OMiss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz provides pediatric services to children ages birth to 18 years. Over 18 years of age will be considered on a case by case basis. We have experiencing in working with, but not limited to: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD/ADD, Apraxia, Behavior Challenges, Cerebral Palsy, Childhood Trauma, Down Syndrome, Developmental Delays, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Executive Function Challenges; FAS, Genetic Syndromes, Gross and Fine Motor Delays, Handwriting, Head Injuries, Disabilities, Neurological Disorders, Play Skill Delays, Prematurity, Self-Care Skill Delays, Sensory Processing Disorder, Sensory Integration Challenges, Social and Emotional Disorders, and Visual Perceptual and Visual Motor Integration Challenges.  We are always open to new challenges and are willing to learn about new and rare diagnosis. Although a diagnosis assists us with referrals and reimbursement, we focus our intervention on what your child needs, what are their strengths and challenges, and what are your child and family goals.  Who and How: Children who experience challenges in any area of development (motor skills, social/emotional skills, play skills, behavior, sensory processing skills, etc) which is inhibiting their ability to meet their optimal level of independence; participate in family, community, and school; and/or experience quality of life with their best version of self.

 1. We complete an evaluation, by a licensed and credentialed therapist, based on your child’s strengths and challenges and your and/or your child’s goals to assist in determining the need for intervention. We also take into consideration the areas of expertise of therapy staff, the availability of appropriate treatment materials and equipment, the appropriate environment for your child, and the safety of your child and our staff. If we believe your child would benefit from treatment but is not appropriate for our services at Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz due to the factors stated above, we will work with you to attempt to find the appropriate referral, agency, or practice that can provide the needed services.

 2. We establish a treatment plan and goals, again with a licensed credentialed therapist in collaboration with you and your child. In a collaborative process with your child, you/your family, and the therapist and/or therapist assistant, goals are established and reassessed (anywhere from every 6th visit to every 6 months often driven by insurance requirements, but no less than every 6 months) to determine frequency and duration of services.

 3. Your child is scheduled for therapy sessions which may be with a licensed therapist or therapist assistant under the supervision of the licensed therapist.

 4. There may be times when your child qualifies for services, however due to scheduling we are unable to provide a consistent optimal time for your child’s therapy session. At this time, we will place your child on our on-list. This process will allow you to be called whenever there is an opening on the schedule to give you the opportunity to access services.  

5. Discharge planning begins at the evaluation, we love your child, but it is not our goal to keep them in therapy for ever. We collaborate with you to best use all resources to facilitate optimal functional independence over the lifespan. However, there are some instances when discharge will occur: no longer demonstrates the need for intervention-a child has demonstrated progress and testing/reporting indicate child is functioning at their best level of independence, the therapist will collaborate with the family, address concerns, establish appropriate community referrals if appropriate, and establish a discharge date with a celebration of success; does not appear to benefit from continued services-progress in therapy is reviewed on an ongoing basis, if after 6 months, progress is not demonstrated, further collaboration with family and treatment team will occur which may result in revision of treatment plan to better fit the child’s needs. If, following the second 6 month period, progress and/or goal attainment has not been demonstrated, another collaboration will occur with discussion to include possibility of treatment plan revision, increasing/decreasing frequency of sessions, and discharge. If at the end of the third 6 month period, there has been no progress and/or goal attainment, and the previously steps were followed, the child may be discharged; the child and/or family  are unwilling over a period of time to work towards agreed upon goals-if the family and/or child refuse to participate in therapy sessions in an appropriate and therapeutic manner as well as do not comply with home activities; safety of child, peers, and/or staff-other people accessing services at Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz, including family members, peers, staff or the person themselves are at risk of harm; are not meeting financial responsibilities to Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz-if a family is unable to meet their financial obligations to Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz and have not made any payment arrangements as outlined in the Financial Policy; do not meet the required attendance-poor attendance as outlined in the Attendance Policy; demonstrate severe incompatibility with others and/or therapists at Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz-if a family and/or child is unable to interact/behave in an appropriate and respectful manner to peers, therapists, staff, and environment; child demonstrates dramatic health changes-child’s health requires a significantly increased level of care or a service model that is not available/provided by Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz; are removed at the request of the caregiver-discharge will be completed upon caregiver request are removed at the discretion of the Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz –Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz reserves the right to discharge/refuse service to any client at any time. Any persons whose services are terminated has the right to appeal.

 6. Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz dedicated to establishing an intentional relationship with you and your child based on honesty, trust, and transparency. We believe continuity of care is vital to facilitating tolerance to challenge and progression of skill. However, due to the nature of therapy, there may be times when your child will experience a change in therapists. We will work hard to give as much notice as possible to prepare for these changes: therapist relocation; lack of “the right fit” of child and therapist resulting in lack of progress/plateau of progress or not developing a therapeutic relationship; caregiver request; family request for time and day change of ongoing therapy sessions; and change in therapist’s availability. Unfortunately, there may be times when this is not possible: therapist out sick/family emergency; family and/or therapist request schedule change for with short notice; and unexpected issue (scheduling, transportation, technology, etc). Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz will work with you to accommodate changes in a timely and proactive manner to facilitate a positive and smooth transition for all.

 7. Termination of Services: Every client has the right to terminate their services with Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz at any time and without prejudice for future access to services.  We ask that you participate in an exit interview to discuss the reason for departure and obtain feedback about how we can improve. Miss Shannon’s Therapy 4 Kidz will provide assistance at your request to support exiting or changing services. If we are not the right match for you and your child, we want to assist in transitioning your child as quickly and smoothly as possible to their next therapist.  What Your child’s intervention is based on and developed around clinical reasoning, theories of practice, and evidencebased practice. These include, but are not limited to: Adaptive Equipment; Aquatic Therapy; Astronaut Training-a sound activated vestibular-visual protocol for moving-“as a bridge between sensory processing and movement control, the vestibular system play a major role in everything we do…”-M. Kawar, MS, OTR and S. Frick, OTR; Education of child, family, and caregivers-“it takes a village”; Executive Function Activities; Fine and Gross Motor Activities; Functional Communication-is not the same as speech and language development; Myofascial Releasethe gentle release and facilitation of your myofascial tissue to allow for movement; Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT)-enhance motor function ability to facilitate functional independence; Play-play is the occupation of children; Self-Care Activities; Sensorimotor Activities-the foundation of which to build all other skills result in the integration of reflexes and establishment of core muscles, “…critical developmental scaffolding which supports higher cognitive function.”-C. Kaoscinski, MOT, OTR/L Sensorimotor Interventions ; Sensory Integration/Sensory Processing;  Social-Emotional Activities; and Visual Perceptual and Visual Motor Integration Activities.