Text Box: Parent/Caregiver Support - A parent/caregiver support meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th at 6:45 p.m. at the Libertyville Clinic.  Christine Jurjovec & Erin Campbell will be discussing the impact of visual skills on learning, the importance of eye movement control and eye teaming and therapeutic activities that incorporate the visual & vestibular systems.  Please contact Christine Jurjovec (847)573-9236 x19 if you plan to attend. - Amy Zier and Kimberly Brahm will be presenting on the Foundations for Self Regulation on March 30, 2005 at the Chicago location.  For the time and other details please contact Kimberly at 773-755-7793, ext 5. 

  click for home page             Please send the news letter to me via e-mail

 

Text Box:   Text Box: Continuing Education  Laura-Lee Schwefel recently attended a neuronet conference with Nancy W. Rowe, Ms., FAAA.  Neuronet examines the auditory, visual and vestibular systems and their impact on attention, memory and learning.  The purpose of neuronet therapy is to automate basic repetitive perceptual/motor patterns which create more memory for learning.  Components of the program focus on rhythmic multi-tasking of perception, movement, cognition and calibration of purposeful movement against gravity.   For more information visit www.neuronet@aol.com.    contact your therapist.   Text Box: Meet our therapist’s  -  Erin Campbell Erin has been with AZ&A for the past 3 years.  She truly benefits from collaborating with colleagues and parents/caregivers, and feels this is how you can truly impact a child's life.  Erin has been enjoying married life with her husband, Mike, married in May 2004.  They can't believe their 1 year anniversary is just around the corner.  Erin enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, doing Pilates, learning how to cook new meals, scrap booking, and sharing stories of her 2 1/2 year old nephew and can't wait to meet her new baby niece (born 2/24/05).  She would love to learn how to do beautiful watercolor paintings, quilt, play the piano, and knit.   Text Box: AZA current news  ∙  All of us at Amy Zier and Associates would like to congratulate Talia Plotkin and her family on their new arrival.  Talia gave birth to a baby boy named Ezra on March 6th.  Ezra weighed in at 6lbs, 14oz and dad reports that, “mom and baby are both doing well.” Best wishes!        Text Box: Ask a Therapist - My therapist recommended my child receive more ‘core body input’ throughout his/her day so we purchased a trampoline and swing. Initially my child enjoyed the equipment but does not seem as interested in the equipment lately.  What is happening?  Often children with sensory processing deficits also have motor planning challenges. Motor planning ability allows the child to have many ideas regarding use of their body in their environment. Children with motor planning difficulties often become stuck or bored and have a limited ability to formulate ideas.  In addition, many children we treat continually need interaction and support to remain engaged and regulated in their environment. This means that your child needs you, the caregiver, to engage them and be the bridge to the equipment. Once your child is able to experience the sensory input in the context of a relationship with you, he/she is more likely to initiate on the equipment and generalize more ideas.  It is not uncommon for children not to initiate what their body needs secondary to poor self regulation and/or motor planning deficits.   Text Box: Resource Page Book of the month “101 Activities for Kids in Tight Spaces”, by Carol Kranowitz, M.A. This book is recommended for its suggestions on working with children in tight spaces like a seat in a grocery cart or car.  In addition, the ideas are portable and do not require the specialized equipment your child uses in the clinic setting.  Talk to your therapist if you want suggested activities which will support your child’s individual sensory processing and motor planning profile.   Upcoming Workshop – Chicago, IL Helping Young Children with Sensory Processing Disorder -featuring Janet Mora and Nancy Kashman - April 1, 2005 in Chicago, IL- Ms. Kashman and Ms. Mora will present an overview of the nature of sensory processing difficulties– the causes, resulting behaviors, and interventions. Effective interaction with one’s environment depends on the ability to adequately process sensory information. Participants will learn to distinguish between typical and atypical behavior patterns and implement appropriate classroom and home intervention strategies. (For more information call 1-888-357-5867, or visit http://www.sensoryresources.com/conf).  Text Box: Pick of the month – The T-Stool  -  The T-stool is a nice seating alternative for wigglers and those with mild-to-moderate balance challenges.  It is an easy way to incorporate daily balance practice in classrooms or during therapy games.  A 9 year old boy recently put his experience into these words, “this T-stool is very comfortable to sit on because it lets me move.  It does not let me put my legs up.  Gets me to wake up and use my muscles a lot." After using the T-stool for 30mins....."I feel completely perfect.  I feel completely new.  I would really want one of these."  You can find this item at Therapy Shoppe http://www.therapyshoppe.com, #BC2621 12" T-Stool , $31.99 or #BC2622 14" T-Stool , $34.99.  Southpaw Enterprises also has an adjustable one available for $79.99.      Text Box: