Overcoming Back-to-School Challenges to Help Your Child Succeed
Posted on 9/8/2020 by Aileen Lysaught, M.S., CCC-SLP/L
As a therapy team, we understand that parents and children are experiencing many unexpected challenges this year. Parents are adapting to e-learning and facing difficult decisions around what to do for the upcoming school year. Children are learning to adjust to a new and different way of learning. They are also navigating the new experience of wearing masks and social distancing from their friends. As a parent myself, I have struggled with my child missing out on the socialization and hands-on learning that comes from school, as well as how to explain the current situation to him in the best possible way.
As parents, you have difficult decisions to make; however there is no “wrong” choice. You have to do what is best for your child during these unprecedented times. That choice may be in-person learning, remote learning or homeschooling. All of these options have their own challenges and benefits.
Additionally, parents of children with special needs are faced with especially complicated decisions. Many children may struggle with mask compliance due to sensory processing difficulties and benefit from in-person learning and therapy. Other children may have compromised immune systems and in-person learning or therapy is not necessarily an option for them.
My son receives physical therapy for low muscle tone and coordination issues and is in need of occupational therapy to address fine motor skills. We have been lucky enough to receive this therapy in-person throughout the pandemic in order to ensure he continues to make progress. Although we haven’t made our final decision on whether or not to send him to school, we are grateful to have the option to receive the additional help he needs in a safe, one-on-one setting, regardless of what we decide.
As autumn approaches, NovaCare and Select Kids Pediatric Therapy are here and available to support families in their individual decisions. We are committed to assisting your child’s unique needs by providing in-person physical, occupational, speech and ABA therapy in a safe environment. Our centers are taking extensive preventative measures – guided by the CDC, state and local government – to protect children and their families. We are also pleased to offer care virtually via telerehab. Through web-based technology, telerehab lets you and your child connect with our therapists from the convenience of your home.
Our therapists also provide parents with consultation to support e-learning at home. We will communicate with school teachers and school-based therapists to carry out your child’s IEP goals and promote continued progress. We also provide e-learning and hybrid learning resources to help your child succeed.
Please contact your local NovaCare or Select Kids center to discuss the various options for your child and determine if therapy may be beneficial.
By: Aileen Lysaught, M.S., CCC-SLP/L. Aileen is a speech-language pathologist for our NovaCare Kids centers in Orland Park and DePaul Fullerton, IL.
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