When traditional therapies are just not helping your child the way that you had hoped, there is another solution – hybrid Behavior Therapy.There are times in therapy when it seems nothing is working. The same therapies that worked a month or even a week ago may quickly lose their effectiveness. That is a normal – though uncomfortable – part of the process as children develop. When your child hits that point, it may be time to try something new.

At Peak Potential Therapy, we believe that children with disabilities sometimes need a new way to learn behaviors. We also believe that every child can benefit from a wide range of approaches. With this theory in mind, we are offering hybrid Behavior Therapy. A combination of ABA and Floortime processes, we help kids to choose to learn new responses in an environment geared toward developing the whole person.

Give us a call today to learn more about how our Behavior Therapy services can be integrated into your child’s treatment plan. Our caring staff is here to help. Call today!

The holidays will be here before you know it! While it can be a time of great enjoyment and fun, it can also be completely overwhelming for children with special needs. There are ways that you can ease the stress of the holiday season for your child. Here are just a few things to think about:

Keep your schedule consistent as much as possible. Gathering with friends and family can wreak havoc on the schedule that your child is accustomed to. As much as possible, keep your child’s schedule consistent. That may mean nap times, foods and waking times are all the same, while there may be some variation in daily activites. Keeping things the same at home home will help your child more easily transition when coming back from an outing.

Offer a quiet room or relaxation toys. If you are traveling or will be gone for a long day, find a quiet space where your child can take a break. An extra bedroom at a relative’s house may make a perfect refuge for a few minutes of rest during the fun. In addition, considering bringing toys that help your child to relax such as a blanket or stress ball.

Show pictures of relatives before seeing them. One of the most challenging parts of the holidays is seeing people that seem new. A great way to acclimate your child before seeing relatives is to show them pictures, or even make a small photo album. They will seem more familiar during the event if your child has seen them at home in a relaxed atmosphere in a photo.

Be flexible. While it may be your family tradition to travel to Aunt Nora’s for Thanksgiving each year, be willing to say no to some of the events. There may be days when traveling will simply put more stress on your family than it is worth. It is okay for you to miss traditional events in order to keep the peace in your own home.

Ask for help. Respite care services are ideal for the holiday season especially if your child is feeling overwhelmed. A trusted respite care provider can make sure that your child is calm and safe while you and the rest of your family take advantage of the holiday fun.

The holidays can be one of the most challenging parts of the year. With a little planning and a lot of flexibility, you and your family can enjoy the holidays this year without the stress that usually comes from the holiday season.

There is no doubt that receiving a special needs diagnosis from your physican can be devastating. While the hopes and dreams you may have had for your child will be changed by the news, there are things that you can do to make sure that you and your family are able to move forward.

The first step is to acknowledge your feelings. You may be angry, sad, depressed or feel that life is simply not fair. All of these feelings – and any that haven’t been listed – are certainly legitimate. Take the the time to write in a journal, talk to a trusted friend, or even meet with a counselor or minister to help you sort out your feelings.

Taking care of yourself is the next step. Maintaining self-care routines will help you to feel your best and think clearly, which will, in turn, help you to make good decisions about care for your child. Whether you love to work out, take a yoga class, walk your dogs or go out to dinner with friends, taking the time to care for your own needs will give you the strength to meet the needs of your child.

Investing in relationships is also critical with a new diagnosis. While it may be tempting to hibernate from everyone that you know – including your spouse – the time of a new diagnosis is exactly the time to invest in those relationships. Let people know what you are going through, talk about how you feel and share that with your spouse. Reaching out to others and hearing about their lives will allow you to feel a bit closer to normal as well.

Finally, do your research and make a plan. Any special needs diagnosis can set you off on a long journey of gathering information. Look for reputable sites on the internet that explain a bit more about your dianosis and make a list of questions for your health care provider. Once your questions have been answered, then make a plan of how to help your child and start keeping written records. A simple spiral notebook can be one of the easiest ways to keep all of your questions and notes in the same place.

While a new diagnosis can be overwhelming, it can be managed. By taking the time for self-care, reaching out to others and doing research, you will get through the initial stage, allowing you to move forward.

Now that school is in full swing, you may have questions that need to be answered about the progress that your child is making. If you are having trouble getting your child’s school to pay attention to your son or daughter’s individual needs, these steps may help. Consider taking these steps:

Know what your rights are. As a parent of a special needs child, you are their number one advocate. As such, knowing that your child has rights to education will help you to encourage the school to move forward. Three primary pierces of legislation apply to the education of children with special needs. They are the Individuals with Disabilities Education Action, Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Schedule an in-person meeting. While it may be more convenient to simple email or call, if you aren’t getting the attention that you need schedule an in-person meeting with your child’s teacher or other school official. Meeting in person shows that you are serious about communicating with the school.

Prepare an agenda. When you attend your meeting, prepare your questions in advance and make sure they are specific. Questions such as, “How is my daughter doing in class?” will give you far less information than, “What have you observed about my daughter’s ability to socialize during class projects?”

Follow up with written requests. Once your meeting is over, make sure to follow up with a thank you email that contains any written requests that you have made. This is important for your own record keeping. Make sure to print off a copy and follow up with the teacher or school administrator in a timely fashion to make sure that what you agreed on has been done.

Keep a copy of school records. If your child has an existing IEP or 504 plan, make sure to have a copy for your own records. This detailed plan will help you to determine if the education and assistance that was offered has been put into place.

Working with your school district to get your child’s needs met is an easy process. With a little research, in-person meetings and excellent follow up, you will have opened a door of communication and cooperation with your child’s teachers.