Therapy?
PROMPT therapy has become extremely popular over recent years, especially for kids who have apraxia. PROMPT is an acronym for Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. It is a tactile-kinesthetic technique. This means the therapist touches the patients...
Picky Eater vs. Problem Feeder
By: Brenna Spellissy MS, OTR/L Eating! We all like to eat and enjoy different tastes and textures. We like going to restaurants and socializing with friends. Eating is such an important part of our lives. So, what happens when your child has difficulty with eating and...
5 Ways you Can Get Your Toddler to Talk More
Here are some speech and language therapy techniques that you can use at home to get your toddler to talk more. 1. Get them around other children their age or slightly older. My son goes to an in home daycare where he is the youngest. He started at 7 months and now he...
What are the early signs of Autism
It is scary when your toddler is not saying many words. Many times during initial speech and language evaluations parents will ask me if I think their child may have Autism. Unfortunately, as speech-language pathologists, we cannot diagnose Autism. We can just tell...
What is Occupational Therapy?
Most people hear occupational therapy and they think it’s helping people get jobs. Then you say pediatric occupational therapy and then they are really confused. So what exactly is occupational therapy and how can it help my child? Occupational therapy helps people...
Community Referral List
Early Steps
Early Steps is a free state-funded program for children under 3 with developmental delays. It provides comprehensive testing and support in your child’s natural environment, independent of medical insurance. https://floridaearlysteps.com/contact/ Phone: 1-800-218-0001
FDLRS/Child Find
FDLRS/Child Find serves children 3 to Pre-K with developmental delays. This free school system service offers therapy and early intervention programs, with transportation provided. https://www.fdlrs.org/find-a-centerPasco/Pinellas: 850-638-6131 Ext. 2222 Hillsborough: 813-837-7777
Children’s Medical Services (CMS)
CMS is a specialized Medicaid plan for children with complex healthcare needs. This program offers enhanced services tailored to your child’s specific requirements, including:
- A dedicated case manager who checks in monthly
- Comprehensive coverage for specialized treatments
- Coordinated care across multiple providers
You can switch to CMS at any time without waiting for re-enrollment. To explore this option, call Medicaid at 1-877-711-3662 and ask to speak with a representative about switching to CMS. Your child may qualify for this program, which could provide valuable additional support for their healthcare needs.
Unique Abilities Scholarship
The Unique Abilities Scholarship is a program designed to support children aged 3 and older with specific diagnoses, including speech delays, language delays, and autism. This scholarship is available for families choosing private school or homeschooling options. It provides approximately $9,000-$10,000 per year, which can be used for private school tuition, academic supplies, and therapies. This financial support can significantly help families access specialized education and support services for their children with unique learning needs. For more information and to apply, visit the Step Up For Students website at https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/unique-abilities/.
Mileage Reimbursement
Did you know Medicaid plans offer mileage reimbursement for medical appointments, including therapy sessions? https://mtm.mtmlink.net/#/
Free Genetic Testing
Genetics can be hard to get into and also very expensive. Here is a site that helps parents get the testing they need for their children: Probably Genetics
Autism Diagnosis
Autism evaluations are available from Developmental Pediatricians, Neuropsychologists, or Neurologists. Some providers include:
Developmental Pediatricians
- Dr. Joel Shulkin – John Hopkins All Children’s
- Dr. Ryan Baker – Pediatric Health Care Alliance
- Dr. Adam L. Huillet, MD – BayCare
Neuropsychologists
Neurologists
Tongue Tie Specialists/Airway Specialized Dentists
Orthodontists
Psychologists/Counseling
Want to be added to our community referral list? Contact us and let us know how you can help serve our patients.