Collaborative Services
At SPARK, we work with families, caregivers, and other professionals to support kids within their respective learning journeys. Our team consists of therapists with different clinical backgrounds and experience who join together with a shared goal of helping a child achieve their personal best!
A child’s learning depends on many variables: what they understand, what motivates them, the environment they’re in, how they can problem-solve, how often they need breaks, what that break should consist of, and so much more. These variables take into account concepts within speech and language, and also concepts within applied behaviour analysis.
Behaviour and language are deeply rooted in development and learning. When we are able to understand the areas where a child’s language is breaking down, we can then determine the steps needed to help them understand and communicate effectively, learn readily, and participate in daily social exchanges at home, school, and in their communities.
At SPARK, our goal is to help families and kids work towards the things that they most desire and value in their everyday life. We do this by using goals and strategies that are right for them. Families; therefore, are an essential part of our collaborative team! They bring insight, knowledge, and values that are specific to their child’s growth, understand the strategies that have been successful in their child’s learning (and those that have not), and can also identify areas where the child and family could use extra support.
Children who experience difficulty with reading and literacy, regulating emotions or actions, have short attention spans, struggle to focus, and even those who are picky eaters, often have both speech and language and behavioural needs. When we combine a parent’s expertise with our team’s, we can provide comprehensive and detailed assessments which will help us to determine a treatment plan that is as unique as the children we serve. Together, we can help each child take small, feasible, attainable steps to success and independence in their everyday lives!
The principles and strategies within speech, language, and behavioural support services can be applied to many areas of need.
Reading & Literacy
Your child may be struggling to learn letters or decode words. Reading or writing struggles could make your child’s school work more difficult to complete, resulting in schoolwork battles, intense feelings, and tears for your child (and you!). At SPARK, we can help by first assessing your child for reading and/or writing difficulties, and then developing an individualized plan to break down the steps into manageable pieces needed to make improvements in their ability to read and write.
Communication
How we communicate with each other is very important. Children start to communicate as infants with cries and sounds. Your child may communicate many messages throughout the day. Some of these messages may be with words and some may be with behaviours and actions. At SPARK, we can work with you and your child to hone communication skills and work to improve or develop a communication system that is accessible to your family and community.
ADD & ADHD
Children with ADHD or ADD often experience learning difficulties, sudden emotional disruptions, challenges in calming or comforting themselves, social struggles, and more. As a parent of a child with attention deficit, you may find yourself saying “I need ADHD help!” Understanding your child’s focus and attention needs and how they learn best can be an eye-opening experience. At SPARK, we can assist by helping to pinpoint the areas that are breaking down for your child and developing learning plans that maximize on their strengths and support their goals. We can also provide parents and caregivers with strategies that are specific to your child’s learning needs that can be applied in your homes and community and used to advocate for your child’s academic and social success. It is our desire to answer your cry for ADHD help and support!
Learning Difficulties
At SPARK we know not all children learn the same way but every child can learn and thrive. Some children are identified with learning difficulties in an academic setting and struggle to keep up with their same-aged peers. We can work with you to unpack your child’s learning style and know how they work and learn best through assessment and services designed with your child’s needs in mind.
Caregiver Coaching
At SPARK we are highly experienced in providing caregiver coaching to help families meet goals in their everyday routines at home and in the child’s natural environment. We encourage parents to participate in all aspects of their child’s programming. Through caregiver coaching, we can support you in learning tools and specific strategies that compliment your child’s learning style and skill development.
Autism
Autistic individuals experience their environment differently than others. They may understand, feel, play, move, communicate, socialize, and process information differently than those around them. When we understand the factors that influence how a child experiences their environment, it helps us to better understand what may cause their distress, what motivates them, and how they find joy. This information is essential! It helps us to better select the strategies that are respectful of each child’s individual learning needs and preferences. We can then use these strategies to teach skills and support a child’s learning in important areas such as communicating their wants and needs, learning to be independent, and building meaningful relationships with those around them.
