Can anyone recommend a good OT for tribunal

[adrianna22]

Hi

Can anyone recommended a good occupational therapist for Tribunal purposes.

DS, 5, has ASD with severe speech and language difficulties and also has a diagnosis of verbal dyspraxia.

I don't think DS has severe sensory difficulties and he has age appropriate independent skills. Though, when DS was at an assessment, the specialist identified that DS falls down quite a bit. I never noticed this until she pointed this out. I also want the OT to identify his needs regarding fine motor skills, fussy eating and write in recommendations on how the school can report this.

The issue is, I don't have a lot of money to spend extra on an OT report, as I've already spent £2K on other independent reports. So I'm wondering if any of you guys know an OT that charges around £500.

I've heard that Melinda is good but I don't know how much she charges.

Thank you.

I have pm'd you adrianna.

I know one, and only one, but absolutely superb, Miri Horovitz-Cohen at OT London.

Thanks!

Melinda Silson approx £1000 + travel but well worth it. She was great.

£1000! sigh.

Alison Harris. She is based in Derbyshire.

Most OT's will charge more than £500 even for an assessment, but add to that the extra it will cost to appear at the tribunal and it wont be cheap.

Sorry :(

Hi Isabella

Thanks for replying.

I have chosen Melina Silson to carry out an assessment. Luckily (while checking my finances) I have just about enough to fund the OT assessment, which is roughly £900.

I am now aware that Tribunal reports are a bit more expensive. Though to be fair, if I have to spend all this money to ensure that DS has a good quality of life. Then so be it. No matter how much it hurts looking at my bank statements and seeing my money slowly decreasing....

Patricia Rush in Somerset. 'Won' our sensory integration OT at tribunal with her report and attendance. Although cost 1k+ just for attendance and travel, but has been worth every penny.

Thanks billiejean

Somerset is quite far from us. I will be paying loads for travel costs alone.

But thanks for the suggestion.

I think that you need an OT with postgraduate qualifications in sensory integration and that can do the SIPT assessment. Where a child is prescribed certain OT therapy (say using Ayres suspension equipment) in an OT report it is my experience that m/s schools do not have this equipment and can't access it easily and so cannot meet need. DS1 won placement at our choice of school which had onsite therapists and the specified equipment. I got a local rather than an tribunal savvy OT and she was not a witness at tribunal.

It has to be said though that the LA had not got their own OT report and could not dispute my report as DS1 had not been seen by the NHS for years. Also the LA conceded at hearing and none of my witnesses got to give evidence. The OT issue may have been raised at hearing if it had continued but the lack of alternative report meant that the LA had to cut and paste from my report and provision specified in that report so they accepted the provision and just added 3K to pay for 1 hour per week indi OT whilst at m/s to their offer. Then it is down to how practical this is to deliver when the therapist is not onsite.

Hi there - we have been recommended Melinda and I am trying to find contact details for her. Just seen your conversation and wondered if you have an email address/number that you can share. We are in the middle of an Appeal's process and need an OT assessment. Many thanks for your help. Julie

I found this on an asd forum from 5 years ago?

Melinda Silson
Greenwich, London
07843 625 239
[email protected]

A bit of searching has also brought this up:
Childrens' Occupational Therapy Services Limited
81 Tuskar Street, Maze Hill, London, SE10 9UZ

@JulieAspinal - forgot to tag her.

It might also be worth asking SOSSEN?
www.sossen.org.uk/helpline.php
020 8538 3731

SOS!SEN can be contacted by email on [email protected].

Thanks so much really appreciate your help. Will try all contact details and fingers crossed. Thanks again Julie

Do you have Patricia Rush's contact details please, I have Googled and cant find an email or contact number.

Hey, I am trying to get in contact with Patricia Rush - developmental therapy consultants Ltd. Please could anyone tell me if she is still working and her contact number? I need a private OT report for tribunal.