Occupational Therapy & Speech Therapy Programs

OT Programs

We have developed an occupational therapy focused curriculum based on developmental milestones that can be tailored to your child based on their strengths and interests. This program ensures interest and motivation while teaching the core skills for their developmentally appropriate level. Assessment scores will determine what level your child is ready to start at. As well, documentation each week will track your child's progress and programs will be updated regularly to further develop their skills.

Fine Motor Skills (hand use)

Grasp (how we hold things)

palmar (pick up large objects)
pincer (pick up small objects)
tripod (adult pencil grasp)
isolate fingers (using your index to point/trace, counting using your fingers)
in-hand manipulation (transferring an small object between fingers)

Hand-dominance

left, right, or ambidextrous
crossing midline

Bimanual Coordination

threading beads onto a string
lacing a card
fasteners: buttons, zippers, snaps, laces

Scissor skills

pre-scissor skills (spray water bottles, tongs, hole punch)
holding scissors to snip, cut a line
cutting out shapes
pasting onto a picture

Drawing

pre-drawing activities (bingo dabbers, finger paints, texture trays)
colouring within lines of a picture
pre-printing foundation shapes I -- O +
connect the dots, drawing within lines of a maze
connecting shapes to draw pictures (house, person, animals)

Printing

Hand Writing Without Tears program
build, trace, imitate, copy uppercase and lowercase letters
uses songs and multi-sensory tools to teach letters
Printing Like a Pro program, evidence based school curriculum
learn to type or use supported communication software programs

Sensory Processing

Sensory Diets

Vestibular (movement): find appropriate ways to move for the active child
Proprioception (body awareness): use deep pressure activities to calm
Tactile (touch): activities to reduce sensitivity to make self-care tasks easier
Auditory (hearing): reduce sensitivity and tune out background noise
Visual (sight): assist with attention and reduce distractions
Taste/Smell: assist with broadening a child's food preferences

ALERT Program

How does your engine run? high, low or just-right
teaching self-regulation activities to be at the 'just right' level of alertness

Zones of Regulation

Blue, Green, Yellow, or Red zones
social emotional learning

Integrated Listening Systems (iLS)

child listens to filtered music with bone conduction while doing exercises
improves auditory processing, language, attention, self-regulation

Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT)

passive and active movement exercises to integrate primitive (baby) reflexes
stimulates vestibular, proprioception, tactile senses for improved body awareness
level 1: for attention/concentration (ADD/ADHD)
level 2: for emotions, memory, behaviour (trauma, fear, stress)

Vestibular Rehab

series of movement exercises to retrain the vestibular system (balance)
treatment for nausea, vertigo, BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)

Relaxation Techniques

Direct teaching to children to assist with learning how to wind down at bedtime
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Guided Imagery
Deep Breathing techniques

Equipment Recommendations

Classroom learning aides: pencil grips, wiggle cushions, weighted lap pads
Visual supports: Boardmaker schedules, calendars
Social stories: individualized story of a child successfully doing a challenging task

Gross Motor Skills (body use)

Ball skills

throw, catch, kick, bounce, aim
play a game of catch
play a sport (soccer, baseball)

Bilateral Coordination

crossing midline
riding a bike
swimming
climbing
swinging

Balance

walking along a line/balance beam
standing on one leg
hopping, jumping, skipping

Bal-A-Vis-X Program

A series of Balance / Auditory / Vision eXercises: www.bal-a-vis-x.com
Rhythmic patterns improve: auditory skills, understanding and following directions, participation in discussions and pronunciation of words.
Visual improvements: ocular mobility (tracking), binocularity (eye teaming skills), visual form perception (discrimination of details) and eye-hand coordination.
Behavioural changes: decrease in impulsivity, increase in focus and attention, increase in self-esteem and confidence.
Balance and body coordination improvements

Neuro-Developmental Therapy (NDT/Bobath Approach)

hands-on approach to promote functional movement patterns in children with movement disorders (CP)

Children's Yoga

fun stretching exercises
energizing poses to help wake you up
relaxing poses to help calm you down

Self-care (activities of daily living)

Dressing

taking clothes off, putting clothes on
planning what to wear
fasteners (buttons, zippers, snaps, laces)

Washing

washing hands, face, body
bathing, showering
grooming (brush hair, cut hair, cut nails)

Feeding

drinking from a cup
use of utensils (spoon, fork, knife)
increase tolerance to a variety of foods

Toileting

bathroom routines
toilet training (habit training or rapid training)
teaching to request/initiate

Sleeping

sleep hygiene
relaxation techniques
fall asleep and stay asleep
sleep on their own

Community Participation

transportation (car, bus, walking safely)
shopping trips

Speech Therapy

Language: developing vocabulary through words and pictures

Articulation: Being able to speak clearly to communicate needs

Socialization: how to have a conversation and make positive friendships

Social thinking: how to be flexible and understand other people's perspectives

Language: developing vocabulary through words and pictures