Re: Re:Preparing for SSI exaluation

[Guest guest]

Henry

Disability agencies and docs speak different languages. The biggest

thing SSI wants to know is function. Disability forms that I have

been asked to fill out as a doc and as a patient are all about how

does this patient's function differ from the rest of the population,

and what life function does it interfere with? Is it likely they will

regain that function with the right therapy in a reasonable amount of

time?

Most doctors will write a report based on illness and pathology of an

organ, not on what that illness will or will not allow your son to do.

Also, pediatricians and pediatric specialists *hate* being boxed into

a prognosis, or a guess at how the future will look. They are taught

kids have huge potential, and you never know how much progress they

can make to overcome even the most devastating of illnesses. This is

somewhat rooted in fact. They know kids are very individual, very

plastic, and *hate* being put in a position of saying " this may be as

good as it gets " , because they feel with kids, there is always hope.

So, prep the docs/therapists who will be contacted, and ask them to

write a letter about his function. Give the doc a list: What do you

see that your son can do that other 7 year olds can? What *can't* he

do that other 7 year olds can? Does the doctor realistically expect

that with a little therapy, your son could achieve those goals in a

reasonable amount of time? Or is it likely the deficit will continue?

Write this list down (the bigger and more specific the better) and

hand it to each of your son's doctors and discuss it with them. Be

very concrete and specific--i.e. my son cannot tie his shoes, cannot

button a shirt, cannot feed himself, needs constant supervision,

cannot wipe after bowel movement (or needs diapers, or whatever)

cannot speak on level with his age group, cannot sleep through the

night, etc., whatever your son's issues are. Ask them to expand the

list if they can.

Come to an agreement about if these are short term problems or long

term, fixable with therapy or not. This will make it easier for the

docs when SSI contacts them and they have to fill out the forms. It

will also present a consistent and unified picture to SSI in a

language they understand, which makes the decision clearer for the SSI

agent.

They will also ask you for a list of every test he has ever had, who

did it, and what the results were--get this from the docs when you

visit--call ahead of time and they can have it copied and ready for

you to pick up.

When my son turned 18, I went through this (our income disqualified

him before 18). I found myself in a very odd position. I was the one

trying to be realistic, and the docs were the ones saying " yeah, but

you never know, there is always hope " . The opposite of the usual

parent/doctor interaction, where the parent does not want to see the

reality of the dysfunction. It was hard for the docs to say he was so

dysfunctional that it was likely permanent. I had to point out that

if indeed a miracle happens, then his re-evaluation will show he is no

longer disabled. But with one doc, I had to go as far as ask him if

he would be willing to give my son a job, or could see anyone else

doing so. He had to admit that he could not envision my son being able

to fulfill a job's requirements and had to sign off on disability.

And he told me it goes against his grain to say a kid is permanently

disabled. If I had not met with him first, he may not have filled out

the paperwork correctly. As it was, my son got approved first time

around.

Good luck.

>

> Hello group my 7 year old was directed to have a mental evaluation

> by SSI, which would help determine if he qualify for SSI/SSA, are

> there any helpful tips or suggestion on how to prepare for the appt.

> and for it to be successful. thanks please reply HD

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey well put highly and sincerely appreciate your feed back thanksTo: sList Sent: Thu, January 27, 2011 2:40:18 PMSubject: Re: Re:Preparing for SSI exaluation

HenryDisability agencies and docs speak different languages. The biggest thing SSI wants to know is function. Disability forms that I have been asked to fill out as a doc and as a patient are all about how does this patient's function differ from the rest of the population, and what life function does it interfere with? Is it likely they will regain that function with the right therapy in a reasonable amount of time?Most doctors will write a report based on illness and pathology of an organ, not on what that illness will or will not allow your son to do.Also, pediatricians and pediatric specialists *hate* being boxed into a prognosis, or a guess at how the future will look. They are taught kids have huge potential, and you never know how much progress they can make to overcome even the most devastating of

illnesses. This is somewhat rooted in fact. They know kids are very individual, very plastic, and *hate* being put in a position of saying "this may be as good as it gets", because they feel with kids, there is always hope.So, prep the docs/therapists who will be contacted, and ask them to write a letter about his function. Give the doc a list: What do you see that your son can do that other 7 year olds can? What *can't* he do that other 7 year olds can? Does the doctor realistically expect that with a little therapy, your son could achieve those goals in a reasonable amount of time? Or is it likely the deficit will continue?Write this list down (the bigger and more specific the better) and hand it to each of your son's doctors and discuss it with them. Be very concrete and specific--i.e. my son

cannot tie his shoes, cannot button a shirt, cannot feed himself, needs constant supervision, cannot wipe after bowel movement (or needs diapers, or whatever) cannot speak on level with his age group, cannot sleep through the night, etc., whatever your son's issues are. Ask them to expand the list if they can.Come to an agreement about if these are short term problems or long term, fixable with therapy or not. This will make it easier for the docs when SSI contacts them and they have to fill out the forms. It will also present a consistent and unified picture to SSI in a language they understand, which makes the decision clearer for the SSI agent.They will also ask you for a list of every test he has ever had, who did it, and what the results were--get this from the docs when you visit--call ahead of time

and they can have it copied and ready for you to pick up.When my son turned 18, I went through this (our income disqualified him before 18). I found myself in a very odd position. I was the one trying to be realistic, and the docs were the ones saying "yeah, but you never know, there is always hope". The opposite of the usual parent/doctor interaction, where the parent does not want to see the reality of the dysfunction. It was hard for the docs to say he was so dysfunctional that it was likely permanent. I had to point out that if indeed a miracle happens, then his re-evaluation will show he is no longer disabled. But with one doc, I had to go as far as ask him if he would be willing to give my son a job, or could see anyone else doing so. He had to admit that he could not envision my son being

able to fulfill a job's requirements and had to sign off on disability. And he told me it goes against his grain to say a kid is permanently disabled. If I had not met with him first, he may not have filled out the paperwork correctly. As it was, my son got approved first time around.Good luck.>> Hello group my 7 year old was directed to have a mental evaluation > by SSI, which would help determine if he qualify for SSI/SSA, are > there any helpful tips or suggestion on how to prepare for the appt. > and for it to be successful. thanks please reply HD>>> ------------------------------------