This team consists of Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech and Language Pathologists. These professionals assist families with infants and preschool-aged children requiring support with mobility, communication, and early development. Services offered include assessment, therapy, consultation, monitoring, education, and advocacy. Our Association has a program in partnership with School District #79 that provides Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy for children with special needs. Consult the Therapy Services page and Early Intervention Team Handbook for more information.
Access to a toy and equipment loan program, and educational books and videos, is available through your therapist. Workshops for parents, community personnel, and other professionals are often offered in the evenings to provide ideas, information, and support to help your child with his or her movement skills.
In the case of mild delays or disorders, families will be offered relevant parent education and home programming, with the option of recheck appointments four times per year. In the case of moderate or severe delays or disorders, families will be offered relevant parent education and treatment based on the type of disorder. Decisions regarding the best model of service delivery for the family are made with respect to the global needs of the child and family. Our speech services provide two streams of service, defined as Parent Participation Programs or Team Participation Programs.
Parent Participation Programs are available to families with children whose primary needs are speech and language. Parents and caregivers are active participants in all therapy sessions. Intensive therapy for severe speech delays or disorders will be conducted in pairs. Intensive language therapy will be conducted in small groups. Treatment is performed in pairs or groups, where possible, to provide the child with peer modelling and a more realistic therapeutic environment. This allows for earlier transfer of skills from the clinic to their real life. If the child cannot tolerate a pairs or group setting, is not learning in a group setting, or a group cannot be found for the child, then individual therapy will be offered. During therapy, families are provided with home programming suggestions to further teach the child.
Team Participation Programs are available if the child has additional needs, other than speech or language, such as motor, developmental, or significant social interaction deficits. Then, a team approach to treatment is best. Treatment may be conducted in small groups of children who have similar needs. Treatment can also occur in other settings when there is a designated mediator for that child who can be trained in therapy techniques and carry out programming with the child.
Service delivery is flexible, and changes over time. For example, services may initially occur intensively for a short period of time, until a pattern or target is established. Once this occurs, services are adjusted to promote transfer and maintain carryover. Upon the discretion of the therapist, your child may be given a break from service. During this break, your child will be provided with a home program and recheck appointments.
The Early Intervention Program is located at 5856 Clements Street. Contact the program staff at (250) 746-4135, or fax (250) 746-1636, for more information.