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You know we don’t waste much time when it comes to preparing for a holiday! Our Lifelong Learning participants love an excuse to celebrate!
A team of participants put up decor in the hallways at our Hillside day program facility. They always take ownership over activities like these, because this program is driven by them and for them. And activities like tree decorating reinforce fine- and gross-motor skills that help them do functional activities throughout their day.
You know we don’t waste much time when it comes to preparing for a holiday! Our Lifelong Learning participants love an excuse to celebrate!
A team of participants put up decor in the hallways at our Hillside day program facility. They always take ownership over activities like these, because this program is driven by them and for them. And activities like tree decorating reinforce fine- and gross-motor skills that help them do functional activities throughout their day.
Catelyn is gathering leaves…and language!
As you enjoy the fall weather (well, maybe today’s an exception 🥶), get your child engaged in your yard clean up! Not only does raking and jumping in leaves provide exercise and practice for motor skills, you can work on some toddler-level language concepts.
Oak Leyden Speech Language Pathologist Julie Cameron explains, “at age two, children begin to develop conceptual vocabulary of size and quantity.” She suggests raking leaves into small and large piles to model those words. Or, you can ask a child to hand you just one leaf as an age-appropriate task. Lastly, you can compare and contrast larger and smaller leaves! #therapytiptuesday
Catelyn is gathering leaves…and language!
As you enjoy the fall weather (well, maybe today’s an exception 🥶), get your child engaged in your yard clean up! Not only does raking and jumping in leaves provide exercise and practice for motor skills, you can work on some toddler-level language concepts.
Oak Leyden Speech Language Pathologist Julie Cameron explains, “at age two, children begin to develop conceptual vocabulary of size and quantity.” She suggests raking leaves into small and large piles to model those words. Or, you can ask a child to hand you just one leaf as an age-appropriate task. Lastly, you can compare and contrast larger and smaller leaves! #therapytiptuesday
The residents in each of our CILAs (Community Integrated Living Arrangements) celebrated Thanksgiving together. Meal time is an important part of the work we do to support these individuals both for nutrition and community connectedness.
The residents in each of our CILAs (Community Integrated Living Arrangements) celebrated Thanksgiving together. Meal time is an important part of the work we do to support these individuals both for nutrition and community connectedness.
A large group of our adult participants went out for an early Thanksgiving meal. To share a meal with these individuals--to bear witness to their banter and their laughter, to be a part of their community--is such a privilege. We don`t take it for granted one bit!
A large group of our adult participants went out for an early Thanksgiving meal. To share a meal with these individuals--to bear witness to their banter and their laughter, to be a part of their community--is such a privilege. We don`t take it for granted one bit!
Though you wouldn`t know it from Henry`s big grin, sometimes big family gatherings can be stressful for children.
Alison Keane, developmental therapist at Oak Leyden, offers, "It can be helpful to communicate with family members that your child may need to take periodic breaks from the hustle and bustle and they are not required to give hugs and kisses. This sounds like it could be an uncomfortable conversation to have with people that only want to "love on" their young family member but it can be as simple as saying `Sally loves to show off her high fives -- put your hand up and she`ll give you one!`` #TherapyTipTuesday
Though you wouldn`t know it from Henry`s big grin, sometimes big family gatherings can be stressful for children.
Alison Keane, developmental therapist at Oak Leyden, offers, "It can be helpful to communicate with family members that your child may need to take periodic breaks from the hustle and bustle and they are not required to give hugs and kisses. This sounds like it could be an uncomfortable conversation to have with people that only want to "love on" their young family member but it can be as simple as saying `Sally loves to show off her high fives -- put your hand up and she`ll give you one!`` #TherapyTipTuesday
We are getting ready for Thanksgiving with some holiday decor! One of our classrooms at our Oak Park Lifelong Learning Center used recyclables and scrap craft materials to make these tiny turkeys.
We are getting ready for Thanksgiving with some holiday decor! One of our classrooms at our Oak Park Lifelong Learning Center used recyclables and scrap craft materials to make these tiny turkeys.
Parents, hold onto your hats: our PTs are recommending your child climbs UP the slide! (Gasp!)
Oak Leyden physical therapists say that climbing up the slide provides sensory input, strengthens a child’s core, shoulders, and hips, and builds bilateral coordination and balance.
As for the reason we all encourage against it? The team explains that it can provide a social learning opportunity—being aware of your surroundings, turn taking, and moving out of the way as needed. #therapytiptuesday
Parents, hold onto your hats: our PTs are recommending your child climbs UP the slide! (Gasp!)
Oak Leyden physical therapists say that climbing up the slide provides sensory input, strengthens a child’s core, shoulders, and hips, and builds bilateral coordination and balance.
As for the reason we all encourage against it? The team explains that it can provide a social learning opportunity—being aware of your surroundings, turn taking, and moving out of the way as needed. #therapytiptuesday
David from @amazingsensorydesigns came to our Hillside Lifelong Learning Center yesterday to train our employees on use of the Sensory Room with our participants. Employee feedback was great—they were eager to get participants into the space, and several employees commented that they wished they had this type of space in their own homes!
David from @amazingsensorydesigns came to our Hillside Lifelong Learning Center yesterday to train our employees on use of the Sensory Room with our participants. Employee feedback was great—they were eager to get participants into the space, and several employees commented that they wished they had this type of space in their own homes!
A few months ago, our Lifelong Learning program expanded into a new home in Hillside, IL. We’re excited about many opportunities in this new space, and among these is our new Sensory Room.
In this safe and controlled space, participants can engage with a variety of stimuli to engage their senses. Studies have shown this type of space and activity can benefit people with intellectual and developmental delays and disabilities in a variety of ways. It is set up to feel good, which can have a direct impact on emotional regulation, stress reduction, and longer-term mental health. The many stimuli also are shown to improve visual processing abilities, fine and gross motor skills, and communication.
A big thank you to @amazingsensorydesigns for helping us create this space.
A few months ago, our Lifelong Learning program expanded into a new home in Hillside, IL. We’re excited about many opportunities in this new space, and among these is our new Sensory Room.
In this safe and controlled space, participants can engage with a variety of stimuli to engage their senses. Studies have shown this type of space and activity can benefit people with intellectual and developmental delays and disabilities in a variety of ways. It is set up to feel good, which can have a direct impact on emotional regulation, stress reduction, and longer-term mental health. The many stimuli also are shown to improve visual processing abilities, fine and gross motor skills, and communication.
A big thank you to @amazingsensorydesigns for helping us create this space.
Happy Halloween from your friends at Oak Leyden!
These photos are from a party with our Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) residents. While our parties are always fun and light-hearted, there is a scary thing we want you to know about group homes like ours: there is a nation-wide shortage of critical Direct Support Professionals, the workers who support residents 24/7, and DSPs’ wages are still not where they should be.
Good Morning America just ran a segment on this critical issue, check it out at the link in our bio. Oak Leyden is doing all that we can to ensure our employees are supported and provided a livable wage for their important work, but your awareness of this issue helps us impact policy changes to better support all DSPs!
Happy Halloween from your friends at Oak Leyden!
These photos are from a party with our Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) residents. While our parties are always fun and light-hearted, there is a scary thing we want you to know about group homes like ours: there is a nation-wide shortage of critical Direct Support Professionals, the workers who support residents 24/7, and DSPs’ wages are still not where they should be.
Good Morning America just ran a segment on this critical issue, check it out at the link in our bio. Oak Leyden is doing all that we can to ensure our employees are supported and provided a livable wage for their important work, but your awareness of this issue helps us impact policy changes to better support all DSPs!
Another spook-tacular Oak Leyden holiday event, complete with adorable children in fun costumes, engagement and learning with our rockstar therapists, fun hands-on activities, and (of course) office door-to-door trick or treating.
Thanks to those who joined us for the fun.
Another spook-tacular Oak Leyden holiday event, complete with adorable children in fun costumes, engagement and learning with our rockstar therapists, fun hands-on activities, and (of course) office door-to-door trick or treating.
Thanks to those who joined us for the fun.
Here`s a bright spot and some smiles for your feed this Friday.
These Lifelong Learning participants posed in a photo booth during our spa day and game day. The programming at our day centers is varied, but we`ll admit--often festive. We can`t help but have fun!🤷🏾 On this occasion, participants played a variety of games and our training counselors offered spa services like manicures and hair care.
Here`s a bright spot and some smiles for your feed this Friday.
These Lifelong Learning participants posed in a photo booth during our spa day and game day. The programming at our day centers is varied, but we`ll admit--often festive. We can`t help but have fun!🤷🏾 On this occasion, participants played a variety of games and our training counselors offered spa services like manicures and hair care.
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