Community Resources
The SPD Foundation provides research, education, and advocacy for Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). A wide variety of resources to improve the lives of children and adults with SPD are available, including treatment options, research, workshops, and education.
Angie Voss, the mind behind A Sensory Life, is an occupational therapist specializing in sensory integration. Her website is specifically designed to work alongside her books, but can stand alone as a helpful resource to increase understanding and improve the quality of life for children with sensory issues.
Evidence-Based Practice
The DIR model helps clinicians, parents and educators conduct assessments and build intervention programs tailored to the unique challenges and strengths of each child. Floortime encourages therapists to follow each child’s natural interests and simultaneously challenge social, emotional, and intellectual capacities. You can sign up for training at the link above.
Intentional relationship Model Clearinghouse
The Intentional Relationship Model (IRM) Clearinghouse, a non-profit located at the University of Illinois at Chicago, provides educators, practitioners, researchers, and students with a wide range of IRM information and resources. The goal of IRM treatment is to make every therapeutic interaction with clients (both verbal and nonverbal) grow the therapeutic relationship and facilitate occupational engagement.
Carol Gray taught students with autism at Jenison Public Schools in Jenison, Michigan for more than two decades. Over the years she developed social stories to share information with her students that they seemed to be missing, information that so many of us take for granted. Her website details the history of social stories and shows readers how they might create their own.
The Zones of Regulation is a cognitive behavior approach used to teach children to become more aware — and in control — of their emotions and impulses, better manage their sensory needs, and improve their ability to problem-solve conflicts by categorizing all the different ways we feel into four concrete zones (red, yellow, green, and blue).
Clearly defined steps for teaching self-regulation awareness (the ability to attain, change, or maintain an appropriate level of alertness for a task or situation) are at the center of the Alert Program®.
Feeding Resources
Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Children
The American Speech-Language Hearing Association devotes a section of their website to feeding disorders, with information on signs and symptoms, diagnoses, causes, and what treatments are available, including how they are treated by speech-language pathologists.
Top 10 Myths of Mealtime in America
Developed by Dr. Kay Toomey, the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to feeding programs is an effective way to address problematic feeding behaviors, encouraging children to interact with food in a playful, non-stressful way. Beginning by learning to tolerate the food in the room and in front of them and then moving on to touching, kissing, and eventually tasting and eating foods.
Autism Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website provides a wide range of data on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including data and statistics, free materials, scientific articles, and information for families and health professionals.
Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a possible cure for autism, as well as raise public awareness and bring hope to people with autism.
Community Resources
Early Intervention Training Program
The Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of service coordinators, early interventionists, and others in order to minimize potential developmental delay as children with disabilities reach school age.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is among the most original forces in contemporary dance. They offer Parent-Child Mini Camp for caregivers and children ages 18 months to 3 years, complete with bouncing, twirling, swinging, and jumping accompanied by music and stories.
GiGi’s Playhouse is the only nationwide network of Down syndrome achievement centers. They offer free, results-driven programs for individuals of all ages, families and communities.
Speech & Language Resources
Baby Sign Language is a project for parents teaching infants and toddlers early communication skills. Their goal is to set the foundation for accelerated learning, reduced frustration, and a closer relationship between parent and child.
The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America is an outstanding resource center for high quality information, awareness and education, and research about apraxia.
Speech and Language Development
The American Speech-Language Hearing Association offers information on child speech and language disorders, swallowing and feeding problems, including an extensive list of self-help groups.
Creator of Teach Me to Talk, Laura Mize is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who has developed training materials for parents and professionals who work with young children, ages birth to three, with communication delays and disorders.
Eyas Landing is a therapy clinic with a mission to provide evidence-based and family-centered therapy services for children, adolescents, and their families. The primary goal is to deliver relationship-based interventions within the most natural environments and to empower families to reach their full potential. To achieve this goal, our highly educated, compassionate staff dedicates time and expertise to create experiences that maximize therapeutic outcomes. The strength, determination, and perseverance of our clients are evident as they succeed in therapy, and ultimately in their daily lives.
Eyas Landing offers a wide range of comprehensive services including Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, ABA Therapy, Social Work, Family Therapy, and Neuropsych testing. Services are provided throughout the Chicagoland area via Telehealth, In-Home, and in our state of the art clinic.
Want to learn more or you have a specific question? Feel free to connect with us here!