Overview
Early intervention is the term used to describe the services and supports that are available to infants and toddlers with developmental delays and/or areas of difficulty. Early intervention can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to learn new skills and overcome challenges and can increase success in school and life. Early identification of delays and difficulties, with appropriate and timely action, has been shown to produce better life outcomes in social development, speech-language skills, fine and gross motor skills, emotional development, and increased independence. The first step in determining whether early intervention would be appropriate is an evaluation of the child’s development to assess if there are any delays or areas of difficulty. If a concern is identified, there is a wide range of intervention possibilities.
Our Philosophy
We use an evidence-based developmental model, improved interaction, communication, and play skills are absolutely possible for your child.
Our Staff
Our multidisciplinary team approach meets the unique needs of the child and family.
Areas of Expertise
TLC provides a family of services with qualified, experienced, and caring therapists and clinicians that can address any identified need and customize solutions through individual therapies, groups, counseling, and/or specialized educational interventions.
Programs
Evaluations and Therapies
Early Intervention Services offers comprehensive and multidisciplinary Developmental Evaluations, Speech-Language Evaluations, Occupational Therapy Evaluations, Early Hearing Evaluations, as well as Counseling.
At TLC, we provide the highest quality evaluations. Evaluation is an integral part of the therapeutic process, as it provides the key to identifying each individual’s unique needs and skills. Evaluation results and recommendations are documented in comprehensive reports and discussed with parents.
Therapy is based on the unique needs of each child. Therapy is fun for the child and is skillfully managed by the therapist to ensure it is appropriate and is set to the “just right challenge,” where the activity is not too difficult so that the child no longer wants to play but is not too easy so they lose interest quickly. It is this “just-right challenge” that ensures the child makes an adaptive response and leads to mastery of age-appropriate skills.
Toddler (18-36 months) Autism Evaluations
TLC offers a specialized autism diagnostic program to help families get answers faster. We understand that many parents face long wait times when seeking evaluations and support for their younger children. Our new program is designed to connect children to neurodiversity-affirming early intervention services sooner.
TLC’s interdisciplinary team of Psychologists & Speech-Language Pathologists collaboratively conduct evaluations using the ADOS-2, a gold-standard tool for observing behaviors related to autism. Combined with a child’s social history and developmental impact, this assessment helps determine if they meet DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.
- Comprehensive and evidence-based
- Collaborative expert evaluation
- Faster access to early intervention
Comprehensive autism assessments at TLC include occupational therapy screenings to assess sensory and motor needs. Plus, our Family Hearing Center provides specialized testing for children with hearing concerns.
Therapeutic Interaction Groups
TLC’s Interaction Group is for young children ages 2 ½ – 5 and is based on the Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) model, focused on developing and improving communication, social interaction and sensory motor skills. The DIR model provides a developmental framework for interdisciplinary assessment and intervention for autism and other developmental and mental health challenges. The model uses affect-based interactions and experiences tailored to individual needs to promote development. Our Therapeutic Interaction Groups (IG) are led by two of our Occupational Therapists who are trained and certified in the DIR/Floortime model. They build on your child’s interests to encourage engagement, play skills and interactions in group and individual activities. Parent education and coaching are provided to support parent-child interactions.