Today, July 26th, marks 20 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. We've come a long way, but have we come far enough?
One of our very own DFW moms has provided her take on this question based on years of experience and knowledge.
Read her article, published in the Dallas Morning News, here.
I hear from parents every day who struggle with feeding their children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). While many if not most parents of children with ASDs face this challenge, picky eating is a pretty common phenomenon throughout the population. So what's the difference? Is there one? Through my search for info, I came across a nice article that presents the findings of a recent research study on this very issue. Here it is, with my thanks to Dr. Bill Yates for taking the time to blog about it.
Dynamic Therapy is proud to be collaborating with Southwestern Music Therapy to present
TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD
A summer camp full of music, movement, and sensory-motor experiences! Our camp is open to children ages 7-14 both with and without special needs.
Learn more and Register Here:
SWMT DT summer camp registration forms.pdf
Occupational therapists working with children strive to optimize a child's occupational performance. The main theme in all occupational therapy is FUNCTION. Occupational therapists are often said to be the catch-all therapy - and they are proud of this label! Parents will often start a sentence with "I'm not sure if this is OT-related or not, but can you work on...." With OT, the answer is almost always "of course!" Children span the age range of birth through adolescence. Just think about the variety of occupations you were engaged in during this period of time in your life! Consider how these occupations become increasingly complex during childhood and how they formed an important foundation for the roles you play as an adult today.
Dynamic Therapy will be at Challenge Air's Event in McKinney on 04/10. "Challenge Air offers motivational, inspirational, and life-changing experiences to physically challenged children and youth through aviation."
Come learn how you can help and stop by our booth to meet our team!
Dynamic Therapy is in the running to win a Love a Local Business grant! Please vote to help us help more kids and families!
Autism Speaks has done it again - check out this awesome 100 Days Action Plan for families receiving a diagnosis of Autism. Receiving a diagnosis of any kind is scary for parents, but Autism can be one of the scariest as it is still so little-understood. For parents feeling overwhelmed and wanting some guidance, this plan will help navigate the road ahead. It includes advice about what to do when and about the various services available to help children with Autism, including therapy.
100 Days Action Plan for Autism.pdf
Thank you Autism Speaks!
Stay tuned for more information and resources through April, Autism Awareness Month!
We've had this on our site for a while but in honor of Autism awareness month, April, we've refreshed it and put back on top!
WHAT IS AUTISM?
Autism is a developmental disability that affects how the brain functions, specifically those areas of the brain that control social interaction and communication skills. Boys are more likely to develop autism, and most children are diagnosed by the age of 3. Autism is a member of a group of disorders called Autism Spectrum Disorders, or ASDs. Autism Spectrum Disorders are part of a larger group called Pervasive Developmental Disorders, or PDDs. Asperger's Disorder is probably the best-known other member of the ASD family.
Its great to see this kind of research is being done, especially right here at UTD's Callier Center!
Callier Study examines the effects of Pre-Term Birth
With scheduled C-sections and early inductions on the rise, its a relief to know that our experts are watching the longer-term results of these practices.
Here's a great article about the role of Occupational Therapists in the development of good handwriting:
Watch How you Hold that Crayon
Its interesting how, as our educational system evolves, we are learning that earlier is not always better. If a child in your life is facing too-high, too-early handwriting expectations, give this a read and contact us if we can help!
Welcome to the second installment of Special News for Special Kids - current events and news for parents and their special kids to share.
The kids we work with have the same interests as their peers, but sometimes have trouble keeping up with the usual overwhelming way that current events are presented. We want to do better.
Click on the file below to download an easy-to-print version of this month's edition - EARTHQUAKES. Enjoy it with your special kid!
INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIAL EVENTS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER DYNAMIC THERAPY IS PARTICIPATING OR NOT.
An interesting lecture series is starting soon at UTD about infant development. Here's a link:
Baby Lectures to Focus on Language and Learning
This is a great, free opportunity to learn from some of our community's experts about our babies' language development. We hope to see you there!
Welcome to another first for us this year...the first installment of Special News for Special Kids - current events and news for parents and their special kids to share.
The kids we work with have the same interests as their peers, but sometimes have trouble keeping up with the usual overwhelming way that current events are presented. We want to do better.
Click on the file below to download an easy-to-print version of this month's edition - The Superbowl. Enjoy it with your special kid!
Superbowl.pdf
HANDWRITING...WHAT IF TUTORING IS NOT WORKING?
I was recently at a friend's house for a get-together. As usual all the Dads were crowded around the table talking about the Cowboys' chances of making it through one more playoff game (sorry to bring up that painful topic), and the moms were hanging around the playroom while the kids climbed all over each other. Finally a friend-of-a-friend approached me and told me about her first-grader who has been assigned a tutor by her school to work on his handwriting. Apparently the tutoring sessions have not been working well to improve his handwriting, and has actually led to some behavioral meltdowns that were previously not characteristic for this child. "Do I need something more than a tutor?" she asked me. Tough question, especially for a casual Saturday afternoon. But a very important question for sure. How do you know if a tutor is enough?
The holidays are nothing but joy, fun, and relaxation, right? If you answered yes then you can stop reading now (and please share your secrets!). If not, then you are one of the millions of people, especially parents, who look forward to days off work and spending time with the family, but who also know that holiday get-togethers come with a lot of stress! This is true most of all for families with children with special needs.
It's that time of year again...holiday shopping season is upon us! It can be hard enough coming up with the right gift for the children in your life when you consider what's popular, what her friends are getting, and what won't break the bank. But for those contemplating gifts for kids with special needs, it gets even tougher. Here are a few tips and a special offer that I hope will help...
I spend a lot of time talking to parents. Its one of my favorite things about being the owner of a pediatric therapy company as well as a practicing occupational therapist. Sensory integration is one of the most commonly raised subjects, especially how to address sensory issues at home. That's why I've decided to address this hot topic in a series of short articles. In each installment, or set of installments, a specific feature of every family's daily life will become the focus. For the exciting debut, food and drink will have the spotlight.
When soon-to-be new parents venture into the baby store to buy furniture and register, one of the items that is sure to be at the top of the “must-have” list is a car seat that doubles as an infant carrier. They come in wide varieties of colors, designs, and even sizes to choose from. These seats, combined with the handy base that they easily snap into and out of without disturbing Baby, are indeed a must-have. We’ve all been in a waiting room or in a restaurant and seen a sweet little one snoozing away happily in her infant carrier, still buckled in from the car ride. The ability to avoid disturbing a sleeping newborn is surely a wonderful thing! Infant carriers are used as a convenient way to get Baby from car to stroller, and from stroller to the sling at the restaurant or the floor at Mom’s feet in a waiting room.
The act of playing is a vital tool in a child's development. The primary goals of childhood are to grow, learn, and play. It is often through play that children learn to make sense of the world around them. It is a child's "job" or "occupation" to play in order to develop physical coordination, emotional maturity, social skills to interact with other children, and self-confidence to try new experiences and explore new environments.
Pediatric therapists have expertise in evaluating children's neurological, muscular, and emotional development; and determining the effects of infant and childhood illness on growth and development.
While each child is unique, those who share a diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) demonstrate various degrees of inability to pay attention and restrain impulsive behavior. It is estimated that approximately 3% of all school-age children are affected by this problem.
The daily performance of the child with ADHD does not meet standard educational goals or age-related expectations. Typical parenting techniques and classroom management strategies do not produce the desired behavior modifications. These children are often identified as underachievers, which can be an extremely painful prospect for parents and caregivers.
The ability to write legibly and with appropriate speed and accuracy is a complex process of managing written language by coordinating the eyes, arms, hands, pencil grip, letter formation, and body posture. The development of a child's handwriting skills provides invaluable insight into deeper developmental problems that could hinder, among other things, a child's learning because teachers depend on written work to measure how well a child is learning.
A child with delayed development may not show behaviors and abilities that are typical of the child's age. An infant may have difficulty swallowing, sucking, and chewing; developing coordinated tongue movements for speech; achieving independence in eating, dressing, and using the bathroom; understanding relationships between people, objects, time, and space; and developing problem-solving and coping strategies.
A child with a disability can cause great physical, emotional, and financial demands on parents, families, and caregivers, and the needs of caregivers are often ignored or forgotten. Caring for a child with a disability can create stress, depression, and physical problems.