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Center for Pediatric Therapy - Fairfield, Inc.

History:

This office, the first of Tara Glennon's clinics, began by specializing in sensory integrative intervention. This state-of-the-art facility expanded three times since 1993 in order to continually meet the occupational therapy needs of the children. The overriding premise was to offer a clinic that was physically and emotionally safe, thus allowing for maximal therapeutic gains.

While Center for Pediatric Therapy continues to be considered the area's leader in sensory integrative intervention, it emerged into a more comprehensive pediatric therapy practice. The office offers all aspects of medically OT services, community outreach, and educationally based services to school districts throughout Fairfield County (see below for Educationally Based Services). In addition, pediatric Physical Therapy has been added in answer to many requests from parents for one agency to service all of the child's therapeutic needs. Speech Language services recently began to be offered in this office so as to match the services offered in the Wallingford office.

Children who receive support from this clinic are typically referred parent-to-parent. Other referral sources include psychologists, pediatricians, social service agencies, schools, and in many cases parent-to-parent referrals.

Educationally Based Therapy

Center for Pediatric Therapy provides educationally based services to area school districts. While we must provide cost-effective support, we continue to hold ourselves to high professionally ethical standards. The commitment is to provide the highest quality of service for children and their families. Our knowledge of therapeutic strategies, understanding of legal mandates, and business experience has allowed us to be viewed positively by both parents and district administration.

Explanation of Educationally Based Services:

If a child is identified as having a disability as defined by the Public Law 105-17, the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), he or she is entitled to special education. When special education eligibility is determined, the school district develops an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This legal document outlines the educational supports that the child requires. According to the law, a child is entitled to a related or support service that "may be required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education." Occupational therapy is such a related services.

If a team suspects that a child needs the specialized services of an occupational therapist, a referral is made for an evaluation. The team, after discussing the evaluation results, determines if the related service is required for the child to benefit from special education. It is important to remember, however, that educationally based therapy is not intended to be a medical or primary service.

Related services are more easily understood if considered as a secondary service. That is to say, without a primary service to support, there would be no secondary services to provide. Therefore, children who are not deemed eligible for special education would not be eligible to receive a related service.

In the medical realm, however, occupational and physical therapy services are able to be received as a primary or "stand alone" service. Therefore, if you are not eligible for services by your local Board of Education, you may want to pursue possible insurance coverage for therapy.

To make an evaluation appointment, please call the location most convenient for you.

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