What to Do While You’re on a Waitlist for Pediatric Therapy
ABA Therapy, Insurance, Parent Education
| QUICK ANSWER
While you’re waiting for a spot to open up, stay in close contact with your care team about your place on the list, explore school-based services in the meantime since they operate on a separate system with different eligibility, and ask your evaluating clinician whether they can share any home strategies before treatment officially begins. None of this replaces the service you’re waiting for, whether that’s ABA, occupational therapy, or another service, but it can meaningfully reduce the gap in support your child experiences during the wait. |
Stay in Close Contact About Your Place on the List
One of the most practical steps you can take is staying in regular contact with your care team about where you stand, rather than adding your name to a list and waiting silently to hear back. Waitlists aren’t always static: openings can move faster or slower than expected, and a provider who knows you’re still interested and actively checking in may be more likely to reach out the moment a slot that fits your child becomes available. This single habit often does more to keep your family from falling through the cracks than anything else on this list.
Explore School-Based Services in the Meantime
If your child is school-age, school-based therapy services operate on a completely separate system from private providers, with different eligibility criteria and no connection to a private waitlist1. If your child hasn’t already been evaluated for school-based OT, PT, speech, or related services, this is worth pursuing in parallel, not instead of, your private waitlist. School services address educational impact specifically, which is narrower in scope than private therapy, but they can provide meaningful support while you wait for a broader private evaluation.
Taken together, here’s a list of ways to stay proactive while you wait:
- Stay in close contact with your care team about your place on the list
- Pursue a school-based evaluation in parallel if your child is school-age
- Request any home strategies your evaluating clinician can share before treatment officially begins
| PULL QUOTE
“Waiting doesn’t have to mean doing nothing. There’s real, useful ground between the waitlist and the first appointment, and it’s worth asking what’s available to you there.” — Stefanie Blaser, Vice President, RCM, Westside Children’s Therapy |
Ask for Interim Strategies You Can Use at Home
Many providers are willing to share general, low-risk strategies you can begin using at home even before formal treatment starts, especially if you’ve already completed an intake call or a preliminary conversation about your child’s needs. This isn’t a substitute for individualized treatment, but general strategies around routine, communication, or sensory regulation can meaningfully support your child during the wait rather than leaving the gap entirely unaddressed. Ask directly whether this is something your waitlisted provider offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it okay to be on more than one provider’s waitlist at the same time?
Yes. This is common and reasonable, and you can choose whichever provider reaches out first without it negatively affecting your standing with the other.
Can my child get school-based services while also waiting for private therapy?
Yes. These are two separate systems, and pursuing a school-based evaluation in parallel with a private waitlist is a reasonable, common approach.
Should I ask about a cancellation list specifically?
Yes. Some providers maintain a separate cancellation list, and being added to it in addition to the main waitlist can occasionally shorten your actual wait.
Will a provider share any strategies with me before treatment officially starts?
Some will, especially after an intake call. It’s worth asking directly whether your waitlisted provider offers any interim guidance you can begin using at home.
Does being on a waitlist affect my insurance authorization?
No. Waitlist status and insurance authorization are generally separate processes, though it’s worth confirming the specifics with your provider directly.
Real Steps to Take While You Wait
Waiting for pediatric therapy doesn’t have to mean waiting passively. Multiple waitlists, school-based services, and direct conversations with providers can all meaningfully support your family in the meantime.
For more detail on why waitlists exist and how to navigate them, see our guide, The Truth About Waitlists. If you’d like to get on our waitlist or ask about current availability, we’re glad to help. Call us at 815-783-2544 or submit a contact form.
Know a family currently waiting for pediatric therapy and unsure what to do in the meantime? Share this with them. It might be exactly what they needed today.
Authored by Stefanie Blaser, Vice President, RCM, Westside Children’s Therapy
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