Services
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Through a diverse and customized treatment approach, our Occupational Therapists at CHC focus on improving each student’s “occupation,” or functional skills, in school and enhance their access to education. OT’s use a “whole”-istic approach to treatment, focusing on:
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improving academic, fine motor & visual motor skills of students
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supporting their self-help/self-care independence level and participation
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assisting them with feeding therapy needs
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helping them self-regulate and maintain attention
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promote strengths and skills in relation to prevocational/vocational tasks (when appropriate)
Physical Therapy (PT)
"Pediatric physical therapists (PTs) work with children and their families to assist each child in reaching their maximum potential to function independently and to promote active participation in home, school, and community environments. Pediatric PTs help kids improve their range of motion, strength, flexibility, posture, balance, coordination and movement patterns in order to help children move their bodies how and when they want to the best of their abilities."
Speech-Language therapy promotes the development of both receptive and expressive language skills. Here at CHC, our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) specialize in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), implementing AAC use and strategies to help support the students' natural means of communication. They believe in the total communication approach to speech, acknowledging all forms of communication such as:
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Facial Expressions
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Body Movement
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Gestures
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Picture Symbols
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Switches
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Low tech Voice Output Devices
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High Tech Speech Generating Devices
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Speech
Our SLPs work in collaboration with special education aides, PTs, OTs, vison teachers and nursing staff. We also work in collaboration with special education teachers to enhance their abilities to highlight language and provide an optimal communication environment during classroom instruction. SLPs also collaborate with OTs to create personalized feeding programs that ensure safety and nutrition, while promoting independent self-feeding skills. ​
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"We strive to give our student's a voice, to give them the choice and encourage them to advocate for themselves."
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*All CHC SLPs hold a master's degree, are NY State Licensed professionals with Teacher Certificates and members of the American Speech and Language Association (ASHA).*
Nursing:
Nursing activities and services focus on assessing students’ daily health, developing Individualized Health Care Plans, administration of medication, gastrostomy tube feedings, respiratory care (oxygen administration, trach care, ventilator needs), monitoring of seizures, monitoring of skin integrity, checking and recording of immunizations.In addition, we continuously educate our staff, share resourceful information with families, and promote health and safety to facilitate each student’s participation in the educational program and to foster their educational success.
Vison:
The role of the teacher of students with Visual Impairments(TVI) is to provide direct and/or consultative special education services specific to vison loss. The TVI provides support to students, teachers, and parents. The TVI works with the educational team by advising the team about ways of enhancing the student's learning by adapting activities and materials to the student's abilities.
Evaluations:
Contact [email protected] for more information about Evaluations
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Licensed Therapist who conduct the evaluations at CHC
Dale O'Toole: [email protected]
Carrie Kirkland: [email protected]
CHC Learning Center provides Early Interventions (EI) and Preschool evaluations through Western New York school districts.
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Evaluations determine a child’s eligibility into a early intervention (from birth to age 3) or a preschool program(from age 3-5).
Evaluations are conducted by a fully licensed and certified team. Evaluations are provide for education, Occupational/Physical/Speech Language Therapy's, psychological/social history and Vision​.