Insurance and Physical Therapy options from Sandy and Bob
We
have
been
especially
fortunate
that
our
physician,
who
works
for
the
MDA
(Muscular
Dystrophy
Association
of
America)
clinic
in
our
town
knows
the
system.
We
had
private
insurance,
which
he
wrote
persuasively
to
justify
a
power
chair
for
our
son
with
SMA
II
when
he
was
2
years
old.
We
were
told
he
was
the
youngest
patient
ever
to
have
a
power
chair
in
the
hospital's
history.
Do
you
have
an
MDA
clinic
in
your
town.
If
not,
go
to
the
MDA
website
and
find
the
closest
one.
I
recommend
you
see
the
physician
and
get
the
power
chair.
One
of
the
concerns
of
the
therapists
seems
to
be
that
the
child
is
too
young
to
know
how
to
drive
it.
I
think
my
son
showed
them
how
bright
and
clever
the
kids
are
at
this
age.
I
also
encourage
you
to
get
your
child
into
a
standing
position
to
limit
the
loss
of
bone
in
the
bones
that
do
not
bear
weight.
Our
son
did
well
in
a
standing
frame
when
he
was
under
3.
It
gives
him
another
point
of
view
not
be
be
looking
up
from
his
back,
or
from
his
wheelchair.
Unfortunately,
he
fractured
on
upper
leg
(tibia)
and
had
to
be
put
in
a
cast.
This
limited
his
standing
at
all.
Shortly
after
he
got
out
of
his
cast,
he
fractured
the
other
leg
and
was
in
a
cast
again.
While
each
cast
was
on
for
only
6
weeks,
he
lost
too
much.
He
has
not
been
able
to
stand
since.
One
regret
we
have
was
taking
the
lousy
advice
of
the
orthopedic
surgeon
after
his
second
fracture.
He
told
us
that
he
would
not
straighten
(set)
his
leg
in
a
cast
because
Patrick
would
not
be
weight
bearing.
We
took
his
advice
to
our
profound
regret
now.
Twelve
years
after
that
fracture,
Patrick
has
never
been
able
to
stand
because
of
the
deformity
of
his
leg,
even
if
he
were
strong
enough.
Moreover,
because
his
leg
is
now
growing
(he
is
15
years
old
now),
it
is
causing
pain
because
the
lower
leg
bone
is
growing
past
the
upper
leg
bone.
His
knee
cap
is
off
to
the
side
and
cosmetically
one
can
see
the
ends
of
the
upper
and
lower
leg
bones
sticking
out.
We
are
told
that
a
surgery
now
would
be
too
risky
for
the
benefit.
Patrick
now
has
difficulty
straightening
the
leg
and
his
contractures
are
even
worse
than
on
the
other
leg.
Insurance
companies
have
different
policies
about
how
many
wheelchairs
a
person
can
have
in
a
lifetime.
If
you
have
any
option
in
the
matter,
check
such
coverage
with
any
company
you
have.
The
Medicaid
policy
is
based
on
adults
who
are
elderly
and
probably
only
need
another
chair
because
their
first
chair
has
worn
out.
The
Medicaid
policy
never
considered
young
children
who,
literally
outgrow
their
chairs
before
they
wear
them
out.
Our
son
is
now
into
his
second
chair,
but
our
first
chair
(Hot
Wheels
by
Everest
Jennings)
was
designed
to
grow
with
our
child.
We
could
adjust
the
seat
depth,
back
height,
and
foot
rests.
Consider
such
functions
in
the
chair
you
get.
I
recommend
a
power
chair
to
give
the
child
the
independence
they
need
as
they
grow.
Try
to
find
a
therapist
who
understands
this
principle.
Are
your
therapists
specialists
in
pediatrics?
If
not,
can
you
find
some?
Would
the
MDA
clinic
have
that
specialist?
Such
individuals
were
excellent
in
writing
the
justifications
to
get
a
pediatric
power
chair
for
our
son.
One
other
concern
is
whether
your
home
is
wheelchair
accessible.
We
had
to
buy
a
second
home
that
was
one
level
after
our
son
got
his
power
chair.
We
also
want
to
purchase
van
with
a
lift,
or
that
is
converted
to
carry
a
wheelchair.
That
would
save
our
backs.
Sounds
as
though
you
are
meeting
resistance.
You
have
another
battle
to
fight
when
your
child
starts
school.
You
should
inquire
about
what
services
are
available
through
the
State
for
Public
Law
94-142
Individuals
with
Disabilities
Education
Act
(IDEA).
You
will
want
to
learn
what
is
available
in
your
state.
I
would
start
with
the
State
Board
of
Education
and
keep
asking
questions,
writing
down
names
and
learning
what
you
are
entitled
to.
You
may
have
more
than
you
know.
Every
state
has
passed
legislation
to
enable
the
IDEA
(a
federal
law)
to
be
enacted.
Get
a
copy
from
your
State
Department
of
Education
and
talk
to
the
responsible
parties
in
that
department.
Good
luck.
Sandy
and
Bob
