What is Pediatric Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy interventions vary from providing a nonverbal child with a way to communicate to supporting social skills during peer interactions.
How does Speech Therapy work?
Speech-Language Pathologists use a variety of interventions and strategies to achieve results with their clients. All of our therapists are well-practiced in language facilitation strategies, theories of language development, and core vocabulary instruction. PROMPT is a tool that utilizes a tactile approach, such as touching parts of the face, jaw and lips to support oral motor development and speech intelligibility. Zoophonics is a multi-sensory approach that is a fun and effective way for children to learn the alphabet, spelling and reading. When needed, Augmented or Alternative Communication (AAC) systems can be introduced to facilitate communication, including the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) or speech-generating devices.
How is Speech Therapy incorporated into the day?
Speech therapy at Blue Bird Day produces better results because of the intensity and frequency of therapy incorporated into the therapeutic rotation and individual services offered. Speech-Language Pathologists lead group therapy sessions in both preschool-like and kindergarten-like programs. As part of each child’s therapeutic rotation, they will encounter peer interactions, socialization and individual skill building. Therapists address all language, articulation and cognitive challenges each child may have in order to facilitate change. They even get messy with the kids at lunch time and help them explore new foods and how to eat them. Therapists incorporate play to work on oral motor skills, such as moving your lips, tongue or jaw in a specific way. In addition to the therapeutic day, Speech-Language Pathologists spend time with families to discuss goals and provide parent coaching.
What are the goals of Speech Therapy?
Speech-language pathologists collaborate with the multi-disciplinary Blue Bird Day therapeutic team to create individualized treatment plans for each child. The goal for speech therapy is for each child to achieve effective, functional communication. Children should be able to send and receive message correctly and with ease. The SLP team is also dedicated to parent education about typical language development and modes of communication.
Who makes up the Speech Therapy team?
Each team member at Blue Bird Day has a unique specialty of focus that allows for treatment plans to be tailored to each child.
Amanda L (department lead) specializes in DIR/Floortime, Early Language Acquisition and Development, Expressive and Receptive Language Disorders, Fluency, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Parent Coaching.
Andrea I specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder, AAC, Dyslexia, Receptive-Expressive Language, Pragmatic Language, Articulation/Phonology, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Fluency, Early Intervention, and Parent Coaching.
Grace K specializes in Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders, AAC, and Early Language Development.
Shelby C specializes in Oral-motor/Feeding.
Elle G specializes in Pediatrics, Early Language Acquisition and Development, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Social-Pragmatic Language Development, and Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders.
Morgan C specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder across a lifespan, Early language acquisition and development, Receptive and expressive language disorders, Oral motor/dysphagia, and Executive functioning.
Kendra K specializes in Autism and Feeding Therapy.
Kelsey S specializes in Pediatrics and Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders.
Elizabeth M specializes in Expressive/Receptive Language Disorders, Social-Pragmatic Language Disorders, Articulation Disorders, Fluency Issues, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Parent Education.
Nicole S specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders.
Marissa S specializes in Oral Motor Skills, Dysphagia, Motor Speech, and Language Development.
Agata F specializes in Expressive/Receptive Language and Articulation/Phonological Disorders.
Alice S specializes in Bilingualism, Language Delay, and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC).
Rebecca H specializes in Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC), Autism Spectrum Disorder, Language Disorders, and Articulation.
Rex R H specializes in DIR Floortime, SOS Approach to Feeding, and DTTC.
Zoe B specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders, and Phonological and articulation disorders.
Nina B specializes in DIR Floortime, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Expressive and Receptive Language Disorders, and Early Language Acquisition and Development.
Jamie S specializes in moderate to profound disabilities, Autism, and AAC/AT.
Julia G specializes in Speech Language Pathology.
Shana T specializes in Adult Child Interaction, Social Communication, Intensive Interaction, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
Davache T specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Expressive/Receptive Language Disorders.
Natalie J specializes in Pediatrics, Autism, and Second Language Learners.
Brandi M specializes in DIR Floortime, Expressive and Receptive Language, and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Together, the SLP team seamlessly collaborates with each child’s therapeutic team to facilitate best practices for supporting communication throughout a child’s day. The therapists understand the whole child and how other skill areas can impact communication.
