Programs
Services | Programs | Therapeutic Services
Social Work | Natural Environment
Introduction to the Children's TLC programs
The programs at Children's TLC include both home/ community based services and center-based services for young children with disabilities. Home/community-based assistance may include special instruction, therapy(ies), counseling and consulting. Center-based preschool programs are provided in an environment where children are involved in play-based learning activities. These activities are designed to center on each child's individual strengths. In the center-based program a team of professionals work together collaboratively in the classroom to address all of the child's needs. Children with and without disabilities learn and play together at Children's TLC.
Disability Conditions
The educational and therapeutic staff at Children's TLC has experience working with children with many different disabilities. These include; spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, arthrogryposis, seizure disorder, bronchopulmonary dyplasia, Down Syndrome, cardiac concerns, hearing impaired, developmental delay, Pervasive Developmental Disorder/Autism, post CVA, post burn, head injured, skeletal deformities, multiple congenital abnormalities, learning disabled, prematurity and other neurological disorders. In addition, the Children's TLC staff has worked with many children with rare syndromes and chromosomal abnormalities.
CHILDREN'S TLC SERVICES
Children's TLC provides the following services to children with special needs and their families:
- Early Intervention for Infant-Toddlers
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Early Childhood Assessments
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech Language Therapy
- Aquatic Therapy
- Extended School Year
- Out Patient Therapy
- Social Work
- Food Service
- Transportation
- Parent Education and Support
- Community Education
Early Childhood Special Education Programs
Children's TLC has a high quality early childhood program that incorporates developmentally appropriate practices into a curriculum designed to meet each child's individual needs. All areas of pre-kindergarten development are focused upon. The children enrolled in Children's TLC preschool have special needs that are treated in a therapeutic classroom where early childhood professionals work together. Attention is given to social skills, thinking skills, language and speaking skills and the physical development of each child. Preschool classrooms integrate children who are typically developing peers.
Children's TLC addresses the needs of each child in a holistic manner. The overriding goal for all children is to prepare them for the next educational level, whether at Children's TLC or another private/public school.
EMERGING LANGUAGE AND LITERACY PROJECT
Research has consistently revealed that children with language impairments are at significant risk for reading disabilities. In one study, it was reported that at age 8, approximately 75% of the children with persistent language problems would have difficulty learning to read. The Emerging Language and Literacy Project serves children who are identified as language impaired and who are potentially at-risk for difficulties in literacy development during the school years. The learning emphasis is on the language substructure important for development of reading and writing. Facts about the project include:
- The lead instructor is a certified, licensed speech-language pathologist
- The curriculum was developed specifically for the ELL classroom. It is a combination of methodologies that brings together whole language and phonological processing
- Any child 3-5 years of age with a language-learning disorder having characteristics that may lead to a reading disability once in school is eligible to enroll
- The family commits to 1) attendance at educational meetings and home visits, 2) permission to evaluate the child, 3) permission for follow-up testing in second and fourth grades, 4) consistent attendance of child while in the program.
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CLASSROOM
Early exposure to a communication system is critical for any child's social, cognitive, behavioral and language development. Children as young as one year of age begin to develop gestures to communicate and can learn sign language and early speech production, depending on the extent of the hearing loss, practice and exposure to the language. Many children receive their first hearing aids or cochlear implants at a young age and parent education is critical for successful use of any device to improve communication.
This classroom provides a program of Total Communication (a combination of oral, or speech, and manual, or signing, approaches) and prepares children to move from the preschool environment into a kindergarten classroom. Children may enter the Center-Based program when they are two years of age. Many children stay at the Center until they are ready for the kindergarten experience. Each child receives group and individual instruction focusing on communication development.
The teacher in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing classroom is a certified educator of the deaf and is proficient in TC as well as having a background in oral communication.
THERAPEUTIC SERVICES
Children's TLC offers occupational, physical, and speech therapies. All personnel who provide the services are licensed and certified as fully qualified providers. The Physical and Occupation Therapists have received a Bachelor's/Master's Degree in Physical or Occupational therapy and are licensed to practice in Missouri and often in Kansas. The Speech Language Pathologists have graduated with a Master's Degree, have a Certificate of Clinical Competence and are licensed to practice in Missouri/Kansas. All of the therapists have pediatric experience and participate in continuing education courses.
Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy gives children the opportunity to engage in treatment while in water. Most importantly the properties of water can provide a psychological lift from the experiences some children have with land therapy or repeated visits to a hospital clinic.
The pool has unique features:
- 92° water and air temperature
- A filtration system that uses hydrogen peroxide coupled with ultraviolet sanitizer and sand filtration
- Multi-depth pool, shallow at one end with 18" of water, 3 feet in the middle section, and 4 feet at the opposite end.
- A ramp, stairs and submerged benches are part of the design
Benefits of Aquatic Therapy
With pool temperature set at 92 degrees and air temperature the same, benefits include increased circulation, increased blood supply to muscles, and increased muscle relaxation. Water therapy provides benefits of buoyancy, decreasing weight bearing on limbs and increasing support for unstable limbs. The hydrostatic pressure benefits include increased circulation and assistance in respiration. Water treatment challenges balance and reduces tactile defensiveness.
Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapist at Children's TLC is a specialist who addresses the child's fine motor development. This would include helping the child with such activities as; cutting, drawing, buttoning, tying, etc. In addition, the Occupational Therapist will focus upon perceptual abilities and self-care skills. The Occupational Therapist focuses on the functional abilities of the child while engaging the child in play based therapeutic activities. Currently, the Occupational Therapist provides services to approximately 70% of the children at Children's TLC. The goal of the Occupational Therapist is to address the needs of the total child so that they have the opportunity to be as self-reliant and independent as possible to function in everyday life.
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy at Children's TLC is oriented toward improving the child's mobility and overall movement skills. The Physical Therapist works with children to help relieve pain, develop and improve movement skills and prevent disabilities. The ultimate goal is to maximize each child's skills to move safely and independently in the classroom and in the community. The Physical Therapist provides services to approximately 50% of the student population at Children's TLC. In addition, those children who are suspected of having motor delays benefit from the consultation and recommendations the physical therapist can provide.
Speech-Language Pathology
The goal of the Speech-Language Pathologist is to help children with their communication development so that they can verbally interact in the most complex and effective manner. The Speech-Language Pathologist works to improve oral motor skills, such as sucking, biting and feeding; articulation skills, such as producing speech sounds; fluency; and voice, which includes pitch, loudness and quality; and language which includes vocabulary, sentence structure, and different methods of communication. The Speech-Language Pathologist works closely with the classroom teacher in the areas of language acquisition and language development and often must develop alternative ways of communicating with the child, such as sign language or communication boards. Approximately 85% of our children have problems with communication.
SOCIAL WORK SERVICES
Support for the families of children with special needs is very important. The stress that each family undergoes is increased when the additional responsibilities of caring for a child with disabilities are added. Social work services provide support and assistance to children and families through information, referral, advocacy, counseling, case management. All families at Children's TLC are eligible for social work services.
Information and Referral
The social worker provides parents information regarding the services that Children's TLC has available as well as services in the community. In addition, the social worker will assist the family in identifying the services that they may need and want to access.
Advocacy
The social worker is available to assist families in working through difficult situations. This includes working with infant/toddler services, public schools, Medicaid, insurance and other funding sources. The social worker will assist families in understanding the paths to take to work through the many different social systems.
Counseling
Many families face emotional challenges when raising a child with special needs. The social worker is available to help families discuss any issues that any of the family members are experiencing. The social worker will assist families in finding additional counseling if necessary.
Case Management
The social worker is usually the initial contact for a family interested in the programs that Children's TLC has available. The social worker will meet individually with each family to enroll the child in the appropriate services. The social worker serves as a team member with the staff to discuss the child's needs and progress. The social worker maintains an on-going relationship with the family. In addition, the social worker remains in contact with the child's doctors and service coordinator.
SERVICES IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Since 1991, Children's TLC has provided Home-Based services. Our Infant-Toddler Program serves children birth-3 years of age. The admission requirements for the infant-toddler home-based services are 1) the child has a diagnosed disorder; or 2) is at risk for developmental disorders. Once a child turns two, if early intervention can not be provided in the natural environment or that is not the most appropriate service, a structured preschool program can be explored.
What does Children's TLC provide?
Children's TLC provides individual occupational, physical, and speech therapy as well as special instruction, family education, consultation and advocacy, all in the natural environment. Multi-disciplinary Evaluations (MDEs) may be provided when requested.
What is considered a "natural environment?"
The natural environment may include the home, a child care facility, Mother's Day Out programs and/or other community locations where any child with or without disabilities might be.
How often would the staff at Children's TLC go into the natural environment?
Each child and family has a plan (called an Individualized Family Service Plan or IFSP) that clearly states the amount of time and the type of service required. Children's TLC follows the plan and provides those services noted in the plan.
How far from Children's TLC offices will the professional staff travel?
Children's TLC attempts to stay within a 30 mile radius of the Center at 31st and Main. Occasionally, the staff may go farther out than 30 miles when more than one family in the area can be scheduled.
What is the family's responsibility for payment for these services?
The family receives these services at no cost. Children's TLC will bill third parties (insurance, Medicaid, First Steps). The family may, or may not, elect to use any insurance they may have.
Who should be contacted about these services?
To make a referral of a child and family, or to ask any questions about this service, please contact our Social Worker at (816) 756-0780.