Videos
Studies show that many of the therapies listed below enhance:
Intellectual Development by developing abstract reasoning and problem solving skills while promoting concentration, memory and inspires imagination and creativity.
Emotional IQ by boosting self confidence, building self-discipline and makes learning fun.
Physical Ability by sharpening hand eye coordination and developing a sense of rhythm.
Social Interactivity by encouraging self-expression and building relationships with peers.
Please wait for videos to download. Download could take a couple minutes, depending on the connection speed.Music TherapyStudies show that music stimulates a child's brain and sparks listening, language, and creativity. Researchers have proved that kids who know how to play an instrument tend to excel academically, even scoring higher on standardized tests! (Firstact.com).
All of these reasons add up to why have music everyday and incorporate music in so many of our activities everyday.
Equine Assisted ABA/Speech Therapy
Step 1
We incorporate different therapies, where our therapists work together to optimize progress. Each child has their own objectives. In this video the children are doing the first step of this type of co therapy. Each step must be mastered before the next step can be started. The children learn to care for the pony as well as the responsibility of all that is involved. It is not just a "Pony ride". The children must pick out a brush and brush the pony, pick the correct riding gear and help to dress the pony and when all is done, they also help to put all the equipment away. These are real life skills and we try to teach them in everything we do.
Step 2
Saddling the pony
Step 3
Sometimes the children may be shy of the pony at first, so we work with them by having them follow another student and participating, seeing that there is nothing to be afraid of.
We also have an assistant switch out the props on the trail for each child when we change riders. This keeps things interesting for the children. We try to have different props at different places so they really have to look for things.
ABC and Sign Language
We use sign language in many of our songs for all the children. Sign language optimizes speech by using the visual and verbal areas of the brain and its fun to the kids.
Story Time with Noah's Ark
Story time is very important to help the children learn to sit in their zone and perform certain tasks when asked, this readies them for school as well as improves thinking, comprehension, social skills, reading and so much more! We like to use friendly Biblical based readings as much as possible, to help build a foundation of faith and morals, and so our children know, to never feel alone because there is always someone with them, God.
Desensitizing
Desensitizing of enticing surroundings for optimal concentration in the real world environment. Its is hard enough for a "Neuro-typical kid" to avoid a room full of toys, and also easily put it up when told without playing with it, but it is very hard for an autistic child to do this, but they need to know how to cooperate in the real world...you can see in this video, the little girl puts the toy back without playing with it and joins friends in her zone for days of the week
Grace
We teach life skills, so we eat at a real kitchen table in a natural setting, so children can learn skills they need to socialize at the table in other environments
Academics
Each child has their own set of skills they work on daily. They have table time with a friend and table time one on one with the therapist. With a friend, the children learn how to work in a group and can pattern from one another as well as learn to concentrate on a task with distractions. This is very difficult for an autistic child to do. In one on one table time, each child gets very intensive skill direction with optimal concentration.
In this video, the children are working one on one with our full time speech therapist, Ms. Penny, and the President of the ABA association of Texas, Dr. Gordon Bourland.
Our school curriculum is created and taught individually for each child's needs using the Montessori school curriculum.
Computer Skills
With today's technology racing around every corner, we know it is important for all children to learn as much computer skills as possible. We use curriculum based programs that the school districts use for the level of each child every day.
Music, Dance & Theater
We use real music, dance and songs to help encourage speech, directions and social group skills as well as improving vestibular abilities and how to have fun all at the same time! The children get hands on music with a certified music therapist on many different instruments as well as Live music. In this video, the children are learning directions (rt, lft, in and out), increasing their core strength and vestibular balance as well as fast direction and transitioning!
Our dance and Theater is coordinated through collaboration of our therapists with the former Director of the Dallas Children's Theatre.
Physical and Vestibular Therapy
We use many types of therapy techniques, depending on what the target skill is for each child. In this one, we are using bubble balls and having the children to say "Bubble" and "Yes Please", "More please" while they are getting lots of sensory pressure randomly while trying to balance. We try to make therapy as fun as possible for the children, because everyone learns and processes so much better when happy.
