by Nora Roehm, M.Ed., Program Coordinator TelAbility/WATCH

UNDERSTANDING SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDERS 

TelAbility was pleased to have Occupational Therapist, Dawn Solomon of Shining Stars Therapy present the first of a three part series on Understanding Sensory Processing on March 18th. 

55 people participated at 5 different host sites and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive!

Dawn the origins of sensory integration theory, defined the 7 sensory systems, and gave examples of what different sensory processing disorders may look like..

Thanks to the participants at all sites for their great questions and discussion!

Part II of this series is Friday, April 8th from 1-2:30pm.  Email stephanie at sorourke@med.unc.edu to register!

Shining Stars Therapy in Fuquay Varina has been a labor of love for owner Dawn Solomon.  Believing it was the right time, she took a leap of faith and opened her agency two years ago. 

"Shining Stars Therapy evolved from a need in the community.  I met more and more families who traveled long distances to get the assistance necessary for their child.  Being a parent of a child with a sensory processing disorder also inspired me because it is not a well recognized condition.  We, as OT's, have the skills to educate families on how to help their children be functionally at their best, and understand how their brains and bodies work.   Additionally, I strongly believe in education, community service and mentorship.  I wanted to have a facility that gave its therapists an opportunity to work and think outside the box."

    Dawn's philosophy in life/work is to give to others, always do your best and go for it. 

"A quote I read recently stays with me...  'What would you attempt if you knew you would not fail?'  This is what inspires me to make Shining Stars Therapy the best it can be for our community, kids, their families and its employees."

Originally from New York, Dawn has been in North Carolina since 2005.  She started out her career in adult Neuro rehab but quickly moved into pediatrics working for the Association for Children with Down syndrome on Long Island in homes, centers and preschools.  She has experience in both the school system and the early intervention system.  Additionally, Dawn has extensive training in Sensory Integration. 

Shining Stars employs 7 occupational therapists and 1 physical therapist all providing a variety of therapies in the clinic, home , or child care center.  Along with the Sensory Integrative treatment strategies the therapists are well versed in the treatment of fine motor skills, visual motor, visual perceptual skills, constraint therapy (casting), splinting and overall self help skills.  They do free screening and offer treatment intensives. 

This summer Shining Starts Therapy is in the process of organizing groups for ages 3-5 and ages 6-10.  Both groups will focus on social skills, sports, & water based activities/crafts.  www.shiningstarstherapy.com.

The listings below are intended for informational purposes only.  TelAbility does not endorse any agency or organization.

Abilitations Children's Therapy & Wellness Center presents:  ROCK THE PULSE

A music therapy rock band!  Casting call for members aged 10-18 years old.

WHEN:  Wednesdays, April 6th-May 18th, 2011 from 6:15-7:15

WHERE:  Reality Ministries, 916 Lamond Ave., Durham, NC 27701.  Call (919) 844-6611 for more information, or to join the band!

Parent Counseling at No Cost! 

The staff at NC Parent Consultants has joined with others to provide counseling for families with children birth through kindergarten at Project Enlightenment in Raleigh.  The services are paid for by Wake County Schools.

For more information visit Project Enlightenment's website at www.projectenlightenment.wcpss.net, or call (919) 856-7800

Social Skills Resources for Parents and Teachers

brought to you through Project Enlightenment

For a comprehensive list of resources available, please click here, or visit Project Enlightenment's website.

Advanced Seating and Mobility, Inc. 

Shining Stars Pediatric Therapy Services

Move to Learn Program

Move to Learn is a drop off program instructed by a licensed Occupational Therapist and is a language based group for children between the ages of 2 and 4.  Focusing on the principles of sensory integration, each themed session will address motor, language, sensory, cognitive, social and emotional skills through music, movement, and hands on activities.  For compete details and dates, please click here.

Capitol City Speech Therapy

http://www.capitolcityspeechtherapy.com/

Need to get some grocery shopping done?  Capitol City Speech Therapy is here to help!

Capitol City Speech Therapy will be offering a Mom's Morning Out on Fridays from 9:00 - 11:00.  Bring your kids between the ages of 18 months and five years to our office on 141 Main Street, Fuquay Varina ready for two hours of crafts, story times, games and tons of fun.  Be sure to pack any diapers or a change of clothes that your child may need.  A charge of $20.00 per child will be accepted upon arrival with discounts available for multiple children ($15.00 for the second child, $10.00 for the third child, etc). 

Space is limited to eight children per Friday so please call ahead for reservations!

For more information, please click here.  

Exceptional Children's Assistance Center

http://ecac-parentcenter.org/  

ECAC is a private non-profit parent organization committed to improving the lives and education of ALL children through a special emphasis on children with disabilities.

Parent Education Programs include:

The NC Parent Training and Information (PTI)

The NC Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC)

The NC Family-to-Family Health Information Center (HIC)

NC State Improvement Project

Behavior and Reading Improvement Center (BRIC)

Bridging the Gap

For more information, please visit ECAC's website at the link above.