Speech and Language. Social Communication. Occupational Therapy. Self Regulation

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1 Speech and Language Social Communication Occupational Therapy Self Regulation Executive Functioning Skills 4400 Keller Avenue, Suite 200, Oakland, CA (510)

2 Experience Makes the Difference Since 2001, Communication Works has offered an unmatched combination of experience, innovation, and dedication. Our multidisciplinary team includes licensed and certified speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), a social cognitive specialist, and a trained, experienced executive function coach. We provide effective intervention and services to help our clients meet their goals. We provide: Screenings Comprehensive Evaluations Individual and Group Therapy Parent, Caregiver, and Family Education Consultation (parents, schools, professionals) Professional Trainings Program Development Center, In-Home, School and Off-Site Options The therapists at CW genuinely care for the kids and have an amazing passion for the work that they do. We love the fact that they work with kids of all ages and the kids benefit at each and every level. Jen, parent

3 Our Philosophy We believe in a team approach and encourage collaboration and partnerships between client families, caregivers, school staff, and other professionals. We support the whole client and help our clients communicate and connect to their fullest potential. Communication Works 4400 Keller Avenue, Suite 200 Oakland, California (510) CW Speech & Language Pathologists, Inc

4 Center Services Services Early Intervention Speech & Language Occupational Therapy Screenings Screenings consist of a brief evaluation at the Center or off-site to determine if further testing is necessary. Consultation A variety of consultation services are provided to support our clients, families, professionals, and team members. Evaluation We provide thorough evaluations and comprehensive reports to help those involved understand our clients strengths and areas of concern. Following the evaluation, we interpret and discuss the findings and provide recommendations in order to develop an individualized treatment plan. The plan may include group and/or individual therapy. Self-Regulation Group Therapy Communication Works (CW) brings clients of similar ages and abilities together in a fun and safe environment for weekly social and self-regulation group therapy. We teach strategies and concepts to help our clients communicate and connect with others. Groups meet weekly and include parent/caregiver education. Individual Therapy Based on evaluation results and/or recommendations, individual therapy is provided. Parent, Caregiver & Family Education Family/team education is essential for client progress; therefore, each therapy session devotes time for caregiver/team education and consultation. Concepts and strategies are provided so that they can be implemented and reinforced in the home, school and/or work environment. Social Communication Executive Function Therapy over for more...

5 Center Services Professional Training Part of our mission at CW is to collaborate and share information with our community. Teacher, school, and professional training sessions are provided to facilitate carryover of learned concepts and skills from the therapy setting to school, work, and home. We also provide training in our areas of specialty to support staff awareness and development. Center and Off-Site Options Our Center is a safe and fun environment for our clients to learn and grow; however, we can also work in the school, home, or work environment to meet the needs of our clients. Enrollment Through our intake and evaluation process, we help our clients determine the roadmap of services. Intervention is customized for each client and implements evidence-based programs and therapy techniques. If you have questions about our services, or want to begin the enrollment process, please visit our website at cwtherapy.com and complete the intake forms. Step-by-step instructions will guide you through the process. You can also talk to one of our staff to determine the roadmap for services by calling our Center at (510)

6 Occupational Therapy What is Occupational Therapy? If someone is not able to function to his or her fullest potential in the meaningful activities of daily life, occupational therapy can help. For a child, that occupation includes playing, going to school, eating, grooming, dressing, outings and other daily tasks. Occupational therapy can advance global development, including speech and language skills, and promote independence in key areas of daily life, such as social interactions and academics. Who Can Benefit If your child is displaying any challenging behaviors in the areas listed below, he or she may benefit from the services of an occupational therapist: Sensory and emotional regulation Processing and integration of sensory input Social skills Fine motor, visual motor, and/or gross motor skills Attending, listening, and processing Organization and time management Cognitive tasks Self-help: eating, dressing, grooming, etc. How Communication Works Can Help Our team is well known for innovative interventions that support selfawareness, as well as tools and strategies to balance and connect the body and mind. Some of our intervention strategies include: The Zones of Regulation Sensory Integration Therapy Cognitive Behavior Management SCERTS Model Social Learning and Social Thinking Therapy Superflex and other curricula that focus on anxiety and behavioral support Parent/caregiver education is a critical component of occupational therapy that supports carryover of learned concepts and skills into the natural environment. Learn more about Occupational Therapy: cwtherapy.com/occupationaltherapy

7 Executive Functioning What is Executive Functioning? When given the choice, we all choose success over failure yet even the brightest individual can struggle with setting goals, organizing a plan, and completing tasks. At school and at home, real-world problem solving requires knowing how to respond versus react, using flexible instead of rigid thinking, and using past experiences to create a plan to get a desired result. These skills, collectively known as executive functioning, help us with everything from getting dressed or writing an essay to maintaining friendships and regulating our emotions and behaviors. Who Can Benefit An individual may have trouble with executive functioning and require support when he or she struggles with the following: Flexibility and/or emotional regulation Planning projects and time management Telling a story (verbally or in writing) Communicating details in an organized manner Memorizing and recalling information Initiating tasks or monitoring the success of his or her efforts at task completion Solving problems or independent idea-generation Predicting the consequences of present behavior by applying past experiences to present situations Transitioning from one activity to another How Communication Works Can Help We help individuals regulate their actions, emotions, and thoughts; monitor and manage responses to the environment, put things in perspective, understand the passage of time, as well as organize and plan ahead. We provide tools and techniques while teaching ways to determine which strategies are working and when one needs to approach solving a problem in a new way. Parent/caregiver education is a critical component of executive functioning therapy and supports carryover of learned concepts and skills into the client s everyday environment. Learn more about Executive Functioning services: cwtherapy.com/executivefunction

8 Early Intervention What is Early Intervention? The first three years of life is a critical period for discovery when a child learns who he/she is, how to relate to others, and how to express feelings. Early intervention helps children reach important milestones (see our resources page on our website), develop communication skills, and minimize the severity of behaviors that interfere with functioning and learning. Who Can Benefit Research shows that early intervention benefits young children (birth to five years) with speech, language, social, sensory, fine/gross motor delays, as well as genetic disorders and conditions that lead to a high probability of developmental delay. Services are also effective for children without a diagnosis, but with a noticeably slower rate of development. How Communication Works Can Help Our licensed speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists work with the child and family together. Weekly therapy is delivered through playbased activities that motivate and encourage communication in a warm, family-friendly environment. We provide parent education and techniques to facilitate speech and language, reciprocal communication, imaginary play, as well as support sensory and fine/ gross motor development. Parents are encouraged to integrate these strategies into their daily routines to promote carryover of learned skills into the child s natural environment. Services are provided at the Center or off-site to ensure consistency and progress. Communication Works (CW) therapists are trained in research-based, innovative approaches including SCERTS Model, DIR/Floortime, Hanen, Social Thinking, the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol and PROMPT. CW is an approved vendor with the Regional Center of the East Bay, which funds services for young children (birth to 3 years) in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Learn more about Early Intervention services: cwtherapy.com/earlyintervention

9 Self-Regulation What is Self-Regulation? Self-regulation is the ability to control our emotions and behaviors in response to our experiences. Those with regulation difficulties lack the innate ability to think through and monitor their actions to be successful in their home, school, and work environments. This may lead to social challenges, academic struggles, job insecurity, and low self-esteem. Who Can Benefit Individuals with self-regulation challenges may show difficulties in the following areas: Focus and attention Awareness of emotions in self and others Managing emotions and levels of alertness Regulating emotions and behaviors to social and environmental demands Using coping and self-calming strategies Anxiety and self-esteem Organizing, planning, monitoring and transitioning How Communication Works Can Help Our innovative therapy focuses on helping our clients process and integrate their sensory system, understand and manage their emotions, perform executive function tasks and understand how their behavior affects their everyday life. Individual and group therapy for self-regulation may include the following: the Zones of Regulation curriculum, Sensory Integration Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Management, the SCERTS Model, Executive Function Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving, Superflex / Social Thinking curricula, as well as a variety of curricula that focus on emotional and behavioral support. Parent/caregiver education is a critical component of self-regulation therapy and supports carryover of learned concepts and skills into the natural environment. Learn more about Self-Regulation services: cwtherapy.com/selfregulation

10 Social Communication What is Social Communication? Social Communication involves understanding our complex social world and becoming comfortable in social settings. It includes how to communicate and connect with others (e.g., self-regulation, having reciprocal interactions with others, understanding the thoughts and feelings of others, awareness of social rules, reading and observing nonverbal and contextual cues, etc.). These skills can be difficult to grasp, especially for those who don t learn them intuitively. School, home, work, and other social situations can be a struggle and may cause frustration and misunderstandings. Who Can Benefit An individual may have trouble with social communication and require support when he or she struggles in the following areas: Making or keeping friends and relationships Social anxiety/awkwardness Taking turns and/or sharing Thinking of others (perspective taking) Playing/socializing/working in a group Initiating or maintaining a conversation Understanding nonverbal communication Awareness of hidden social rules Understanding emotions in self and others Controlling impulses, emotions, or sensory system Attention or focusing Focusing on details instead of seeing the big picture Solving problems, negotiating, using flexible thinking Going to group is like getting to eat healthy candy it s super fun, and it s good for me. Jane, 8-year-old CW client over for more...

11 Social Communication How Communication Works Can Help Connections are made through play and teachable moments (for younger clients), peer connections, community outings, and hanging out (for older clients), as well as activities that focus on topics and themes relevant to daily life and routines. This promotes the understanding, practice, and feeling of positive social experiences and memories, which in turn generates and strengthens pathways for learning and growth. These are some of the curricula and techniques used for group and individual therapy to facilitate social communication development: Social Thinking Zones of Regulation DIR/Floortime SCERTS Model Hanen Tools of the Mind Sarah Ward s Executive Function Therapy Ross Greene s Collaborative Problem Solving Weekly parent/caregiver training Interventions are individualized for the age, level, and needs of each client. Communication Works provides social communication support across the lifespan for the following age groups: Preschool Elementary-school-age Tweens and teens Young adults and beyond We believe that, regardless of a diagnosis, those with social-cognitive challenges desire meaningful social interactions and relationships. Our goal is to provide an environment in which clients can learn, practice, and maintain social awareness and competence in order to be more successful and confident in their social world. Learn more about Social Communication services: cwtherapy.com/socialcommunication

12 Speech & Language What is Speech & Language? In our fast-paced world, effective listening, speaking, and communication skills are essential. We assist children and teens (birth to 18 years) who have difficulty in these areas to communicate effectively. Who Can Benefit Our therapy supports individuals who struggle with speech, language, and communication challenges, including the following areas of need and intervention strategies: Early Intervention Receptive and expressive language disorders Articulation and phonology Oral-motor therapy Fluency (stuttering) Selective Mutism Pragmatic/Social Language Autism Spectrum Disorders Augmentative and Alternative Communication How Communication Works Can Help We begin by discussing concerns and completing a comprehensive evaluation. Based on the results, we outline a plan, including direct therapy sessions, school observations/recommendations, and specialized training for families/caregivers. We tailor therapy to maximize each individual s strengths and work towards identified goals. Parent/caregiver education is a critical component of speech and language therapy and supports carryover of learned concepts and skills into the natural environment. Learn more about Speech & Language Services: cwtherapy.com/center-services Communication Works has provided excellent services for my preschool daughter. The progress she has made was so outstanding that by the time she entered kindergarten she no longer needed services. Staci G., parent

13 Trainings & Consultations Trainings and Consultations As a community-focused organization, Communication Works understands and values the importance of training and outreach. We believe in collaboration and the impact we have when we work with families and team members as partners. As a group of compassionate and innovative therapists, we specialize in a variety of areas: Social Communication, including Pragmatic Language & Social Thinking Self-Regulation Social-Regulation, the link between social communication and self-regulation The Zones of Regulation Executive Functioning Speech/Articulation/Oral Motor Language Development Early Intervention Hanen Training Sensory Processing Fine and Gross Motor Development Options available: Hourly presentations Half- or full-day trainings Parent, teacher, or staff training series Individual, small, and large groups Center, site, or phone consultation Partial or full program development Contact us with questions or for more information. We can help you determine the structure that would best suit your particular needs and budget. Learn more about us at cwtherapy.com Communication Works 4400 Keller Avenue, Suite 200 Oakland, CA