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Special Needs on a Budget – Therapy Needs

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It’s time for another installment of Special Needs on a Budget. Today, I’m talking therapy needs.

Special needs therapy items can get expensive, depending on what you need.

Sometimes, your therapist will supply everything you need, but if they don’t, you can get some of those needs on a budget just by shopping around.

My son’s therapist uses bubbles to practice correct mouth movements. So that our spectacular therapist doesn’t have to come out of pocket so much, I bought a giant container of bubbles when they went on sale at Target. I just refill the bottle when they’re done so that she can take some to the next kid.
Shaving cream is also used, so I’ll be on the look out for cheap shaving cream at either CVS or Walgreens. I had stopped buying it because we had an obscene amount.
Hard candies were requested, but since we’re going dye free, I’ll have to make a special purchase. From now on, though, I’ll be keeping an eye on the sales at Amazon.com
Weighted blankets for sensory issues can be modified at home, saving at least half. I priced a toddler one at $30, and ranging up to $65! A bag of beans is less than $1, and sewing 4 pockets in each corner, then one in the middle isn’t rocket science. If a domestic disaster like me can do it, anyone can. If you get more ambitious, you can purchase poly pellets instead. I’m thinking rice would work, also. And smell great if you put it into the dryer for 5 min before bedtime.

So there’s my ideas for this week, based on the 3 different appointments that my 2 year old had this week.

Dye Free and Extreme Couponing

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We’ve come to the conclusion that artificial dyes are not good for the toddler. Not that they’re good for anyone, but they’re even less good for him. I know some people don’t believe that they’re harmful. I know otherwise. They wind my kid up like an eight day clock. If it makes you feel better, think of it as an allergy. No more. They’ve all got to go. Or at least not go to him.

But a lot of things that we like, things that are cheap, they’ve got dyes in them. Cereal, mac & cheese, scalloped potatoes, oatmeal creme pies, so on and so forth. The list goes on and on and on.

We’re going to have to find replacements for some of our favorites. Which can get pricy, since there’s no guarantee I’ll have a coupon for some things. So, here’s my solution. Instead of spending more than I’m comfortable with on foods that are organic, or dye free, or whatever, I’m going to make more things from scratch.

I’m capable of it. I can read. I have a working stove and refrigerator. Yes, it takes some time and effort, but this can be done.

No more boxed Kraft Mac and Cheese, no matter how good the sale (unless it’s free or moneymaker, in which case, it will be donated). The Paula Deen mac and cheese doesn’t have any dyes, and I’ll keep some around, but I’ll also learn how to make mac and cheese quickly.

Dye free and extreme couponing. Challenge accepted.

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Kristin

My Kid and Special Needs on a Budget

This post may contain links to sponsors and/or advertisers. By using these links, you help support this free site at no cost to you. Thank you!

This post may contain affiliate links. You can see my full policy here.

This is a new series for me. It’s expensive to raise kids, but it’s even more expensive to raise kids with issues.

My son is 32 months old. On a good day, his speech is unclear. He doesn’t talk. His spoken word list is about 15 words strong right now, but those aren’t consistent. Average vocabulary for his age is about 80 words, plus simple 2-3 word sentences.

Frustration is building around here, so we’re trying something else in addition to the weekly therapy.

A picture exchange.

However, we can’t do anything by the “book”, and I just can’t make myself pay $33 for what amounts to a binder, some laminated cards and some Velcro.

So, we’re going to try two solutions, both of which are low cost.

1. Homemade Picture Exchange

I googled his favorite items. Ham, cheese, ravioli, chocolate milk, pretzels, etc. I copied a picture to paint.net, resized it and added the name of the item to the bottom. Then I inserted them into a Word document. We’ll laminate them and then paste them to an index card. Then, we’ll punch a whole in the corner and attach a ring so they all stay together. I’ll put a picture here when we get it completed.

2. Free Applications for Android

I just downloaded this program – Touch and Go Speak for Android. I haven’t played with it yet, but there aren’t any programs like it in the Amazon App Store. We’ve also got a tablet to load this program on to. That’s a project for my husband, though.

Kristin