WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (www.AOTA.org), Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. In the educational setting, Occupational Therapists, often referred to as OT’s are part of the education team, and are concerned with a student’s ability to participate in desired daily life activities or “occupations.” In schools, OT’s use their unique expertise to help children to be prepared for and perform important learning and school-related activities and to fulfill their role as students. OT’s support academic and non-academic outcomes including social skills, math, reading, writing, recess, participation in sports, self-help skills, pre-vocational and vocational participation and more for children and students with disabilities, 3 to 21 years of age. OT’s are skilled in facilitating access to curricular and extra-curricular activities for all students through supports, design-planning, and other methods, and play a critical role in training parents, staff members, and caregivers regarding educating students with diverse learning needs. Ellis Therapeutic Consultants provides a comprehensive array of school-based interventions, geared towards improving academic outcomes and community independence.
Areas of Focus:
- Motor Skill Development
- Sensory Motor Development
- Sensory Integration
- Visual Perceptual Performance
- Visual Motor Integration
- Independent Living Skills
- Behavioral Support and Intervention
- Handwriting Performance
Our therapists have training and certification in the areas of Therapeutic Listening, Sensory Integration, Floor Time, Handwriting Without Tears, and many other innovative therapy frameworks. Services can be provided in 1:1 or group settings. Faculty/staff training options are available as well.
WHAT IS SPEECH THERAPY?
Speech therapy is the intervention or treatment used to facilitate appropriate communication and to address issues with language formulation and comprehension.
In the educational setting, speech-language pathologists are part of the educational team, and are concerned with students’ ability to communicate effectively in order to maximize their access to academic and social experiences necessary for developmental growth. Speech therapists deal with several aspects of communication, the first of which is the understanding and use of language. In other words, they focus on the social rules of language formulation for effective communication. Speech therapists also address the complex issues of language processing and comprehension. In other words, they help students to understand and process the information that is being communicated to them, which is vital to academic success. And of course, speech therapists focus on the mechanics of delivering thoughts and ideas verbally, or sometimes non-verbally, by addressing issues of speech impairments and providing communication alternatives.
We provide a comprehensive array of school-based interventions, geared towards improving academic outcomes and overall communication skills.
Areas of Focus:
- Reading/Phonological Awareness
- Receptive Language Skills
- Expressive Language Skills
- Auditory Processing
- Social Skills Training
- Augmentative Communication Training
- Articulation
Services can be provided in 1:1 or group settings. Faculty/staff training options are available as well.
WHAT IS PHYSICAL THERAPY?
Physical therapy is the treatment used to facilitate mobility and developmental motor skills, while also restoring strength and range of motion. In the educational setting, the physical therapist (often referred to as the PT) is vital to facilitating independence and safety with mobility within the academic environment. Physical therapists work with students in the areas of increasing strength, improving balance, and increasing range of motion. Additionally, the physical therapist is instrumental in recommending and providing therapeutic equipment for students who require devices for independent mobility and proper positioning. PT’s work closely with the other related service providers in order to facilitate a comprehensive approach to independence in the community. We provide a comprehensive array of school-based interventions, geared towards improving academic outcomes and community mobility.
Areas of Focus:
- Motor Skill Development
- Community Mobility
- Biomechanical Issues (strength and range of motion)
- Equipment Needs
- Adaptive PE Consultation