Complimentary Services

ABA

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a major area of psychology. ABA, as we define it, is the techniques and procedures of ABA applied to individuals with autism. An ABA treatment program means the entire therapy package for one child. This package may include the services of an SLP, OT or other paraprofessional under the direction of the ABA expert.
 
A curriculum is an individualized plan to teach the child a wide variety of appropriate behaviors, skills, and knowledge. The curriculum may include modifying undesirable behavior, and development of skills in language, personal care, play, social, motor, academics, and so on. It is made up of many programs, each teaching one specific behavior, skill or information.

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Sensory Integration

There are seven senses that form the foundation of sensory integration, they are: visual, auditory, touch, smell, taste, vestibular (pull of gravity) and proprioception (body awareness and movement). These senses give us information about both our external environment and our internal environment. Our brain uses this information to form a composite picture of who we are physically, where we are, and what is going on around us. Sensory integration is the critical function of the brain that is responsible for producing this composite picture. Sensory integration is the foundation that allows for complex learning and behavior.
 
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a complex disorder of the brain. People with SPD misinterpret everyday sensory information, such as touch, sound, and movement. This can lead to behavioral problems, difficulties with coordination, and many other issues.
 
If they are oversensitive to touch sensations (tactile defensiveness), they will avoid touching and being touched and will shy away from messy play, physical contact with others, pets, certain textures of fabric, many foods, bumpy sock seams, etc. On the other hand, if they are under-responsive to touch sensations, they'll crave touching and being touched. These children will be finger-painting their arms, stuffing their mouthsherapy, or behavior modification, trains individuals to replace undesirable behaviors with healthier behavioral patterns. Unlike psychodynamic therapies, it does not focus on uncovering or understanding the unconscious motivations that may be behind the maladaptive behavior. In other words, strictly behavioral therapists don't try to find out why their patients behave the way they do, they just teach them to change the behavior.

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Community Integration

Providing services in the community such as purchasing groceries, going to a video store, establishing and participating in recreational activities, independent transportation, waiting at a bus stop, participate at classes at the YMCA, being able to sit in the waiting room at the dentist office, going for haircuts, going out to dinner, using public transportation, going to the library, voting, etc.

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Adaptive Sensory Environments

Designing, Modifying, Constructing and Consulting in individual homes and community settings to create a sensory enriching environment for individuals and/or groups.

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Adaptive Equipment

Evaluating and assessing the need for adaptative equipment. Providing assistance through the use of products including weighted vests and pressure vests as well as many other low and hi tech items to help with improvement in quality of life and level of independence.