Specialty Training and Certifications
KidVentures is committed to the continued education of our therapists. Our therapists have a strong background base knowledge in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric clients. In addition, our therapists have received several higher-level specialty trainings and certifications, which are utilized to optimize intervention.
Advanced Intensive Mentorship in Diagnosis and Treatment of SPD, Level 1
This unique course, provided by the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Foundation, is a combination of lecture sessions by researchers at the Foundation and mentored clinical experience at the STAR Center, a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary clinic for the assessment and treatment of SPD. Mentorship is provided by renowned sensory pioneer Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D., OTR and Sarah A. Schoen, Ph.D., OTR. Participants in the Level 1 course “Clinical Reasoning in Intervention” utilize the latest research to gain proficiency in the newest assessment tools and intervention. Back to top
Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT certified)
The WPS/USC comprehensive course in Sensory Integration is the highest level of certification that can be achieved in sensory integration theory and practice. This 4 course series includes principles in sensory integration theory, the role sensory integration plays in development, use and administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT), interpretation of the SIPT, and clinical reasoning used for designing and implementing sensory integration intervention. Back to top
SOS Approach to Feeding
KidVentures Therapy Services is proud to introduce a new feeding program called “Food School”. Our feeding team is working hard to evaluate and treat children that are picky or problem eaters using the S.O.S. Approach to Feeding. This program has been developed over the course of 20 years through the clinical work of Dr. Kay Toomey. Our Food School Program integrates postural, oral motor, behavioral/learning, sensory and nutritional factors and approaches in order to comprehensively evaluate and manage children with feeding challenges. The general goals of our program are:
1. To learn to have positive experiences with food
2. To learn about mealtime routines
3. To decrease resistance to touching, tasting, and swallowing food
4. To increase the range of foods a child will try
5. To increase the volume of food ingested Back to top
Social Thinking Curriculum
The Social Thinking Curriculum was developed by Marcia Winner Garcia, a speech language pathologist. The program teaches children how to think about the social world in order to communicate more effectively. Through the use of books, handouts, guided activities and even specialized superheros, this program helps children learn to interpret and respond to abstract social information and produce related social skills for use in the classroom, home and community. It’s teachings are in alignment with Social Emotional Learning, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and Response to Intervention. For more information on the Social Thinking Curriculum, please visit the Social Thinking website. Back to top
Integrated Listening Systems (iLS)
Integrated Listening Systems (iLs) is a multi-sensory program for improving brain function. Focus iLs programs are designed to “re-train” the areas of the brain that are involved in learning, communicating and moving. It combines an auditory-based program with specific visual and vestibular stimulation to strengthen neurological pathways, which in turn improves the ability to learn and process information. The iLS program involves listening to treated music selections and uses sound stimulation through both air conduction and bone conduction to engage both the auditory and vestibular systems. These systems are richly interconnected to the brain, cerebellum, RAS, the vocal cords, the Parasympathetic Nervous System, the Somatosensory System, proprioceptors, and even the visual system. There are also connections with the limbic system, which is involved in memory and emotional regulation. iLS programs progress gradually into higher frequency filtration which is more appropriate for younger populations with sensory processing issues, developmental problems, and autism. For more information on Integrated Listening Systems, please visit the iLS website. Back to top
Handwriting Without Tears
Handwriting Without Tears was developed by an occupational therapist, Jan Olson. Handwriting Without Tears is a multi-sensory curriculum for writing readiness, printing, and cursive. In addition, The Print Tool is a handwriting assessment that focuses on eight key components of handwriting for students age six and older. Results from The Print Tool are used to design an individualized remediation plan for each student. For more information, please visit the Handwriting Without Tears website. Back to top
First Strokes Multi-Sensory Handwriting Program
The First Strokes Multi-Sensory Handwriting Program was designed by an occupational therapist to teach print handwriting of lower and upper case letters on a multi-sensory basis. Children first learn how to write letters using large, gross-motor techniques, then practice writing letters using pencil and paper. This is a fun way to practice handwriting, and most of the time children are ready and willing to learn. Some writing activities include the use of shaving cream, window markers, flashlights, Gak, and many other fun ways to learn how to write letters. For older children, general writing topics with longer writing assignments are also used. The general writing assignments are fun and children enjoy participating in them. Some of the techniques used in The First Strokes Multi-Sensory Handwriting Program can be adapted to fit other print programs as well as cursive writing. Back to top
Vision Therapy
Visual processing problems and/or difficulties with visual skills can significantly impact a child’s ability to perform well in daily activities such as catching/throwing, reading, copying from the board, writing, balance, and playing on a playground. If we suspect that visual processing is impacting your child’s daily functioning, we will perform a vision screening and may refer your child for further evaluation by a developmental optometrist. The occupational therapists at KidVentures have attended vision therapy workshops. We work closely with the developmental optometrists in the area to assist in providing vision therapy to improve a client’s visual processing and build their visual skills. Back to top
PROMPT
The PROMPT system is a method of treatment for speech production disorders, including apraxia of speech, developed by Deborah Hayden, MS, CCC-SLP. PROMPT stands for Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. It is designed to treat speech production disorders, such as developmental apraxia of speech, as movement disorders using neuromotor principles, auditory and visual information, and somatosensory (tactile and proprioceptive) input to provide feedback to the speech system. The clinician uses different tactile prompts for each English phoneme to assist with reshaping individual and connected sound movement sequences. The prompts are given externally using muscles under the chin, muscles of the face, and structures used for jaw opening, voicing and nasality. For more information, please visit The PROMPT Institute website. Back to top
Pet Assisted Therapy
Interaction with one of the dogs who regularly visits the clinic is both therapeutic and fun. Games and activities such as Red Rover, Bingo, Mother May I?, fetch, obstacle courses, brushing and feeding the dogs, and walking or playing tug with them are motivating ways to improve a variety of skills. Children are able to work on turn-taking, imitation and following directions, problem solving, handwriting, throwing and targeting, identification of body parts, and a variety of gross motor skills. Incorporation of the dogs into treatment is also very beneficial for children with arousal and modulation difficulties and tactile sensitivity. To learn more about the dogs we utilize at KidVentures, please refer to the Therapy Dogs page on our website. (Coming Soon!) Back to top