Developmental Therapy (for ages 0 to 6)

Developmental therapy, or DT, is a kind of guided play for children. A special "plan of care" is created for each child who receives developmental therapy. As the therapist gets to know your child, a list of goals specific to the child's own development is created. No two children's programs look alike. The child will work on his goals through everyday activities that are right for preschoolers, such as circle time, indoor and outdoor play, snack time, tooth brushing, arts and crafts, and classroom routines.

Developmental therapy groups look a lot like typical preschools, except for the high teacher-to-child ratio. Some children will receive one-to-one teaching, based on their needs. At the Washington County Children's Program, all teaching and learning occurs in a warm, loving environment with the strengths and needs of each individual child uppermost in our minds.

When may a child need developmental therapy?

If you are a parent, you may have had questions or concerns like these:

• My child isn't talking like other youngsters the same age.
• My child can't bear to feel the label in his shirt. And he tends to fly off the handle in a noisy or crowded room.
• My child's behavior is out of control, and nothing I have tried has really worked.
• My child is 20 months old and still isn't walking.
• My child is three years old and still doesn't talk much. Everyone says she'll catch up later.
• My two-year-old won't look me in the eye and doesn't like to be touched or hugged.

If you are a child care provider, similar concerns about a youngster in your care may have crossed your mind:

• I've tried everything I know, but it hasn't made a difference in Bart's behavior.
• I can't keep the other children safe when Lewis becomes angry and out of control.
• The other children in my care aren't getting what they deserve.
• I'm not trained to work with a child like Marissa.
• James has no interest in playing with other children. He lines up toys and stares at them for hours at a time.

All of the above are common concerns leading to a referral to WCCP for developmental therapy or for other specialized therapies such as speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Whether you are a parent, a caregiver, a grandparent, or a medical provider, you can call our offices to receive guidance on how a child may receive help. Screening is provided by Child Development Services, a state agency. Call or email us (at wccp@wccp.net) for more information.

What kinds of goals will a child work on
in developmental therapy?

Goals are developed through observation of your child, through activities with him or her, and through talks with you and with other important people in your child's life. In this way, we will learn of your child's strengths, needs, and any areas of concern you have. Your child's developmental therapy goals may overlap with goals from other therapies. They may fall into any of the following domains, or areas of development:

Social — Children learn appropriate ways of interacting and playing with other children and with adults.

Fine motor — A child develops these skills by working on tasks such as drawing, writing, cutting, utensil use, and manipulation of small objects. We may help develop hand strength by working with Play-Doh and clay.

Gross motor — These skills are developed through walking, balancing, hopping, jumping, going up and down stairs, and riding tricycles. Helps with trunk and head support, stability, and other areas relating to body positioning and movement.

Cognitive — Learning of colors, letters, numbers, shapes, names, and other basic knowledge.

Self-help — Goals in this domain involve self-care skills such as using utensils and cups to eat and drink, dressing, washing hands and brushing teeth, and putting things away where they belong.

Speech and language — Children learn to use language to express their wants and needs, to ask for help, and to indicate their wishes to other children. Other language goals include grammar and speaking clearly.

Behavior — The focus of this skill area is on decreasing unwanted behaviors such as aggression or destruction. It also increases children's abilities to express and handle frustration and upset in appropriate ways.

Our therapists, who all have Department of Education teaching credentials, will monitor your child's progress in these areas each day. The therapist welcomes questions and feedback from parents about how things are going at home. The plan of care for your child can be adjusted several times a year as necessary.

Some children will receive Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA, as part of their programs. ABA is an intensive method of teaching that works well for children with autism. Children with autism who receive this form of intervention for 30-40 hours a week between the ages of two and five show the greatest gains. They can make these gains before developing behaviors and strategies that interfere with learning and social interaction. ABA is the only intervention for children that has been "substantiated as effective" by the Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities (MADSEC) Autism Task Force.

Who can get developmental therapy?

As mentioned above, Child Development Services, a state agency with an office in Machias, determines eligibility for services. Please call or email us for more information or guidance. Children may receive free DT services up to age 6 under Maine law.

Some children who are otherwise typically developing may display behaviors that can be changed through developmental therapy. They may not have a specific diagnosis. Other children we serve may have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, Asperger's syndrome, cerebral palsy, PDD (pervasive developmental disorder), PDD-NOS (PDD – Not Otherwise Specified), global developmental delay, mental retardation, or any of dozens of other diagnoses. WCCP does not make diagnoses. Our job is to bring out the best in each child and help her achieve to her full potential.

Where and when does DT (developmental therapy) happen?

We run regular DT preschool groups at our base in Marshfield and at Harrington Head Start. We also run groups in other parts of Washington County based on need. In the past we have run groups in Jonesport, Addison, and Baileyville. There is currently a group in Calais. Each group usually has between four and eight children. Groups are usually appropriate for children from age three to age six. Groups can be half-day or full-day depending on the need. We take breaks that generally coordinate with local school vacations. But after a short break at the end of the school year, we run programming most of the summer. Children do best with DT when they receive regular reinforcement to maintain their skills.

Our therapists will also travel to children's homes to deliver service, especially when the child is younger than three or when the amount of therapy prescribed is just a few hours a week. This is called individual developmental therapy, or IDT. But IDT can also happen at our sites and in typical settings, such as child cares and Head Starts.

What happens after a child completes therapy?

The goal is always to have a child with special needs be in the "least restrictive environment" (LRE) possible. That means that a child may continue in his regular preschool or stay at home while working with our therapist. If a child in one of our groups has reached a majority of his goals, he may go back into his regular Head Start, pre-kindergarten, or other preschool program. When the child reaches kindergarten age and DT services can no longer be provided, we can help her make a successful transition to a school setting.

Through a generous grant from the Stone Foundation of New Jersey and with the help of other donors, we can offer the services of a developmental therapist during the first few weeks of kindergarten in the fall. Being able to take the skills he has gained in his preschool setting and being able to use them in a different setting is very important to a child with autism or a behavioral issue. Our therapist can work with the child, new teachers, and family to help ensure that this process is smooth. Children in DT services also begin learning routines that will help them in school beginning in the spring before kindergarten. The therapist can attend a sample kindergarten class in the child's hometown school with the child at that time.

A child up to age 21 with a diagnosis of autism or mental retardation can also be helped by WCCP's Case Management [link] services. Case Management can help the family navigate the system and work with teachers and service providers to create the best outcomes possible for the child. Case Management is also available to the families of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers without a diagnosis, up to age six.

If you have any questions about DT or other services, please don't hesitate to call or email our office in Marshfield. We are here to help!