Ready Set Connect

Is communicating with your child hard due to autism? Most children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are visual learners meaning they can better comprehend visual information rather than auditory. By using visual information to aid your child, you are reducing the frustration for yourself and mostly your child. So what are visual aids or supports? Visual support refers to using a picture or any other visual item to help communicate to children who have difficulty with language. Visual support comes in a variety of ways from photographs to drawings or even written words. Many non-verbal kids utilize the  Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)  which uses picture symbols to help children with ASD to communicate effectively. The main characteristics of ASD are challenges interacting socially with other peers, family members, etc. As well as that, many children have difficulty using language, limited interests, or unwarranted changes in routines. Therefore, by utilizing...

  Every Parent's Dream By Nicole Bautista What if I told you that you could see your doctor, but not have to physically go?  What if I told you that you could just be in the comfort of your own home?  What if I told you that it would be easy and effective?  Would you believe me? What is Telehealth? Telehealth  is as simple as receiving health information and services through modern technology. With the current situation our world is experiencing,  Telehealth  has become so popular, especially here, at  Pediatric Therapy Associates ! First off, let me introduce myself. Hi! I'm Nicole Bautista. I'm a co-teacher at a Montessori School and I've been teaching for almost two year now. I work with a lovely age group of children 2-4 years old. Now what does this have to do with Telehealth? Well! I'd like to say that I've had the privilege of working with children who, aside from school, seek therapy on a weekly basis for various reasons, whether it be oc...

When you wake up in the morning for work, do you need to drag yourself just in order to get ready? Do you dread driving to work ? Do you struggle to open up your laptop to complete your tasks? Do you lack enthusiasm for work tasks ? You are probably burnt out .  The word is thrown around constantly but what does it really entail? Burnout can be characterized as chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed and is an occupational phenomenon . Lynn Festa lays out these definitions to her audience during our past webinar, she goes on to explain there are six symptoms that can lead to burnout in the workplac e. Lack of control , insufficient reward, work overload, unfairness, breakdown of communication, and values conflict which causes a mental or physical collapse . Although there are many symptoms that could lead to burnout, Festa showcases how there are ways to prevent burnout and help keep your enthusiasm for work without just taking a week-long vacation. The m...

On July 15th, 2021 Anabell Castellanos, MA was the speaker for the ReadySetConnect July Webinar! In the Childhood Development Webinar, Castellanos discussed how children learn and grow from ages 0 to 5, learn through play, and their developmental milestones by the CDC. Below is the summary of the webinar: Child Development is something we usually always see as physical development or reached landmarks such as height and weight but rarely do we see how children grow mentally and emotionally strong through certain tasks. Throughout the webinar, Castellanos touched on the point that "Every child has a job." These jobs happen at different stages of development between ages 1-5 such as the explorer, boss, pal, and adventurer, and how each stage helps them learn and grow to fully develop their social and physical skills. Additionally, we learned that playing is vital for kids to learn and grow. For example, a child who is jumping rope with his friends would be  learning how to be p...

Consistency with keeping appointments is key for clients to benefits from your therapy services. Yet, as many clinicians and private practitioners can attest, last minutes no shows and cancellations come in the way of the client benefitting from his participation in therapy sessions.  Last minute no show and cancellations, and missed appointments not only take clients away from progressing towards their goals, they come at a huge cost to the clinician and the private practitioner. In just a span on one year, the last minute missed appointments attributed to a cost of $150 billion to the US healthcare industry.  Many families have a rather hectic work schedule and struggle to manage a work life balance. In the middle of a hectic work day and with the economic hardships that COVID-19 has brought to many of the families, it is indeed a struggle remembering all the upcoming appointments and also working on keeping them.  Here are some tips that will certainly help you impr...

  Holidays , to many people, signify a break in regular things that people do every day, such as the absence of early morning alarms, or going to work. Most people don’t wake up early on Christmas morning , or go to work on Memorial Day . Similarly, Fathers Day is marked in the presence of special activities. Children wake up early to make breakfast in bed for their dads. They spend time making cards with special messages, or wrap up gifts to present to their dads. These are the things that make Fathers Day unlike every other day, the things that make fathers feel special. Some kids may not be able  to make breakfast in bed for their dads. They may not be able to  make cards, or wrap up presents. However, they make fathers day just as special as anyone  Fathers day is a reminder that we value our dads. The bond between a child and their father is irreplaceable. The way a child expresses this bond varies, from a tangible gift, to a simple expression when they look ...

 Sensory Processing Disorders . How Virtual Therapy can Help On a beautiful Friday evening, would you rather a. Relax with a good book? b. Go out party with friends? Did you say you would rather go out with friends? Yes!! Talking, walking, dancing to music, DJ blasting is definitely fun for some of us. We look forward to the time we can just have some fun and feel good.  Few of us though would much rather stay in solitude and relax with a good book. That would be the perfect to to calm our weary body. We each have our Sensory Preference s. We seek and do what feels good bodily, sensorily. When it gets to a point of taking away the order, we have Sensory Processing Disorder Rebecca Duvall Scott  asks this question of her audience in her webinar   and the audience overwhelmingly respond, "Relax with a good book" Our Sensory Processing affects our behaviors and the choices we make. Our body is built around our sensory systems. Our exteroceptors, interoceptors and...

 5 Strategies to Make Your Virtual Therapy Sessions a Success By Kelly Bond  Sara Torda/Pixabay The use of teletherapy has skyrocketed in the past few years. Teletherapy is remote therapy where the therapist communicates with their clients via the internet. Research suggests that teletherapy is as successful as in-person therapy. The coronavirus pandemic has prevented in-person therapy sessions from happening. Therapists and their clients had to find resources that would connect them during this trying time. People have relied on video conference software, such as Zoom and Google Hangout, and Ready Set Connect to find a sense of normalcy during sessions. The switch from in-person to remote can be a difficult challenge as teletherapy is new to many people.    Therapists can incorporate these five strategies to make the most of their teletherapy sessions.   Reaching Normalcy     It is noteworthy to suggest that virtual therapy sessions feel different c...

How You Can Have A Lasting Positive And Productive Mindset Going Into 2021 By Kelly Bond      We are living in  monumental times. 2020 was a year that unexpectedly changed our lifestyles. We were restricted from seeing loved ones. We learned how to work from home. We switched from in-person appointments to virtual appointments . The way we cope with the aftermath of 2020 will determine our outlook going into 2021. To have a positive mindset means that we are aware of how actions affect our physical and mental health. Positivity includes setting healthy boundaries that drive humans towards productivity. Positivity has a branch in psychology, Positive Psychology , that aims to help humans live fulfilling lives. Positivity comes from "well-being and purpose" than focusing on the bad. Here are some ways you can build a positive and productive mindset.  Practicing Gratitude        Mindfulness meditation is a popular form of practicing gratitude. M...

 Considering going back to in-person therapy? Here's everything you need to know!  💻  By Anna Conners As the therapy world continues to change rapidly, many are considering the line between continuing virtual therapy sessions and going back to in-person treatment. Depending on your specialty, this decision may seem clearer for you, as a Physical Therapy specialist may see a greater need for in-person treatment than a Speech Language Pathologist. You may have even just opened your new practice, and are wondering when you'll be able to return. But whichever specialty you practice in, chances are that the pandemic has affected your normal routine and you're curious about what your next year will look like... Points to Consider: 1. Location: If you reside in California, you are definitely aware of the increased restrictions on travel and in-person activities. In this area, there have been multiple lockdowns, curfews established, and restrictions in place for public gatheri...

How to Fully Prepare for Remote Learning and Living  💻 By Anna Conners As we all work together to cope with our new way of life amid COVID-19, we learn to adapt and grow into more dynamic people, both personally and professionally. One of these adaptations includes the switch to remote learning, which has been a staple of dissatisfaction and difficulty with many students over the past few months, including myself. The ability to interact and physically learn in a hands-on environment is something I will never again take for granted or view in the same way. I’m here to share my recent college remote learning experience with you, and provide some tips to manage expectations and be prepared for a fully online curriculum.  Along with many of my peers, I was not at all ready to remove myself from my campus and revert to a Zoom-focused learning experience. This is due to the fact that for many of us, online teaching was just one new component of many that we would have to get used ...

Expert Answers to 8 of Your Most Pressing Teletherapy Questions (Parents Edition) By Anna Conners As we all begin to move forward in transitioning to our new work and home environments, few have it harder than our dedicated parents who are trying to provide their young children with the best therapy care. Amid the pandemic, there has been a progressive adjustment to using teletherapy services in comparison to in-home therapy sessions. Parents in all states and areas are having to decide what is safest and most conducive for their children, and what will truly provide the best environment for growth and learning.  While Teletherapy has given a wonderful and beneficial option to many during this time struggling to connect with their clients, it has also raised fears and concerns in our parents. Many wonder about the long term effects and implications of fully online therapy, and additionally if this type of therapy will ever truly be comparable to the physical and personable style ...