Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists are trained to assist people of all ages to perform the functional tasks that normally occupy their lives. The occupation of childhood is to develop the skills necessary to become functional and independent adults. These skills include: regulation of arousal level in order to attend; refinement of sensory discrimination and processing; continual refinement and development of motor skills; development of communication skills; appropriate social interactions; language and cognitive skills; age-appropriate self care skills; and self-concept.
ClearWater Academy utilizes skilled occupational therapists, state-of-the-art equipment, and advanced assessment tools that will provide kids and parents alike with a better understanding of existing conditions and effective treatment strategies. We incorporate various therapy programs through our occupational therapy partner Hands on Healing, including The Alert Program, Astronaut Training, Ready Bodies Learning Minds (RBLM), the Therapeutic Listening Program, and Aquatic Therapy.
ClearWater Academy provides both individual and group occupational therapy (OT) to all the children enrolled in the Lower School. The Upper School receives group OT. These therapies are all included in tuition. Individual OT for an Upper School child may be arranged and contracted separately with our providers by parents/guardians as a separate parent expense and may be scheduled into the school day. Here are some of the great OT programs offered at ClearWater Academy.
OT: Alert Program
The Alert Program (otherwise known as How Does Your Engine Run) provides a way for parents, teachers, and therapists to help their students learn about themselves and their basic self-regulation needs. It provides an easily understood way for children to monitor the signals that indicate an internal level of readiness to work, play, listen, and participate in the activities of daily life. The Alert Program assists students in understanding the basic theory of sensory integration related to arousal states. The primary focus is to help children learn to monitor, maintain, and change their level of alertness so that it is appropriate to a situation or task.
OT: Astronaut Training Protocol
Astronaut Training Protocol is a sound-activated vestibular-visual protocol used to provide sensory input that is clear, precise, comprehensive, and balanced. Movement is the foundation for everything we do in life and therefore the vestibular system supports all behaviors and all acquisition of skills as well as helping balance the stream of sensory information that constantly bombards the system. Astronaut Training provides precise input to all five vestibular receptors, along with auditory and visual input to create a comprehensive treatment protocol that integrates these three sensory systems. Core activities provide opportunities for an adaptive response to sensory input, which completes the sensorimotor neurological circuits underlying all function. Guidelines are provided for safe, effective use of this protocol with clients of all ages and diagnoses.
OT: Ready Bodies Learning Minds (RBLM)
A comprehensive approach to understanding how sensory integration and motor control drives learning, and therefore the performance, of our children. RBLM clarifies these powerful relationships, and then delivers powerful, hands-on tools for therapists, teachers and parents to assist children with daily learning tasks.
OT: Therapeutic Listening Program
The Therapeutic Listening Program is a sensory integration modality used to produce specific effects on listening skills for children and adults. Hearing is passive and involuntary, while listening is an active process that requires attention and is affected by perception. Listening is a sensory motor activity that contributes to our control of balance, body movements and coordination, attention, and regulation. Therapeutic Listening incorporates whole-body treatment in combination with music. Therapeutic Listening selectively combines a number of electronically altered compact discs, based on ideas and technology from Alfred Tomatis, Guy Berard, and Ingo Steinbech, with a sensory-integrative frame of reference. Trained clinicians create, customize, and monitor individual listening programs with follow-up in-home, at school, or at a clinic.
OT: Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy increases strength, flexibility, endurance, and function. The buoyancy of water maximizes the benefit of exercise while reducing stress on the joints. Clinicians design individualized aquatic exercise programs for each student.
Recreational Therapy
ClearWater Academy’s recreational program is provided by Outdoor Rec. Adventures. The program engages our children in a fun, meaningful, and physically active way. The program targets both emotional and physical self regulation as well as improving motor processing and core strength. Activities are set up to be socially challenging to our students as well. Ultimately, our goal is to facilitate and improve our student’s confidence, communication and relationship skills with both peers and family.
Therapeutic Riding
Therapeutic riding is an emerging field in which horses are used as a tool for physical, social-emotional growth, as well as learning. Therapeutic riding is recognized by many medical professionals, including the American Occupational Therapy Association and the American Physical Therapy Association.
The benefits of therapeutic riding are numerous. Physically students show improvement in both gross and fine motor skills. Improvement in balance, flexibility and muscle strength are also noted. Academically and cognitively, interaction with the horse and instructor helps the rider to follow directions, develop planning and sequencing skills and help with overall focus and attention span. Socially, riding improves self esteem and builds confidence. More importantly, trust, friendship and a connection between rider and horse is formed.
