Kinnick Kay and Carver Lee: Carver's 1st Day of Pre-School

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Carver's 1st Day of Pre-School

Today was Carver's first day of Pre-School. He'll be attending 3 days a week for 1 1/2 hrs/day. After 3 weeks, he will start attending 3 days a week for 3 hrs/day.

It was a windy day and a late start. The school/transportation department was working up to the last hour organizing the busing. - a lot of work to drive next door. If you were to stand in our cul-de-sac and look straight ahead, you would see the school. They arrived about 15 min late, so Carver's first day of school was shorted to closer to an hour instead of 1 1/2 hrs. I'm sure things will go smoother now that everything has been figured out.

The bus has a nice electric ramp/lift, so that Carver can easily be placed in the bus - remaining in his wheelchair at all times.

The walk to the bus at the end of the driveway. Carver looks so tiny in his wheelchair.

Getting ready to ride on the electric ramp/lift. You can see how windy it was. Carver couldn't even open his eyes.

Ready for the ride up into the bus...

Quick ride to the top and into the bus....

They secured Carver's wheelchair with tie-downs. His 1:1 is seated to the left of him.

Kinnick got on the bus to say bye-bye to Carver.

Carver was completely wiped-out this evening! He participated in story time, recess (swings), and bye-bye time at school today.

The remainder of this school year will be spent getting to know Carver, working Carver into the classroom, and finding out what works best like seating/positioning and how to participate in all activities. The school is very good about insuring that all kids participate in all activities in some way. In other words, all activities will be modified to accommodate Carver. His 1:1 will be with him at all times insuring Carver's participation. She will offer any help necessary without allowing Carver to be completely dependent. The goal is to help him do more for himself. It will be a hard balance to give him the support he needs without giving him too much help - preventing him from doing things he CAN do or can LEARN to do.

4 comments:

Amy said...: I saw Carver at school today!! What a big first day for him, which teacher does he have? I don't think he is in Mick's class. Hope you survived Carvers first day as well:-); April 5, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Unknown said...: Congrats to Carver!; April 6, 2011 at 8:34 AM
Anonymous said...: What a big boy! That is so exciting. Glad the first day went well! - Neva; April 6, 2011 at 2:52 PM
Jennifer said...: What great picks Shanon!He looks so sweet getting on the bus!; April 6, 2011 at 9:01 PM

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Disability Determination when you don't qualify Financially

In order to extend Cobra medical coverage 11 months due to a Disabled member of the family, a Disability Determination Award letter is required. How do you secure a Disability Determination if you are not intitled to an Award? You ask for a Special Determination (SSA-553) of Disability. How did we get this? Here are my contacts:

We live in Wichita, KS. My contact at the Social Security Administration in Wichita was Nick Janzen. His phone number is 866-931-4486.

The Kansas/Nebraska/Iowa/Missouri Regional SSA office is located in Kansas City. My contact in the Kansas City Office is Mike Stiles. His phone number is 816-936-5740. Mike is able to communicate with all of the Disability Experts including those at the national headquarters in Baltimore, MD. Mike was able to guide my Wichita, KS contact, Nick in order to complete the necessary paperwork to obtain a Disability Determination even though we didn't qualify under Title II or Title XV1.

Here's is how it worked:

Nick completed a paper SSA-3820 (for a child), and obtained as much medical evidence as possible from me. He also prepared an SSA-5002 with the date of my qualiffying event (date I went on Cobra initially). This material was then sent to the following Address:

Office of Medical and Vocational Expertise

P.O. Box 17786

Baltimore, MD 21235-7786

A Manual Development Worksheet (MDW) was used to document my case.

The OMVE will prepare and release the appropriate notice for this type of case and will return the completed case to the field office along with a special determination (SSA-553) of disability and a copy of the notice.

Overnight address:

SSA, Office of Medical and Vocational Expertise

1st Floor Oak Meadows Building

6401 Security Blvd

Baltimore, MD 21235

Sedgwick County Developmental Disability Organization - MRDD Waiver information

Kinnick and Carver are on the MRDD Waiver. This is a needs based program based on being mentally retarded or developmentally delayed - not income. So, regardless of income, you may qualify. What benefit are we getting from the MRDD waiver? If you are on this program at age 5, you will receive a medicaid card. Prior to turning age 5 (while on the waiting list), you qualify for case management and family support funds. Case management is very helpful in helping you find funding sources if needed. The family support funds have provided all of K&C's expensive equipment needs. Due to budget cuts, the family support funds are not available this year, but could return at any time. You shouldn't wait to sign up for this program. There is a waiting list to receive the medicaid card at age 5. The waiting list is 2 years or longer. Therefore the sooner you get on the waiting list the better. You do not have to be 5 to be on the waiting list.

How do you apply for the MRDD Waiver program?

Rachel Ryan

Intake and Referral Coordinator (SCDDO)

615 N. Main

Wichita, KS 67203

(316)-660-7640

http://www.sedgwickcounty.org/cddo

Kansas Medicaid - Travel Expenses

I'm posting this to help others. It has been a struggle to get Medicaid to pay for our travel expenses. I have been able to get them to commit to paying $81.00/day hotel expense, $27.00/day for food, and .20/mile for mileage to/from.

The KEY is to call the number(s) below before you leave on the trip (unless it is an emergency).

1-800-285-4978 Option 2 (Out of State Prior Auth)
The doctor from the referring hospital/office and the doctor that you will be seeing will need to send paperwork for your approval. You can call this number to confirm this is getting done.

1-888-561-8747 x5002 (Meals and Lodging)
Let them know where you are going and how long you think you will be there. You will have to call every 2 wks to extend the time. They only approve 2 wks at a time.

1-888-240-6497 (Transportation)
Let them know where you are going and how long you think you will be there. You will have to call every 2 wks to extend the time. They only approve 2 wks at a time.

Medical Transportation Approval Process

In order to obtain approval for Medical Transport, the following steps were followed:

1.) Kinnick and Carver's primary physician (Pediatrician) wrote a "Letter of Medical Necessity". Below is a small sampling of the letter:

LETTER OF MEDICAL NECESSITY

Date:
Insurance Company:
RE: Kinnick and Carver
DOB:
Diagnosis: ROP, 23 wk gestation twins, severe chronic lung disease.

Attention Medical Director:

The letter requested approval for an air ambulance round trip flight for the specific eye surgery. It then listed medical reasons why Kinnick and Carver's medical needs meet criteria for air ambulance transport for their eye surgery. Their medical needs consisted of the following:

Continuous oxygen per nasal cannula
Continuous cardiac and respiratory monitoring
Feeding intolerance that requires gastrostomy feeds
Deep suctioning using a suction machine and catheter

Signed by the Primary Physician

2.) My Primary Physician faxed the Letter to Kinnick and Carver's Case Manager at my Insurance Company.

3.) Kinnick and Carver's Case Manager forwarded the Letter to the Medical Director for approval. This process only took a couple of days.

4.) Kinnick and Carver's Case Manager faxed the Approval to Air Ambulance and my Primary Physician.

Kinnick Kay and Carver Lee

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