We're Back!

Rock Therapeutic Services has been growing a lot over the past few months!  Our Maple Valley office is getting busier and busier, and we have a new office in Mercer Island.  With all of these great changes happening, we wanted to bring the blog back to life.

We plan to have frequent posts, with all of our fantastic therapists taking turns posting.  We look forward to sharing our different interests and perspectives with you.  Posts will contain news about family-friendly community events, ideas for home activities to enhance your child's therapy, answers to frequently asked questions about speech and language development, and anything else we want to share.  

For our first post, here are a few upcoming community events that we thought our families might enjoy:

Pacific Science Center: Exploration for All -- Autism Early Open

On the second Saturday of each month, all families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder are invited to explore Pacific Science Center during a special free morning visit from 8-10 a.m. – before they open to the public. Experience their exhibits without heavy crowds when they have softened general lighting and decreased the noise level and visual stimulation on interactive exhibits wherever possible.  See the link above for upcoming dates and details.

Seattle Children's Hospital: Autism 200 Series

Autism 200 is a series of free 90-minute classes for parents and caregivers of children with autism who wish to better understand this disorder. Faculty from Seattle Children’s and the University of Washington and community providers teach the classes. Each class includes time for questions.

Classes are open to the general public, and there is no need to register in advance to attend. Lectures are held at Seattle Children’s Hospital's main campus in Wright Auditorium.  See the link above for more information.

--Sarah

Story Time at Public Libraries

From the Seattle Children's Hospital Autism Blog:

A new, early learning story time geared towards children ages 10 and under who have a hard time in larger story time groups, are on the autism spectrum, or are sensitive to sensory overload is beginning at two branches of the Seattle Public Library System.  All appropriate ages children are invited to any of the story times, but this story time may be more enjoyable for some children with autism.  Librarians will use preschool-level books, songs and movement during the story times.

Sensory Story Times: 10:15am on Saturdays, 9/7 - 11/23

(alternating between the Columbia City and Greenwood Branches)

Story Times are limited to 15 families.

Registration is required, please call 206 684-4086

Go to www.spl.org/sensorystorytime for more information including the visual story time schedule, links to the songs, and the detailed schedule.

Summer Social Groups 2013!

New for 2013...  We're teaming up with the Occupational Therapists from Maple Valley Pediatric Therapy to offer two different Summer Social Groups:

• Speech & OT Social Group (75 minute sessions, 3 days per week)
• Social Feeding Group (60 minute sessions, 1 day per week)

The groups will consist of 3-4 students plus 1 or 2 peer models and 2 or more instructors!

Please contact us for program details!

425 358-7160

Email

 

Fast Food Tied to Children's Allergies!

A study partially funded by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand, AstraZeneca New Zealand and the Auckland Medical Research Foundation has found that Children and Teens who eat fast foods multiple times a week are at an increased risk for sever asthma, rhinoconjuctivitis and eczema!

The researchers gathered symptom prevalence data on types of food intake and symptom prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, wheezing, and eczema from 319,196 teens, ages 13 and 14, from 51 countries, and 181,631 children, ages 6 and 7, from 31 countries through the third phase of the International Study of asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).

Fruit!
Fruit consumption at least once or twice a week was associated with a significant protective effect against the aforementioned conditions among children and teens.

Consumption of eggs, fruit, meat, and milk three or more times a week also showed a protective effect among the conditions.

Good News Regarding Neurodevelopmental Delays and Age Restrictions!

When it comes to children, Speech Therapy is almost always a 'habilitative' service, that is, it helps a person learn, keep, or improve skills and functional abilities that they may not be developing normally.  As opposed to a 'rehabilitative' service which focuses on regaining skills and abilities lost to injury or illness (ie: broken jaw or stroke).

Why does this matter?  Most insurance companies in WA State have two categories for Speech Therapy (one for 'rehabilitative' and the other for 'habilitative' services called 'neurodevelopmental therapy') and the benefit's for each differ severely.  Neuro-therapy is typically only covered for children six and younger.  So at a time when a child may need Speech Therapy the most their benefits are cut off and the parents are forced to pay out of pocket or more likely stop receiving services.

Recently a U.S. District Court judge ruled that Group Health of WA must remove age restrictions on certain neurodevelopmental therapies!  Lawsuits are also pending against Premera Blue Cross and Regence Blue Shield.

This has also gained the attention of the federal agencies that are developing regulations for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, health care reform legislation starting in 2014.  Hopefully we will see this age restriction removed on all insurance plans nationwide so that our children can continue receiving the services they need to flourish!

Grand Opening!

Join us in celebrating the Grand Opening of our new Maple Valley office!

Thursday, October 4th from 6:00 - 8:00pm

Enjoy food, beverages and good conversation as we ceremoniously cut the large ribbon and open the doors to our new Speech & Language Therapy clinic!

Details can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/events/235157393277830/

Please RSVP if you plan on attending: todd@rocktherapyservices.com

Summer Social Groups!

• Summer is almost here, don't miss out on our Speech & Language Social Groups!

• This is a great opportunity to bridge the Social & Emotional Development gaps between school years while also strengthening Speech & Language skills!

Here are some program details:
When:  July 16 - August 23 (6 weeks!), Monday through Thursday for 90 minutes each day.
Where:  In our NEW Maple Valley Office!
Who:  The groups will consist of 4-6 students plus 1 or 2 peer models and 1 or 2 instructors.

Program Activities:

• Imaginative Play - Utilizing language to initiate and maintain appropriate social interactions.
• Game Play - Encouraging the conversational skills necessary to initiate and maintain game play and casual conversation while also learning how to cope with the emotional effects of winning or losing.
• Reading - With a focus on correct articulation.

Register Soon, Space is Limited and Will Fill Up Fast!


Email todd@rocktherapyservices.com to get an application.