Services
Our staff is committed to providing services to children in
combination with their primary care and specialty care providers, school(s),
and other involved
community-based service agencies. The staff at GPT works closely with the child’s
family to address the family’s needs and concerns, and to incorporate
the goals of the family in developing and implementing their child’s
treatment program.
Therapy services
at GPT include the following:
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy involves the use of purposeful activity or therapeutic
interventions constructed to facilitate functional outcomes that influence
health and which develop, enhance, maintain or re-establish the highest possible
level of independence of any individual who has physical, cognitive, emotional
and psychosocial demands that present themselves on a daily basis and in
the presence of disability, disease, or other disorders or conditions.
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Physical Therapy
Physical therapy involves the application of scientific
principles to promote functional independence by evaluating the physical capacities
and limitations
of individuals for designing treatment to alleviate pain, correct or minimize
deformity, increase strength and mobility, and influence general health.
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Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy in the Educational
Setting
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA), occupational therapy and physical therapy are defined as “related
services,” which
students with disabilities who receive special education are entitled to,
only if it will help them benefit from their special education program.
Public schools
are mandated to provide free, appropriate education in the least restrictive
environment to children with disabilities who need special education and
related services. This means that to the maximum extent possible, students
with disabilities
should be educated with students without disabilities. Occupational therapy
and physical therapy practitioners working in the school setting must therefore
focus on improving a child’s functional skills as related to his or
her performance in the educational environment. Occupational therapy and
physical
therapy service delivery is integrated in the school environment to the greatest
extent possible and involves collaboration with the educational staff. Top
Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT)
NDT is a treatment technique that was developed by Berta Bobath, a physical
therapist, and her husband Karel Bobath, a medical doctor. NDT is widely
used by occupational and physical therapists to remediate neurological and developmental
motor dysfunction. The goals of NDT are to reduce the influence of abnormal
muscle tone and postural reactions, to promote functional movement patterns,
and to prevent deformities. NDT techniques offer a hands-on approach to addressing
the issues of motor learning and control. Top
Sensory Integration (SI)
Sensory
integration is a theory and technique developed by A. Jean Ayres, a psychologist
and occupational therapist. Ayres described
SI as “the
organization of sensation for use” (Ayres, 1979). In sensory integration
theory, SI is referred to as a neurological process that occurs naturally
within the brain with little conscious effort or attention. It involves the
processing
and integration of external and internal sensory information within the brain,
and the ability to use this information functionally through appropriate
adaptive responses. The sensory information that is received into our nervous
systems
from our environment or from within our bodies includes not only the senses
most people are familiar with (auditory (hearing), visual (seeing), olfactory
(smell), gustatory (taste), tactile (touch)), but also other sensations that
arise from within our bodies, such as vestibular and kinesthetic/proprioceptive
sensory input. It is postulated that the process of SI has an impact on our
development, motor control, learning and behavior. Top
Oral-Motor Development
The development of oral-motor skills is often addressed by pediatric occupational
therapists. Following evaluation, which includes assessment of the oral structures,
sensory processing and motor function, a treatment plan or oral-motor program
can be developed. An occupational therapist typically guides a child through
the developmental process of sensory awareness and/or tolerance, to be proceeded
by biting, chewing and swallowing. The overall goal of oral-motor development
and treatment is to achieve oral nutrition to the highest level possible. Top
Additional programs that are offered at GPT include:
Gymnastics Class
Gymnastics
is an activity that promotes balance, strength, coordination, flexibility, and
body awareness, as well as social interaction
and self-confidence.
GPT’s
class focuses on recreational gymnastics and events, including the balance
beam, bars, rings, tumbling, and vault. Skills are taught in a progression
that begins with basic skills and builds up to more intermediate and advanced
skills, as appropriate for each individual child. For the child’s safety,
each class is highly structured and organized and all participants are required
to stay with the group for the duration of the class.
Session: 4 weeks each month
Days/Time: Classes are offered on Friday afternoons, after school.
Length of Classes: 45 minutes
Price: Payment will cover the price for the entire 4 week session. Estimated
fee is between $65 to $75 per 4-week session.
Ages: 4 to 12 years
Student to Coach Ratio: 4-6
(students) to 1(coach), depending on the abilities of the students in the
class. Top
Sample
Class Structure and Activities
5-10
minutes: Warm-up that focuses on preparing the body for exercise, as well
as teaching basic body positions.
30 minutes: In general, two different circuits are set up that incorporate balance beam,
vaulting, tumbling, bars and
rings. Some activities in the
circuit require hands-on assistance from the coaches, while the students
perform other
stations individually, with supervision. Each circuit lasts approximately
10 to 15 minutes. In addition, new skills are taught one at a time, while
other
students observe the lesson and wait their turn in line.
5
minutes: Conditioning activities will focus on increasing muscle
strengthening and endurance.
The structure and activities included in each class
varies, depending on the participants’ abilities
and needs.
Sign-up: Enrollment
for the gymnastics class occurs on a first come, first serve basis. The
more children that sign-up, the more classes will be offered. Top
Early Intervention
Program
Gallagher
Pediatric Therapy
GTP All Stars
805 Global Infant Development Program
Start Date:
March 27, 2006
Contact:
Sue Shaw, Program Director
Extension 118
Cell phone #: (951) 206-7768 Top