Getting Started in EI Home Care

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Amy Enlow — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:47:05 GMT

I have done early intervention on and off since 1983. I am now doing it full time. All those suggestions are good. I would include an extra pair of socks. I once stepped in a puddle and had to put up with wet feet.

Also a small bottle of Febreeze comes in handy when you come our of a smokers house and have to go to the next home.

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Ariella — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:11:23 GMT

This is a question out of left field. I know someone looking for EI speech services for her 2 year old in Pennsylvania. She insists that she is required to pay for the evaluation and per session. I am not familiar with Pennsylvania's laws, and would like any information on free early intervention. You can email me at achayne2002@yahoo.com

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Stacy — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:47:54 GMT

I"m not an SPT, but I've been doing Early Intervention (Developmental Special Instruction) for a bit over 2 years now. These are all great suggestions for us road warriors. The only thing I'd add is audiobooks. I borrow mine from the library, and they are a great way to pass the time when I have a long distance to cover between appointments.

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Beth — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:12:18 GMT

Stephanie, I am an SLP and I have been involved in EI home care for almost 10 years now. Thanks for your blog, I read it for the first time today. For my list I would add the all important antiseptic wipes/antibacterial lotion for those times when you need to clean your hands before, during and after a home visit. Unfortunately your own soap and hand towels is necessary at times too. Alcohol wipes, notepaper, clipboard, scotch tape, scissors, duct tape, therapy tool catalogues (to show parents where to purchase/order tools they are interested in), construction paper, stickers and the all important bottle of bubble liquid to replenish and refresh the bubble supply are in my car year round. I also keep boxes of extra zip-lock bags to keep my tools separate and clean. A plastic tablecloth is also a must have for messy play in homes on carpets (bubbles, play-doh and boxes of beans or rice can be a chore to clean up and many parents highly cherish their carpets). I have an office storage box that I keep my charts in and I also include extra copies of daily session notes, evaluation forms, information hand-outs, reference lists for parents, extra pens, legal pad and anything else that I think I might need. I would also suggest that a beginning therapist set up an organization scheme for their car that includes boxes, bags and/or dividers and plan to re-organize once a month. I see 5-6-7 appointments per day and I don't spend the time between sessions putting everyting neatly away! So, by the end of the week/month, I need to re-organize. I also trade out big bags of theme toys (a gym bag is great for this). I can easily recognize the bag of dishes/food toys versus the bag of hats and dress up stuff versus the bag of Pringle cans versus the big bag of balloons and puppet toys. And yes, I use balloons regularly after I get permission from the parents. If they say, no, then I don't. But balloons can be a wonderful and I emphasize wonderful therapy tool. When I use them I never, never, never take my eyes off of a child who has a balloon and I never leave balloons in the house that are not blown up and tied. I know this is controversial so I anticipate comments!

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Beth — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:09:41 GMT

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Liz — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:58:37 GMT

I have recently started doing EI home visits and have found that an acordian file folder has worked for me to keep all my kids files and information organized. Also using the pull along crates and the going green grocery bags work wonders in providing organization and storage in the trunk.

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Melissa Heller — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:21:50 GMT

I HAVE BEEN A SP/ST FOR 30 YEARS AND DOING EI FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS-WHEN I HAD A CAR I LOVED USING 3-4 LARGE CANVAS BAGS-BUT NOW WITH NO CAR-AND TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, I NEED TO RETHINK... SUITCASE ON WHEELS? OR ONE LARGE CANVAS BAG? ALSO, I NEED TO REALLY BRING TOOLS THAT WILL BE DEFINITELY WORK AND BE UNISEX... ANY GOOD IDEAS FOR THE BACK AS WELL AS AN ALMOST FULL PROOF SUCCESSFUL SESSION?

MELISSA FROM NYC

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Melissa Heller — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:21:47 GMT

MELISSA FROM NYC

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Melissa Heller — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:21:44 GMT

MELISSA FROM NYC

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Liza — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:12:09 GMT

I always have some type of cleaning wipe-Clorox or Lysol as well as wipes for dirty hands and faces and papertowels. I usually bring these into my homes, you never know when you have to wipe a table and I try to wipe toys in between clients until I can wash them. Also, I've learned the hard way that a change of clothes is a must! I try to keep my EI materials in the back of my SUV and pre-k materials in the back seat, and try to reorganize every weekend.

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Debra Foley — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:07:33 GMT

I put my toys in a duffle bag on wheels so I can just drag my bag of toys instead of carrying it.

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Lisa Jordan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:34:27 GMT

A great place to find car organizing systems is The Container Store http://www.containerstore.com . They have different trunk organizing systems as well as drawer systems for those of us with hatchbacks or SUVs.

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Lisa — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:28:48 GMT

I use my digital voice recorder constantly. When pushed for time between clients, I can record notes to chart later. I also use it during evaluations to take language samples and during sessions to increase auditory awareness. It's handy for reminders and it has a clock, so if I forget my watch it helps with time management.

The one that I use currently has a playback feature that can slow, or speed up the recording. The slow playback is fantastic for people working on articulation and speech rate.

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Ann Osterling — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:03:29 GMT

I have also learned to have a change of clothes. So far, I haven't wet my pants while working, but have had a number of kids sit on my lap with a leaking diaper/pull-up and even some lovely memories of vomit! Of course these events only happen on days when I am not near home, wouldn't have time to stop there, etc. So, there's an extra set for me in the car!

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

stephanie — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:07:27 GMT

These are all great suggestions!! I love the wipes and stain stick ideas - I feel like I am always spilling things! Plus, the organizers....I need some! I use bags and plastic containers but I could probably use a better plan.

p.s. tomorrow's post will highlight speech tx materials we use to get us started in EI

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Judy Butler — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:48:17 GMT

Spare watches. Sometimes I forget to wear one and can't manage my time well during a session, not to mention needing to ask when its time to leave, which feels rude.

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Geri — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:53:48 GMT

Hi Stephanie,

I would add wet ones to your list. Also anyone have ideas on organizing materials in car. My trunk is a disaster.

It would also be interesting to hear of materials other SLPs like for therapy for EI. I love the articulation flip book. Great for production of early developing consonants and language.

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Rachel — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:49:36 GMT

Of course try to wash your hands upon entering and leaving homes/daycares with EI, but don't forget the hand sanitizer!

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Abra — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:50:16 GMT

A Tide To-Go stain stick because I only seem to spill something on my clothes the day of a meeting!

re: Getting Started in EI Home Care

Christian Phillips — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:28:49 GMT

I've been an EIS for about 6 months now and all of those tips are so so so right on!