Center for Pediatric Therapies

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Center for Pediatric Therapies attends Autism Conference in Richmond

Representatives from the Center for Pediatric Therapies attended Commonwealth Autism’s 16th Annual Autism Conference: Optimize for Success on March 9, 2017 in Richmond, Virginia. Kristen Houser Barker, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist and Executive Director of the Center for Pediatric Therapies was also a guest speaker at the conference. She led a break-out session titled “Introduction to Sensory Integration.”
Commonwealth Autism is a Richmond-based non-profit with the mission to build the capacity of the autism and developmental disability service provider network through leadership, innovation, example, and collaboration.  The Commonwealth Autism Annual Conference is an opportunity for parents, caregivers and professionals to come together and learn about a broad range of topics relevant to the topic of autism.
The Center for Pediatric Therapies is a full service pediatric rehabilitation provider, offering speech-langauge pathology, occupational therapy and physical therapy to children from birth to age 21 in Danville, Lynchburg, South Boston, Martinsville and Roanoke, Virginia. CPT established the Building Blocks Center for Children with Autism in 2004 to meet the growing need for intensive services for children with autism. Building Blocks is a private day school for children age 2 to 14 with autism.
In 2014, CPT entered into a capacity building partnership with Commonwealth Autism to enhance the quality of autism services available in the greater Danville area. This partnership represents a high level of commitment to increasing the education, training, and ongoing support for staff, with the goal of improving educational and behavioral outcomes for students at Building Blocks and for children with autism receiving therapy at CPT.
Pictured above (left to right): Ebony Coleman, BS, Lead Behavior Technician, Building Blocks Center for Children with Autism; Rachael Huggins, BS, RBT, Autism Specialist; Kristen Houser Barker, OTR/L, Executive Director; and Autumn Kaufman, MS, BCBA, LBA and Amanda Buchmeier, MS, BCBA, LBA, both of Commonwealth Autism.

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Center for Pediatric Therapies celebrates 15 years serving Southside Virginia

 

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Center for Pediatric Therapies (CPT) is pleased to announce its fifteenth year as the area’s leading pediatric rehabilitation provider. Serving children and families in the city of Danville and surrounding regions, CPT specializes in occupational, physical, and speech therapy services for the pediatric population.

Established in 2001, Center for Pediatric Therapies is a full service rehabilitation clinic serving children from birth through age 21 in Southside Virginia. CPT offers a multidisciplinary approach to treat a variety of neurological, orthopedic, and developmental conditions. Services are delivered in the most appropriate environment for the child, whether that is in the home, daycare, school, or outpatient clinic setting.

Historically families living in the city of Danville, and neighboring counties, traveled sixty plus miles to secure rehabilitation services for their children. In September 2001, Center for Pediatric Therapies opened its first location in Danville, VA. Over the next several years, Center for Pediatric Therapies quickly expanded to house locations in Lynchburg, Martinsville, and South Boston, Virginia.

In 2004, Center for Pediatric Therapies broadened its scope of services and established Building Blocks Center for Children with Autism, a fully licensed and accredited private special education day school. Building Blocks provides specialized instruction and behavioral support for children and families affected by autism.

Since its inception, Center for Pediatric Therapies continues to function as the comprehensive provider of specialized pediatric rehabilitation, offering occupational, physical, and speech therapy services serving in the Southside and Central Virginia. Most recently, CPT has expanded to also provide services in Roanoke, Virginia.

Terri Brinkley, mother of a former patient of Center for Pediatric Therapies is thankful for the dedicated therapists that helped her son, Caleb, to thrive.

“Caleb grew up at CPT. We spent two or three times a week there until he was eight years old. Caleb is now a successful student at Galileo High School and is involved in many extracurricular activities. Because Caleb received specialized care in his early childhood, we see no end in sight to the possibilities in his life,” states Mrs. Brinkley.

CPT is committed to not only providing specialized therapies for children, but also to supporting their families and the community as a whole. The Center for Pediatric Therapies is a proud sponsor of TOP Soccer and participates in various health fairs, career fairs, and other community events. In 2012, CPT established the Dan River Autism Awareness 5K in partnership with other local providers and businesses. The Autism Awareness 5k has grown to the be the largest 5k in Southside and has raised more than $200,000 and established the Autism Education Fund of the Dan River Region. (Save the Date! The 6th Annual Dan River Autism Awareness 5k is Saturday, April 29, 2017. Register now >)

Currently, CPT is collaborating with several local healthcare providers to establish a community-based autism diagnostic clinic for families to access and seek earlier diagnosis and intervention.

CPT is dedicated to helping the economic revitalization of the Southwest region through the recruitment and retention of skilled professionals in the fields of pediatric occupational, physical, speech, and behavioral therapies. CPT serves as a clinical training site for students pursuing careers in pediatric therapies. CPT now employs fifty-six therapists and support staff across five cities. The company looks to continue to grow; currently, CPT is hiring speech-language pathologists and physical therapists. (View job openings >)

 

Kristen Barker, Executive Director of the Center for Pediatric Therapies, addressed members of the staff at a reception held in honor of the company’s anniversary. Barker said, “CPT’s ability to serve and expand over the past 15 years is directly attributed to the dedication, skill, and quality of our therapists and support staff.”

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Co-Owners Kristen Barker and Tommy Mathena thanked staff for their service to CPT at a reception held September 23, 2016

Staff who have reached 5, 10, and 15 year employment anniversaries were recognized at a reception held September 23, 2016 at the beautifully renovated headquarters of Supply Resources at 554 Craghead Street in Danville, Virginia.

Staff were recognized for having over 5, 10, or 15 years of service
Staff were recognized for having over 5, 10, or 15 years of service

For more photos from the staff reception, visit our Facebook page >

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5 Ways Benefits of Swimming for Children Autism

Swimming can have many benefits for children with autism, including developments in communication, sensory integration, social skills, time and task completion, and water safety. Not to mention, swimming is fun, so let’s dive right in!

1. Communication

Children with autism can have delays in communication development. Building Blocks uses various augmentative and alternative communication tools to facilitate effective and efficient communication with our students.  One example is providing each student with a daily schedule using symbols, instead of words.

Building Blocks Summer Program Daily Schedule with Swim Practice

The vertical alignment of the symbols tells the student the order of events, while each symbol indicates an activity. From this schedule, the student knows her day will start at the lockers, followed by a bathroom break, and visit to the schedule board. Next, she’ll change into her bathing suit, then practice swimming at the indoor pool and outdoor pools. Then, she’ll change clothes and have lunch before going home.

Building Blocks Summer Program

As the day progresses, the student checks off each activity as it is completed. We find that the symbol schedule is a great tool, but of course, expressive communication is also key throughout the day’s activities.

2. Sensory integration

Children with autism can have sensory integration issues.  Swimming is a great opportunity to work on sensory integration using the texture and temperature of the water, light reflecting on the water, and sounds traveling around water.

Bethany Swimming with Students at the Building Blocks Summer Program 2012

3. Social skills

Children with autism can have social-interaction difficulties.  Swimming provides an opportunity to improve upon social skills by facilitating interaction between the student and the other people in the pool.  This might mean working with a staff member to practice floating, or sharing goggles with a classmate.

Building Blocks Summer Program - Swimming Practice

 

4. Time and task completion

At the indoor pool, each student works one-on-one with one of our staff members to complete one or two lists of tasks. Based on how quickly the student completes each list, he is given time for free play in the pool. At the end of a set amount of time, he leaves the indoor pool and heads to the outside pools.

The first list starts off basic, allowing the student to get used to the environment.

First and second, the student is asked to touch water with his hands, then with his feet.

Touch water with hands and feet

Third, the student splashes the water with her hands.

Bethany splashing with Students at the Building Blocks Summer Program 2012

Fourth, the student splashes the water with his feet.

Fifth, the student kicks his legs on the side of the pool.

Splash with feet

Sixth, the student gets his whole body in the water with an adult.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swimming Practice

Seventh, the student “kisses” the water.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swimming Lessons

List 2 requires a bit more comfort in the water.

First, the student blows bubbles.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swim Practice

Second, the student lies on his belly in “the superman” position.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swim Practice

Third, the student floats on his back in “the big belly” position.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swimming Practice

Fourth,  the student kicks her legs while holding onto an adult.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swimming Practice

Fifth, the student kicks while holding onto a kickboard or noodle.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 - Swimming Practice

Sixth, the student goes under water.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 Swimming Practice

Seventh, the student treads water.

Building Blocks Summer Program 2012 Swimming Practice

5. Water safety

Water safety is always important, but this is especially true for children with autism because they do not always respond to verbal commands, and can be easily distracted.  Through swimming practice, we hope to increase our students’ familiarity with water, swimming skills, and understanding of water safety.

Note: Thank you to our students’ parents and legal guardians for giving us permission to use the photos above. 

 

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Caron Inglis brings expertise in behavior analysis to Building Blocks

Behavior analysis training at Building Blocks Center for Children with Autism
Caron Inglis, BCBA, provides training to other staff members

We are pleased to announce that Caron Inglis, MS, BCBA has joined the team at Building Blocks Center for Children with Autism.  Caron is an independent, board certified behavior analyst.  She will provide ongoing clinical and staff consultation in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

Building Blocks recognizes Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as the research-based method for successful treatment of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Intensive instruction significantly increases the chances for gains in intellectual and social development. Helping children with ASD requires qualified and highly trained individuals working together with families.

Here is some background information on applied behavior analysis and autism:

Behavior analysis focuses on the principles that explain how learning takes place. Positive reinforcement is one such principle. When a behavior is followed by some sort of reward, the behavior is more likely to be repeated. Through decades of research, the field of behavior analysis has developed many techniques for increasing useful behaviors and reducing those that may cause harm or interfere with learning.

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the use of these techniques and principles to bring about meaningful and positive change in behavior.

Today, ABA is widely recognized as a safe and effective treatment for autism. It has been endorsed by a number of state and federal agencies… Over the last decade, the nation has seen a particularly dramatic increase in the use of ABA to help persons with autism live happy and productive lives. In particular, ABA principles and techniques can foster basic skills such as looking, listening and imitating, as well as complex skills such as reading, conversing and understanding another person’s perspective.

Source: www.AutismSpeaks.org

Caron’s experience, knowledge and skills have already made positive impacts with our students and staff. We look forward to working with Caron throughout the upcoming school year!

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Dan River Autism 5k Walk/Run

Building Blocks Center for Autism is proud to be a founding partner and corporate sponsor of the 1st annual Dan River Autism 5k Walk/Run.  This event will be held  Saturday, April 21, 2012 on The River Walk at Dan Daniel Memorial Park in Danville, Virginia. Funds raised will be donated to Autism Speaks.

There are several ways to get involved with Dan River Autism 5k Walk/Run:

1. Walk or Run!

Anyone can register to start a join, join an existing team, or register as an individual.

2. Donate to a Team or an Individual

If you are unable to participate by walking or running, you can still support the cause by donating to a registered team or individual.

3. Be a Corporate Sponsor

Corporate sponsors enable us to cover expenses related to the event, such as t-shirts, cones, shelter rental, etc.  As a corporate sponsor, your company will be recognized on the event t-shirt and in public relations/marketing materials.

For more information and to get involved, become a Fan of the Dan River Autism 5k Walk/Run on Facebook.