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CSC News & Resources
Press Release – For Immediate Release
Jordan Thomas Finds Whole-Child Therapy Solution at the Newly Expanded Child Success Center®
What parents should look for in 17% of children struggling with learning and why tutoring centers aren’t always the answer.
SANTA MONICA, CA, January 2008 – When Jordan Thomas arrived in Los Angeles, CA as an adopted infant from Jiu Jiang, China, her parents had no idea what to expect. She was a happy, yet cautious child, who demonstrated mild developmental challenges such as learning to roll onto her tummy, uttering her first words and climbing up the slide at her new preschool. The complexity of her difficulties was not apparent to her parents, Kirsten and Gary Thomas. When compared to the other girls adopted on the multi-family trip to China, the Thomas’s thought Jordan just needed some extra time to catch-up. Although she was somewhat timid and passive, Jordan was always sweet and cooperative, and preschool teachers didn’t identify any problems. The turning point was when Jordan, herself, started to notice she was different from other kids. Her peers didn’t appear to struggle as much with playing sports, answering questions in class, or learning the alphabet.
In order to stop the tears and safeguard her self-esteem, Jordan’s parents found a Neuropsychologist to assess her development, strengths, and challenges. The results determined that Jordan could significantly benefit from individualized treatment. Specifically, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and vision therapy were recommended. These individualized treatments would help Jordan to build motor coordination, increase memory skills for writing numbers and letters, accurately express her thoughts and ideas, increase visual tracking for reading and copying information from the school board to her paper, and process information more efficiently. Eventually educational therapy may be recommended to support further academic success such as reading and math skills.
Jordan is just one of 17% of children who struggle with learning differences, from language delays to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia. There is a 20% probability that learning differences will be passed down through families, although having been through an international adoption, the Thomas’s will never know the genetic implications of Jordan’s difficulties.
As an active mother of two, Kirsten, was concerned about finding the time to coordinate therapy schedules, travel between multiple therapists and provide extracurricular activities for both Jordan and her younger sister Hope, so when she was referred to the Child Success Center, she knew that she had found a solution. Founded by Melissa Idelson, OTR/L, the Child Success Center is designed to treat the whole child, providing a cohesive team approach and convenience for busy families. Melissa explains, “Jordan’s learning needs exemplify the upside of the Center’s team approach, however, many of our clients need lesser degrees of intervention, and siblings, like Hope, can enroll in one of our pre-academic enrichment programs.”
Originally practicing pediatric occupational therapy near her Pacific Palisade’s home, Melissa decided to expand her practice to include speech, language, and educational therapies, creating the Child Success Center. In August of 2007, she moved the thriving business to a new facility at 828 Pico Boulevard, Suite 7, Santa Monica, CA, 90405-1350, where Jordan is seen weekly. Her mother explains, “I believe Jordan has become a whole person over the past year and a half because of the integrated approach and the fact each therapist is so warm and gauges each child’s personality.” Jordan’s success is partly measured by her exerting independence, problem solving, interacting with her peers, participating in sports, and learning foundational skills for reading and writing.
“Tutoring centers work great for children who need information repeated in a different way, however, some children don’t have the internal tools to process information efficiently, thus needing a more specialized approach,” explains Melissa. “Tutoring centers put the leaves on the tree while learning facilities, such as the Child Success Center, support strong and healthy roots to nourish the tree, long-term.”
When Melissa speaks to preschools, she advises parents and teachers to look for the following characteristics:
- Mostly sits in the sandbox and doesn’t jump, swing, climb and throw balls.
- Avoids table-top activities such as drawing, gluing, cutting, and puzzles.
- Difficulty sitting and participating in circle time.
- Difficult to understand.
- Easily frustrated and physically acts out.
- Appears clumsy and is always getting hurt.
- Overly sensitive to sounds and touch.
- Difficulty with following directions or using language to communicate.
She cautions that each characteristic by itself is not necessarily a concern, however when these characteristics are combined, cause difficulties at school, home or on the playground/sports yard or arouse concern, a specialist should be contacted. “It doesn’t have to be the child who runs around and is always in trouble,” added Melissa, “it can also be the quiet child who sits well, but is struggling with development and/or learning.” She encourages parents to call her directly at 310-899-9597 with questions about the earliest indicators of sensory motor, speech, language or learning struggles. Melissa can help to determine if an evaluation is necessary.
Founded by Melissa Idelson, OTR/L in July 2005, the Child Success Center® (www.childsuccesscenter.com) is an early learning center that supports the growth and development of all children from toddler through high school years, primarily on Los Angeles’ West side. Under one roof, the team of accredited professionals offers a spectrum of therapeutic services and enrichment programs that enable each child to strive for their true potential, including occupational therapy, educational therapy, and speech and language therapy. They present all of their services, activities, and toys in a fun, learning and growing environment that emphasizes sensory stimulation and motor opportunity together with a state-of-the art children’s gym. Newly expanded and relocated, Child Success Center has recently doubled its square footage and increased its professional staff. Recently added enrichment programs for the whole family include toddler Mommy & Me, themed and educational-based birthday parties, as well as memory and organizational skill training for teens and parents. A foundation for subsidizing the cost of treatments is in the process of being established.
CONTACT:
Kay Abadee
818-266-2461
KGA@WeinstockMarketing.com
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