Programs and Services

Intensives

• Callirobics: this program is offered to children between the developmental ages of approximately 7-14 years. Callirobics (calligraphy and aerobics) is a series of simple, enjoyable writing movements, set to music. Only 5 minutes daily sessions are required to improve handwriting skills. The music accompanying the exercises adds rhythm to the writing. We often introduce this program in the context of an occupational therapy session or during handwriting intensives and the child then transfers to exercises to a home program.
• Handwriting without Tears: (HWT) is a simple, developmentally based curriculum for writing readiness, printing and cursive. The multisensory lessons teach to all learning styles-visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic. The unique materials and appealing workbooks eliminate problems with letter formation, reversals, legibility, sentence spacing and cursive connections. This approach is incorporated into our ‘Handwriting Intensives' as well as into weekly individual treatment sessions and home programs.
• The Alert Program for Self-Regulation: How Does Your Engine Run?: Through the Alert Program, children learn what to do if their engines are running on high when they need to sit down and concentrate on homework. Each individual's formula for self-regulation is unique. The Alert program may be implemented in the school, home and/or clinic environment.
• AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM The program will consist of 4-5 children with developmental delays and 1-2 children without delays. The goals for children enrolled in the program include:
  • Improves capacity to relate, communicate and problem solve
  • Strengthen sensory processing abilities
  • Develop cognitive processes that support higher levels of problem solving
  • Expand the emotional range of experience to support initiative, intentionality, reciprocity, flexibility, curiosity, organization, cooperative learning and exploration
  • To acquire the specific knowledge and tools necessary for learning academic content
  • To convey the centrality of affective connections to others and the logic of caring for others that leads to social, interactive, rule-based community

YOGA

Yoga for the special child is a comprehensive program of yoga techniques designed to enhance your child's development. Our classes and individual yoga sessions target children with dysfunction in sensory integration, autism/PDD, attention deficit disorders, learning disorders, mood disorders, motor coordination challenges and learning disabilities. Our yoga therapy programs include:

• An integrated series of balanced yoga poses to increase body awareness, strength and flexibility
• Specialized breathing exercises and relaxation techniques to improve concentration and decrease hyperactivity
• Group dynamic movement opportunities to enhance peer awareness and socialization

Jennifer, the occupational therapist who is a certified instructor for the child with unique needs, will choose a specific yoga routine to meet your child's needs. She will assess attention, general organization, self-regulation, motor ability and activity level in order to individualize your child's program. Visit our related link at www.specialyoga.com to learn more about the benefits of yoga for your child.