Our pediatric therapists “play” with children to maximize each child’s potential by providing individualized incremental motor, sensory or language challenges that require a child to perform with a little more skill each time. Children learn through therapeutic play. It is similar to a child that has difficulty with math; a math tutor can significantly improve the child’s math performance thus a therapist can improve a child’s sensory, motor or language performance. In addition, when a child engages in “just right” challenges not only does learning occur in that area of function but also a great impact is made on his/her social/emotional development, self esteem and peer relationships.
A child should WANT to see his/her therapist every week as he/she knows this person understands him/her and his/her needs. Your child will simply view therapy as “play” with a special person they love to see.
Since therapy is play, it looks just like play. The child is not aware that every step of the way a therapist has a therapeutic goal in mind and is moving towards those goals each and every session. Many of the “toys” are only available in therapy catalogs however others are highly familiar and can be played with in a new therapeutic way. Each treatment session is planned and customized for an individual child’s needs, goals and speaks to that particular child’s inner drive.
Depending upon a child’s age and understanding it is usually best to inform him/her that you found a person that “plays” with children just like them. This person really understands “what is tricky” for them and can help make it a lot easier.
Private therapy can last from 3 months to 2 years depending on the severity of the child’s needs, parent’s goals and observable progress. The parent is the “boss” and is in charge of the length of time they want their child seen. Early Intervention or Preschool (4410) services follow the IFSP (Infant Family Service Plan) or IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for the frequency and duration of service.
Documented Research states that the greatest benefits from therapy are achieved at a younger age. As a result, it is recommended that a child receive an evaluation to uncover the underlying deficit areas as soon as your concerns arise. You can get a clear understanding from our motor and language experts about your child’s strengths and areas of concern. In addition, it is always helpful to get feedback from your child’s teacher. Find out if he/she has any concerns & bring them to our attention.
Please contact assist@wtstherapy.com to provide us with some basic information, receive our policies and a questionnaire will be sent to you. This questionnaire provides us with developmental information as well as your current concerns about your child. Feel free to fill out this questionnaire in order to help you decide whether or not you want to move forward with therapy. You will need to provide us with a current prescription for OT, PT or ST services (feeding). If you plan on submitting your invoices for reimbursement the prescription must have a diagnostic code from your child’s doctor. This diagnostic code will then appear on your invoices. Please call our office if you need assistance with what the appropriate diagnostic or procedure codes would be for your child.
Most insurance companies pay for “medically necessary” therapy. Our office helps every way we can by providing invoices that are “insurance ready” and progress reports as requested. Invoices include all the diagnostic and procedure codes necessary for your child. The parent pays directly for services and get reimbursed from their insurance company as we do not manage insurance reimbursement.
Therapy offered in a school district focuses on the “measurable” academic delays. If a child’s difficulties are not “measurable” and not significantly below average a child will often not get approved for therapy services through his/her school district. Private services can provide for those difficulties that a parent feels is holding his/her child back despite the school not identifying them as significantly below average. School based services follow the frequency and duration as identified in a child’s IEP and private services follow the frequency and duration as requested solely by the parent. School district services are of no cost to the parent and private services must be paid for out of pocket.
If your child is approved for EI or CPSE services there is no out of pocket expense. These services are free. Please see services for Early Intervention (EI) and Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE).
Classes in ice skating, martial arts, horseback riding and swimming often make a wonderful impact on children with various types of difficulties. Of course this is dependent on the age and ability of your child, your individual therapist should be consulted.
If your child has been approved for services through your local school district at the preschool or school age level simply give us a call. We just need to know the frequency that has been approved and the school district within which you reside. We can call your district for you and let them know of our availability to service your child. We are an approved NYS provider for OT, PT and ST therefore, your district may already have a contract with us or one can be entered into without delay.
If your child no longer qualifies for services through the school but you still feel they need support, private therapy is an option. Children can be seen in our clinic during or after school/camp or during evening hours.
We believe that if a child has a difficulty that is interfering with his/her daily functioning it makes sense to get a “tutor”. This also holds true for sensory / motor / language functioning. If a child has a difficulty or delay in sensory, motor or language functioning a therapist can make a definite difference in the child’s daily life. The teacher and the parent may not know how to intervene to help and as a result the concerns may not resolve. “Practicing” a skill may help with that one skill but therapists are trained to understand the foundational skills that may be interfering. Our therapists work on the foundational skills so that a child can independently begin to master his / her environment.
Sensory Integration is the ability to put the pieces of incoming sensory information from the environment together. Sensory information comes from the skin (tactile), inner ear (sense of balance/head position), joints/muscles (for body awareness) (proprioceptive system), visual, auditory, taste and smell. A person needs to respond effectively to these incoming sensations so they can act on and in the environment effectively. When a child is not registering sensory information accurately or is not able to act on it effectively they may have Sensory Processing Difficulties.
Sensory Integration dysfunction or sensory processing difficulties are not caused by anything the parent did or did not do. Sensory processing difficulties are simply a weakness for the child. We all have strengths and weaknesses and children do as well. If the child’s weakness in sensory processing is significant enough to interfere with a child’s self esteem and / or ability to engage in the environment Occupational therapy services would be indicated.
It is believed that 98% of children on the autism spectrum have sensory integration difficulties. Children on the spectrum typically have a different way of perceiving the environment. This different sensory perception can interfere with the child’s ability to attend, communicate with others, have peer relationships and can interfere with learning. This alternate way of perceiving the environment can be highly distracting resulting in an attention to less relevant stimuli rather than focusing on the stimuli that are necessary to complete a task.
There are many strategies that can be provided to a parent to help their child at home. Once a therapist gets to know your child a home program can be provided that includes exercises, activities and suggestions that take into consideration your individual child’s current level of functioning. If you have not yet started therapy an initial evaluation can be performed and you can be provided with ideas of what you can do at home.
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"When I met my occupational therapist from WTS it literally changed my life. The dedication and love with which she treated both my kids (boy/girl twins) surpassed anything my family ever dreamed. The warmth, sense of humor, and joy she brought to her work made every visit a positive and productive one. We would all look forward to them! Both my kids, now 4 ½ yrs. old, are thriving in school, at home and among their peers. I know that our OT was as responsible as my husband and I are for helping them become the confident, strong, and happy kids they are today. She always treated them with respect, urging and encouraging them to do their best, but always making it fun! We really miss her weekly visits. Anyone who has the opportunity to work with the folks at WTS should consider themselves very lucky”. -Patty S.
“Ever since our OT from WTS began working with my son, his fine motor and sensory issues have drastically improved! He anxiously awaits her arrival on the days that she comes to see him for occupational therapy. She is warm yet structured which is just what our son needed. She offers creative and helpful advice. We have been so lucky to have her!” -N.P.
"As a result of the dedication of your Speech Therapist, my daughter has gone from merely pointing and screaming “mama” to actually saying full sentences! She is also now trying any food I give her and even asking for certain foods. Before she would just sit in her highchair refusing to eat anything! In less than a year, my daughter has made huge progress in both these areas and I cannot thank you enough!” -H.I.
“I couldn’t be happier with WTS. Everyone is so nice and so helpful. I’ve learned so much through them. I never feel rushed or that I’m infringing on anyone’s time (although I’m sure I have). I feel like I’m part of a community when I come here and I truly appreciate all the hard work that has been put in for my son and I’ll always be extremely grateful for the progress he has made!! Thank you!!” -S.D.
"Our therapist’s manner is warm and patient, and she earned our daughter’s trust and affection very quickly. She makes every session fun and playful through humor, and she has a natural ability to relate to kids on their level without talking down to them. She listens to our daughter and is constantly adapting and tailoring each session to our daughter’s needs and reactions. Our daughter eagerly looks forward to each visit and can’t wait to see her every week. Because she trusts and feels safe, she has been willing to tackle new challenges and move beyond her comfort zone. She feels empowered and confident after her therapy, and the changes we have witnessed in her condition have been dramatic. Working with Donna and her caring staff has been a true pleasure and we would recommend WTS to anyone in need of OT, PT and Speech & Language therapy services.” -N.S.
“I had to write to let you know that as of yesterday, Alex has mastered ALL of his alphabet, upper and lower case!!!!! Happy Happy Happy!!! People have been trying to teach Alex his alphabet for 5 years with little to no success! I know that you (RS) are the reason that this was possible and I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. You helped him learn to climb so he could climb his ladder into his bunk bed. You also helped him get over his fear of fuzzy things. You also helped him learn to be more comfortable in his own skin. You helped me by giving me sensory strategies to help calm him down when issues came up at home. By using the Handwriting Without Tears program with Alex, he was able to learn ALL his letters and is now ready to begin learning to type on the computer! You have opened his world up to a lot more than letters. Again ...I thank you!!!” -C.C.
“My son has received OT services at WTS through Early Intervention and CPSE. He has worked with two different service providers who were both outstanding in their area of specialty. His therapists has been extremely professional, knowledgeable and dedicated to his growth and development. She worked hard to develop a relationship of trust and respect which resulted in him working more productively through challenges. As a parent, I appreciate how she took the time each session to ask how he has been progressing at home/school and then closed each session by recapping the work they did and providing suggestions for home. Additionally, she has always provided thorough reports to us and the school district which allowed his team to fully understand his current functioning and needs for the future. My son was lucky to have WTS as part of his team."
“Because both of my children have required OT and PT services, we have worked with quite a few occupational and physical therapists through other agencies. Donna’s professionalism, experience and depth of knowledge immediately set her apart and make her stand out. From our first meeting, her passion and love for helping kids and their families were obvious. She took the time to clearly explain her OT methods and goals, and she has always been accessible and eager to answer any questions we have had.” -N.S
"Our OT from WTS is incredibly warm, professional and enthusiastic. Madelon is extremely attached to her! It is amazing some of the activities this OT can get her to do! The services we have received from her have been very beneficial to our child. Our OT is so creative and enthusiastic that she is able to keep Madelon interested even if the exercises are challenging. Thanks for her service, she is wonderful and our Madelon is really excelling under her tutelage”!
-Jessica G.
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