| 07 December 2010
The nationwide pediatric therapy & Autism services company, Achieve Beyond, offers introductory answers to frequently asked questions about specific service questions frequently asked by parents from each of our branches. Click on a branch below to view questions and answers relating to your selection. Links throughout the answers will guide you to further information on our website or from other sources. Should you have any further questions, please consult our specific office Locations for more contact information
New York • California • Illinois • Virginia • Connecticut
New York Branch
(For any other questions not listed please call our NYC office at 212-684-0099 or email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
)
Early Intervention
How do I refer my child to your programs?
Under the Early Intervention program, you may refer your child directly to our agency by calling us 212-684-0099, or be referred by a Service Coordinator or the child's physician.
If there are only concerns about speech, why does a child need an evaluation of cognitive abilities?
Delays in one area may impact on other learning areas. In order to assure that all areas are developing appropriately, a psychological or developmental evaluation is completed.
What if my child has already received an evaluation?
If your child has received any evaluation in the past year, we would appreciate receiving a copy of the report(s). A determination will be made in conjunction with the Department of Health and/or school district to determine the need for additional testing in the same or other areas.
Will my child be "classified" or "labeled"?
Prior to age three, there is no classification for the child. After age three, a classification of "preschool student with a disability" is used for children who meet the criteria for services. After age 4, there is a classification system. Your local school district can provide you with additional information.
What happens when a child turns three years old?
For children receiving Early Intervention services, at approximately 3 years of age, a discussion regarding further educational planning will be scheduled at the Committee on Preschool Special Education.
back to top
CPSE
What is CPSE?
CPSE stands for Committee on Preschool special education. These are services for children ages 3-5 who need any service on the special education continuum. These services are paid for by your local school district and can be provided by an agency or school approved by your district.
How do I refer my child for CPSE services?
You or a qualified professional can refer your child to your local school district. That will start an evaluation process for you and your child. You will have to complete paperwork with your local school district that allows your child to be evaluated. There are time lines that both you and the school district must follow in order to complete this process.
How will I know what services my child will receive in CPSE?
The services that your child will be eligible for will be determined by the team that participates in the CPSE meeting. This decision will be based on the evaluations and reports presented during the meeting. All of this information will be reviewed with you prior to the meeting. The committee will include you and anyone you want to bring as well as individuals that will represent the school district and the evaluator(s).
Do you have a school?
Achieve Beyond does not have a school, however we have 3 integrated classrooms located in Queens and
Do you have bilingual speech services?
Yes we do! We are able to provide bilingual speech services in several languages. In addition our integrated classrooms can serve bilingual children specifically. These services must be recommended by your CPSE.
Illinois Branch
(For any other questions not listed please call our Illinois office at 815-730-1818 or email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
)
Why did my doctor refer me to a speech therapist when my child doesn't eat well?
Speech pathologists have specialized training in assessing the structure and function of musculature of the face and mouth. A speech pathologist who specializes in working with children with feeding and swallowing disorders can evaluate your child to look at the strength and movement of the muscles involved in chewing and swallowing. Additionally, a speech pathologist has the skills and training to assess specific behaviors associated with feeding (e.g., refusal to eat, refusal of certain colored foods, textures or temperatures of foods) and assess for underlying physiological reasons for your child's refusal. After the assessment is completed, the speech pathologist will develop and implement a specific and individualized therapy plan to assist your child with expanding his/her diet of accepted foods, resulting in overall improvements in eating and nutrition.
We accept most types of insurances. A courtesy benefits and eligibility check will be completed prior to services to give you a general understanding of your coverage under your plan. A quote of benefits is not a guarantee of payment. In addition, your available benefits may be reduced if we are not a participating provider with your carrier. Please speak with us for more details 815-730-1818
When I started services, I was given a quote of benefits. Why aren’t my claims being paid when I was told they would be?
The Illinois Early Intervention program is designed for children from birth to 3 years of age and will cover services if your child meets certain standard state requirements. This is determined through an evaluation of your child’s developmental status.
Will Achieve Beyond submit my insurance claims for me?
Yes. This is a courtesy we are happy to extend. For more information on services like this please contact us at our office 815-730-1818
Will you work with my child’s school or other therapists?
The clinical supervisor working with your child encourages ongoing collaboration with your child’s school as well as therapists from other disciplines. The clinical supervisor is also available to help you prepare for and attend the annual Individual Education Plan (IEP) if the service is requested.
As a parent, how involved should I be in the ABA program?
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to be active participants in their child’s program as research has shown that parent involvement in therapy is a key factor to each child’s success. However, the instructor also needs to spend individual one on one time with your child. To reach the balance of parent involvement, therapists will ask for your help when teaching certain skills that benefit from multiple instructors. Parents are also encouraged to be active participants in the team collaboration meetings that occur on a regular basis to discuss the ongoing therapy
Connecticut Branch
(For any other questions not listed please call our Connecticut staff at 815-730-1818 or email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
)
As a family who resides in CT, who can I call if I have questions about birth to three?
You can feel free to call Karen Medina, the director of the Achieve Beyond Connecticut program, for any questions you may have at 866-696-0999 ext.326
I have concerns with autism, what can I do?
If you have concerns with autism we at Achieve Beyond recommend you call
What services can my child receive?
At Achieve Beyond Connecticut we provide the following services for your child Developmental Evaluations,
I would like to transfer my child; what do I need to do?
After speaking to a representative from our agency and finding out about services we offer; speak to your service coordinator and sign a release to transfer into our program. If you need assistance our staff would be happy to assist you by contacting us at 866-696-0999 ext.326
What does the CT autism specific program offer?
We offer a variety of developmentally educational services. This includes but is not limited to Discrete Trial training as a part of our Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) approach which is modified for each child’s individual needs. We are committed to the principles and practice of Applied Behavioral Analysis. Our commitment to working together with families ensures that children in our program receive the quality and continuity of services needed to achieve beyond.
You can find out all of the areas serviced at this link http://birth23.org/programs/Acheive.html For further information on areas Achieve Beyond services please feel free to contact program director Karen Medina at 866-696-0999 ext.326 (Karen Medina)
back to top
California Branch
(For any other questions not listed please call our California office at 323-722-8610 or email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
)
What type of therapy services do you provide?
We at Achieve Beyond California provide Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy as well as various pediatric evaluations. For more information please feel free to contact our Montebello office at 323-722-8610
Do you have Bilingual Speech Therapists on staff?
Yes, we have bilingual occupational, physical and speech therapists on staff. For more information on therapist availability please feel free to
contact our Montebello office at 323-722-8610
Does Achieve Beyond California accept insurance?
Yes, we accept various insurance carriers for our pediatric therapy services. Please call our Montebello office for a more specific list of accepted insurance plans at 323-722-8610
Does your company accept private pay for your pediatric therapy services?
Yes, we accept private pay for all of our services including occupational, speech and physical therapy. For more information on Achieve Beyond private pay options please call our California office at 323-722-8610
What Regional Centers does your company work with?
We at Achieve Beyond California work with several regional centers including Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC), San Gabriel / Pomona Regional Center (SGPRC) & the LRC. For more information on these affiliations please call our Montebello office at 323-722-8610
back to top
Virginia Branch
(For any other questions not listed please call our Virginia office at (703) 237-2219
or email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
)
What services do you currently offer?
Currently we provide: Early Intervention (birth to 3 years) services through the Infant and Toddler Connection programs of
Pediatric Autism and Behavioral services – we serve Northern Virginia,
Private pediatric Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
For the Early Intervention program we provide services in your home, daycare or other community settings. Our pediatric Autism and Behavioral services can be provided in your home, daycare or our clinic.Our private pediatric services are provided in our clinic in
What methods of payment do you offer?
Early Intervention Program
If your child is eligible for services you might have to pay a fee to your local system. This fee is determined based on family size and income.
Pediatric Autism and Behavioral services
Private Pediatric Services
We are in-network with BlueCross/Blue Shield. We accept major insurances companies and bill as an out-of-network provider. Our intake staff will obtain a quote of benefits, pre-authorization or pre-certification but it is important to note that this is not a guarantee of payment from you insurance carrier. Payment cannot be determined until claims are submitted and responded to by your insurance carrier. Even after benefits and eligibility are verified, you may still be responsible for payment in the event that claims are denied.
We also offer private pay options for services that are not covered by insurance. For more information on these payment options specifically for your child please feel free to call our office at (703) 237-2219
How do I get started?
Contact our office at (703) 237-2219 to refer your child and obtain more information. If your child is between 0 to 3 years old we can help you refer him/her to your local Infant and Toddler Connection program. If you are planning to use your insurance benefits we can check with your insurance carrier and obtain a quote of benefits and if you need an authorization or pre-certification. Once this step is completed we will schedule an evaluation and determine if your child needs services. We can also provide additional services if you currently have and IEP or IFSP and are looking to supplement those services.