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Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region has been providing services that address the needs of children with autism for over 50 years. These children present the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which is also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). This spectrum is a group of neurologically-based developmental disabilities which includes: Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. As the needs of this growing population are more thoroughly defined, we continue to offer programs to meet those needs.
Children with autism can expect to receive a variety of services that address their specific strengths and challenges. A team of licensed professionals works with the family to develop a well rounded treatment plan. Depending on the needs of the child, services are provided individually or, if appropriate, in a group setting.
In addition to individual Physical, Occupational, and Speech-Language Therapy, Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region offers:
Playtime Talk
Playtime Talk is an innovative therapy program developed at Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region for children with autism. Playtime Talk specifically addresses situations that are part of the child’s daily life and takes advantage of their visually based learning styles. Children ages 4-6 years old are placed in a group therapy setting that meets three times a week for eight weeks. Each weekly session focuses on a unique play and language script for the children to learn in everyday environments.
Feelings, Friendship and Fun
Feelings, Friendship and Fun provides an opportunity for children ages 5-7 years old to engage in fun activities that focus on social and emotional development. Led by a speech-language pathologist and a social worker. They target identification of feelings and teach vocabulary to label emotions. Children learn beginning strategies to assist them with their emotions in order to successfully interact in activities with peers. This program also provides children with strategies to initiate friendships and opportunities to practice these skills in a group setting.
PALSS Club
Practice and Learn Social Skills (PALSS) Club provides children ages 6-10 years old an opportunity to learn social skills and practice what they learn in a weekly group led by occupational therapists. Children learn about topics such as personal space, body talk, talking to a peer, team work, thinking of others and good sportsmanship. They are given verbal, auditory and tactile cues to help them understand social actions that they do not naturally know. Parents meet as a group with a member from the social service team to problem-solve how to incorporate PALSS Club concepts at home, school and in the community.
B.E.E.S.S. Club
Bringing Emotions and Excitement to Social Skills promotes social skill development while expanding relationships with peers. This program provides an opportunity for children to engage in fun activities while focusing on social and emotional development. Social and emotional development is a key component of establishing/maintaining friendships and academic success. This program is led by Speech and Language Pathologists who emphasize learning how to engage and participate in play with peers. Children will learn basic strategies to help them handle their basic emotions in order to successfully interact in an activity with peers. Children will develop many skills through participation, including: self-confidence (ability to make friends and get along with others), body language, vocabulary choices, problem solving strategies to manage emotions, and ways to join into a group of peers with success. The program provides children with strategies to initiate and maintain friendships with peers and opportunities to practice these skills during the weekly sessions. B.E.E.S.S. Club is designed for children 5-8 years old and is held at the Easter Seals Center in Villa Park.
The Alert Program
The Alert Program helps children learn to monitor, maintain and change their level of alertness so that it is appropriate to a situation or task. It uses the analogy of a car engine to introduce the concepts of self regulation. The program is designed to teach children and parents how to recognize arousal states as they relate to attention, learning and behavior and then begin to use these concepts in daily life. Children must be able to actively participate in a group setting to be accepted into The Alert Program.
The P.L.A.Y Project
Designed by Dr. Richard Solomon, this is a nationally recognized program in which trained consultants teach parents play-based and individualized intervention techniques to help young children gain language and social skills right in their home. The P.L.A.Y. Project is designed for children ages 2-6 years old. The consultants give parents coaching and feedback both in-home and through videotaped monthly sessions.
Therapeutic Listening
Therapeutic Listening is an individualized adjunct to therapy that impacts active listening skills. The program combines the benefit of music with modulated sound technology to influence how a child perceives, processes and responds to sound. Improvements have been noted in a variety of areas such as arousal, attending, balancing, motor planning, organization, receptive and expressive language.
Assistive Technology & Augmentative Communication
With the advancement of technology and a better understanding of the communication needs of children with autism, assistive technology, and specifically AAC, can provide new opportunities for improved communication. Assistive Technology is anything that helps someone accomplish a functional task. It is a piece of equipment or system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) refers to interventions designed to compensate for the expressive communication impairments of individuals.
Social Services
Both a Parent Liaison and a Social Worker are available to assist and support you and your child. In addition to counseling and providing resources, Social Services coordinates support groups, parent education seminars, sibling groups along with a variety of other activities.
Our Commitment to Children with Autism
Over the last 20 years, Easter Seals has seen a dramatic increase in the number of children we serve with autism. And, while there are a number of organizations researching and seeking a cause and cure for autism, Easter Seals is unique as the leading provider of services and support for families living with autism. We’re working nationally and here in DuPage and the Fox Valley Region to provide help, hope and answers to children with autism by delivering personalized services and treatments.
Contact Us for More Information
Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region is affiliated with Easter Seals Inc. visit http://www.actforautism.org/ for more resources and information on additional autism services offered nationally through Easter Seals.
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