Autistic Children Charlotte

Welcome Michelle Ferguson, M.A., CCC-SLP

Michelle has been a Charlotte community colleague for a number of years and joins the Child and Family Development team today. She brings more than twelve years of clinical experience that spans work in public school, hopsital and clinic settings.  Her special areas of experise include autism spectrum disorders, pre-linguistic communication, early language development and cognition. Her training was completed at Appalachian State University (Master's degree) and the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill (Baccalaureate degree).   

Michelle is based at the Midtown office.   


 
  
 

Looking for pediatric therapy services near Union County, South Carolina?

Child and Family Development has an office in South Charlotte that is from the 485 loop.



Our multi-disciplinary clinic has been helping children and families since 1980. Services include Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Child Psychology and Educational Support.  The team of experienced therapists can assess and treat a wide range of childhood concerns, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities or special needs.



We participate in many insurance plans. Also, some of our Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy providers accept South Carolina Medicaid. 



The Contact Us tab on our website will link you to our address and Mapquest.

One member of the Child and Family Development pediatric therapy team has been on the go over the last month!

Kati Berlin, Occupational Therapist, completed two training courses in Charlotte:  

• Developing Daily Modulation Plans & Activities Using the Autism/Sensory Survival Kit for Children & Adolescents
• Therapeutic Listening

Kati was able to immediately incorporate new information from both courses into her therapy sessions.

Looking for pediatric therapy services near Rock Hill, South Carolina?



Child and Family Development has an office in South Charlotte that is less than 5 miles from the border and easily accessible from I-77 and the 485 loop.



Our multi-disciplinary clinic has been helping children and families since 1980. The team of experienced therapists can assess and treat a wide range of childhood concerns, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities or special needs. We participate in many insurance plans. 

Also, some of our Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy providers accept South Carolina Medicaid. 



The Contact Us tab on our website will link you to our address and Mapquest.

I have offered a Physical Therapy-based Karate group for many years at Child and Family Development in Charlotte. Last year, I was thrilled to grow this special program with the help of Black Belt Instructor, Riaan Van Scalkwyck. We have a number of regular groups and here is more family feedback about their experiences: 

"My prayers have been answered in such a marvelous way.  The Karate Program has been instrumental in my son's life by   increasing positive character traits. Each Wednesday, because my son knows that he will attend the Karate Program, there is an exuberant sparkle in his eyes. He has always kept his room clean, but because of his increased independence, he asks to vacuum his room and other rooms in the house on this special day!  Prior to the Program, negative characteristics existed such as anxiety, fear, nervousness, frustration, and a lack of focus.  Currently, the positive character fruit produced within my son is patience, improved body strength, courage, confidence, increased maturity, increased independence, increased responsibility, and joy. I am thankful to God for Amy, Sensei Riaan and for the Karate Program.  The love and compassion given to my son weekly is more than any parent could imagine.  This Program has exceeded my expectations.  It is a blessing. It is a gift from God.” - Mother of a 16-year-old boy diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome

"For over a year now, our son, who is on the autistic spectrum, has been attending a weekly karate class under the direction and tutelage of Sensei Riaan.  He has never been in a structured group setting like this, and he is thriving more and more after each session.  His confidence level has increased because he feels successful, and is able to be with and keep up with his peers.  We have noticed significant improvement in his balance, motor skills, and coordination, as well as his social and play skills.  One of the particularly commendable aspects of this program is the way it is organized with each child having an outside support person to work along with him and help and guide him, as necessary.  I highly recommend this class to everyone; especially our special people who need extra love and support!" - Parent of a Karate Group Participant

Right now, I am planning another one for Young Adults and Adults with autism or Asperger's Syndrome. 

Contact me to learn more by email (asturkey@childandfamilydevelopment.com) or phone (704.332.4834 ext 114).

 

When looking at behavior, there are close similarities displayed with both children who have attention difficulties (ADD/ ADHD) and sensory processing disorder (SPD).  Co-morbid diagnoses may include Autism, Developmental Delays, and Learning Disabilities.  Common characteristics for children with both sensory seeking SPD and ADHD (hyperactive/impulsive type) are as follows: impulsivity, excessive activity, disorganization, impatience and poor self-control. 

However, more specifically, children who have SPD tend to be more in control of stopping impulsive behaviors.  They may crave activity relating to a specific sensory system, may become more organized after receiving proper sensory input and may be more patient while waiting if give proper sensory input.  They commonly poke/pull/touch others without proper sensory input.

Those who have ADHD (hyperactive/impulsive type), tend to continue impulsive behaviors, be disorganized and have difficulty waiting-even with sensory input.  They tend to crave activity not related to a specific sensory system.  They often talk a lot, impulsively interrupt, and have difficulty waiting a turn during a conversation.

Looking for pediatric therapy services near Fort Mill, South Carolina?

Child and Family Development has an office in South Charlotte that is just 13 miles from there and easily accessible from I-77 and the 485 loop.

Our multi-disciplinary clinic has been helping children and families since 1980. The team of experienced therapists can assess and treat a wide range of childhood concerns, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities or special needs. We participate in many insurance plans.

Also, some of our Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy providers accept South Carolina Medicaid. 

The Contact Us tab on our website will link you to our address and Mapquest. 

I have offered a Physical Therapy-based Karate group for many years at Child and Family Development in Charlotte. Last year, I was thrilled to grow this special program with the help of Black Belt Instructor, Rian Van Scalkwyck. We have a number of regular groups and here is one family shared about their experience: 

"My son has greatly benefited from the PT Karate group! His upper body, lower body and core strength are all improving, and his attention span as well as ability to stay on task has increased. I am so glad this class is offered and hope others will be positively impacted by it too."  - Mother of a 12-year-old with autism  

Contact me to learn more by email (asturkey@childandfamilydevelopment.com) or phone (704.332.4834 ext 114).
 

The Child and Family Development pediatric therapy team is always stretching to learn more!

This week, Elizabeth Fagg, Speech Therapist, attended the LAMP training course in Charlotte. LAMP stands for Language Acquisition through Motor Planning.  According to their website, www.aacandautism.com, it is a therapeutic approach based on neurological and motor learning principles. The goal is to give individuals who are nonverbal or have limited verbal abilities a method of independently and spontaneously expressing themselves in any setting. This approach is often used with people with autism. 

Elizabeth enjoys helping her clients find the right augmentative communication device and learning how to use it.

 

What is it?

The Physical Therapy-Based Karate group is a long-time favorite at Child and Family Development.  It is led by Amy Sturkey, Physical Therapist, and Riaan Van Schalkwyck, Black Belt Instructor. 

We have seen such success with teenagers with high functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome that we want to expand and offer it to young adults and adults with high functioning Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome. 

The goal is to help participants improve balance, strength, and coordination and control. There is also a focus on self defense moves.

How does it work?

Each participant is paired with a ‘shadow’ to offer verbal encouragement and instruction and simple physical redirection cues.   It is important that each participant be able to follow directions and not have aggressive tendencies towards self or others.

Groups are formed according to skill level with age and size taken into consideration, to ensure the best opportunity for success and homogeneity. Groups are limited to 4 participants. 

What can I expect?

The Karate group meets weekly at our Midtown Clinic for a minimum of 8 weeks. The group may continue passed 8 weeks if there is sufficient interest.                         

Session times will be offered on Wednesdays at 1pm and/or 12pm. 

The private cost of the groups is $50 per session. All payments are due at the time of service.  

Want to learn more?  

Call Amy: 704-332-4834 ext. 114
Email Amy: asturkey@childandfamilydevelopment.com
Visit the C&FD website: www.childandfamilydevelopment.com

If you ever spend time around someone with autism, you quickly realize how visual some of them are. They look; often they stare. And sometimes all that visual input, stewing and brewing in that unique mind, becomes output in the form of beautiful, mind-boggling art.f

In the book Drawing Autism, author Jill Mullin collects the most intriguing, beautiful and insightful examples of artwork done by people with autism. In her forward she tells the story of how the book came to be and the one man, himself an artist, who sparked her interest in autistic artists and their work.

Temple Grandin, herself an autistic artist, authors the introduction of the book and encourages parents, caretakers and teachers to nurture an autistic individual’s talents and realize that their obsessive behavior can be channeled into a passion driven by boundless motivation.

Drawing Autism is filled to the brim with gorgeous full-color illustrations from artists around the world. Mullin asked each artist a few questions that give further insight into their motivations for creating art, how they view themselves and their art, and how art affects their lives. Pictures and words both give the reader new perspectives on art and how autistic artists’ minds work. If you want to learn more about autism, Drawing Autism is the prettiest way to do so.

Laura Shumaker, author of A Regular Guy: Growing Up With Autism (2008), interviewed Jill Mullin on the success of her book and how Mullin hopes to increase awareness of autism.

Both interview and book are excellent reading. Even if you don’t have an autistic individual in your life, the incredible art displayed in Mullin’s book is a joy in itself.

Even better: a part of the proceeds from Drawing Autism are donated to agencies that support autism and art.

For more information on Drawing Autism, visit Mark Batty Publishers.

The holidays are a time for family gatherings, traveling, no school, and no routine.  For some that sounds fun, but for children with sensory processing difficulties, Autism, and other developmental delays, it can be a very scary time.
• Children who have auditory and tactile sensitivities will likely struggle most during family gatherings.
• Children who are sensitive to movement or need a lot of movement will have the most difficulty being couped up in a car or airplane while traveling.
• Children who already feel like they have no control over their own body rely on routine to give them a sense of control and organization.  When their environment is unpreditable, these children will likely either shut down or act out.

Remember your child's needs when you are making plans this holiday season.  If you go to a family gathering, make sure that your child has a quiet space to go when they need a break from all of the commotion.  If you are traveling, make sure you are able to take frequent movement breaks to allow your child to more succesfully ride in the car.  Most importantly, remember to keep sleep, meal, and daily routines as close to typical as you are able.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!

Images via: www.newsrealblog.com and www.bucklesafe.co.uk

Today, the mother of a boy with autism shared this article by Jean Winegardner.

"Top Ten: Joys of parenting an autistic child" of Washington Times Communities numbers what many parents can relate to, including:

10. Your kid with autism is going to make you laugh

7. You might see them embrace their uniqueness

1. Just as with any child, your kid with autism is going to give you so much love

Follow this link to read the entire list: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/list-ten-those-top-then-things-we-enjoy/2011/dec/21/top-ten-joys-parenting-autistic-child/

With diverse clinical expertise, interests and experiences, the Child and Family Development team of psychologists is ready to provide a wide range of evaluation and treatment services. 

MIDTOWN OFFICE

Carol Capehart, MA, LPA, is a licensed psychological associate with about 20 years of clinical experience. Carol has extensive training and experience in the assessment and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and founded our ASD evaluative services in 2006. Prior to that, she spent many years working in public schools with children of all ages and learning abilities.

Gretchen Hunter, Ph.D., CRC, is a licensed psychologist and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with a specialty in neuropsychology. She has experience providing neuropsychological evaluations to children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders, learning disabilities and attention related disorders. She provides individual, family and group psychotherapy and behavior intervention to children and adolescents.

Kristina Murphy, Psy.D, HSP-P, is a licensed psychologist who provides psychotherapy and evaluations to children, adolescents and young adults. Her specialized focus is adolescents and transitions to High School and College. Areas of clinical expertise include anxiety,

depression, attention disorders, learning disabilities, life transitions and adjustment issues.

SOUTH CHARLOTTE OFFICE

Annada Hypes, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment of adolescents and young adults. Dr. Hypes specializes in treating mood and impulse-control disorders, including depression, self harm, substance abuse, disordered eating and attention disorders. She regularly offers social skills groups for girls. 

Joy Granetz, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist with over thirteen years of experience. She provides neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations with special focus in working with children and adolescents with learning disabilities, attention disorders, head injury, tic disorders and epilepsy. Dr. Granetz is one of a few practitioners in North Carolina offering Cogmed Working Memory Training, an innovative computer based training program to help children with attention difficulties.

Chris Vrabel, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist specializing in child evaluation and child and family therapy. He has expertise in the assessment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention disorders, learning disabilities and other developmental, behavioral and emotional problems. Dr. Vrabel also provides therapy to children and families with concerns regarding ADHD, behavior problems, depression, anxiety, social difficulties and other issues.

Read the blog, visit the website, or contact the offices to learn more about our child psychology services.

The Family Clinic: Multi-Modal Management of ADHD and Related Emotional Issues was founded in February 1991, a joint effort of Carolina Neurological Clinic and Child and Family Development, to provide services to children diagnosed with attention disorders.

Since 2001, Dr. Pleas Geyer of Carolinas Medical Center has led the collaboration. The Family Clinic has broadened it’s scope to include not only children with ADD/ADHD, but also autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders, anxiety, depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and other emotional issues.

The Family Clinic meets at our Midtown office on most Wednesday afternoons.

The treatment goal is to carefully monitor and support children with diagnosed ADHD/ADD, anxiety, depression, developmental disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and related emotional disorders, including medication therapy, focusing on the impact on development and school performance.

Pleas R. Geyer, M.D.. is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who provides care and medication management of children and adolescents diagnosed with emotional and developmental disorders. Dr. Geyer is in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Carolinas Medical Center, and is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He brings a depth of experience in his treatment of our child and adolescent population. Dr. Geyer is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry.

Contact Jenny at our Midtown office to learn more about The Family Clinic. 

Hello!

I am recently a new member to the Occupational Therapy team at Child and Family Development located at the South Charlotte office! I was born and raised in Charleston, SC. Upon graduating from Clemson University with my BS in Health Science, I decided to go back to Charleston to obtain my Masters degree in Occupational Therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina. Following this graduation and passing my boards, I ventured off to the city of Charlotte, NC to begin working as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist. I have prior experience working with children with autism, fine motor delays and handwriting difficulties, developmental delays, sensory processing disorders, cerebral palsy and down syndrome through my clinical rotations during school.  Since joining the C&FD team, I have gained an even wider knowledge of the practice from working and collaborating with the wonderful staff members in their different areas of expertise. I am looking forward to what the future brings at Child and Family Development!
 
Mary Helen Bailey, M.S., OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Child and Family Development

Halloween has passed, but dressing up doesn't have to end! There are a number of benefits of having a dress up box for all children, particularly kids with developmental delays, autism, fine motor coordination difficulties, or sensory processing challenges.

Self-Care: One benefit is having a fun way to work on self-care skills like dressing, buttoning, and Velcro. Increasing the ability to dress yourself and work small fasteners is a skill that requires alot of repetition, but using a dress up box as a PLAY activity masks the challenges of these skills and makes practice fun!

Touch Processing: Fill your dress up box with a variety of materials and sensory challenges. Dressing up is often more motivating than trying to address tactile sensitives directly. Provide items like frilly petticoats, feathers, fringe, leggings, princess gloves, animal gloves, masks, crowns, hats, shoes, and other costumes that stretches your child's sensitivity to textures.

Imagination: Imaginative play can be a challenge for children on the autism spectrum, so use dressing up as an opportunity to increase play skills!

Independence: Another challenge for some children, especially those with developmental delays, cognitive deficits or autism can be knowing what is an appropriate article of clothing for the different seasons. A dress up box geared toward this area, could include clothing appropriate for specific seasons and then help your child select his own outfit.

As an occupational therapist at Child and Family Development, one of my goals is to make therapy and learning fun!

Autism is one of the most commonly diagnosed developmental disabilities in children.  Receiving a diagnosis of Autism from your child's pediatrician, a psychologist, or other specialist can be tough to take as a parent.  However, there is help!  Early intervention through occupational therapy can help your child develop social, play, and learning skills to achieve daily tasks such as dressing and playing with other children.  An occupational therapist does not diagnose Autism, but we do provide families with support in treating the symptoms of Autism.

Check out this article on the American Occupational Therapy Association's webpage for some more information about what you can do as a parent to be an advocate for your child.

Another helpful website that provides you with a wealth of information is www.autismspeaks.org.

For more information or to schedule an occupational therapy evaluation for your child, please visit our website at www.childandfamilydevelopment.com or call or office at (704)541-9080.

Image via: http://www.centrikidblog.com

Social Stories, a therapeutic technique developed by Carol Gray, can be used to help children prepare for new situations, develop new skills or understand other people’s perspectives. Social stories are most effective when they are individualized to your child and written at their level.

Social stories can be helpful for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Anxiety, Social Skills difficulties and other behaviors. For example, Halloween is coming up. This can be an exciting time of year, but it can also be difficult for some children. As an example, let’s use a young child who occasionally tantrums if he receives a type of candy he doesn’t like. A sample social story might be:

“Halloween is coming! On Halloween, I get to dress up in my costume and go Trick or Treating. I am so excited to dress up as Spiderman! If it is cold on Halloween, I might have to wear a coat so I can stay warm. That’s okay, I will still look great. I will walk to a few houses with my Dad. When I get to a house, I get to ring the doorbell. When the door opens, we will both say ‘Trick or Treat!’ Then, the person will give me a piece of candy. Sometimes, I will get a piece of candy that I am really excited about, like a Snickers! Other times, I will get something I am not very excited about, like a Mounds bar. That’s okay. I will put it in my bag. Then we will say “thank-you,” wave goodbye and walk to the next house.”

Social stories don’t always change behavior, but they are useful for helping children understand what to expect and exposing them to new responses. You can learn more about social stories at www.thegraycenter.org. Carol Gray’s book: “The New Social Story Book: 10^th Anniversary Edition” can also be found on www.amazon.com.

Happy Trick or Treating!

Children thrive on structure and look to you as a parent to keep them safe and give them guidance to get through life. Telling them "no" lets them know that you care for them enough to set some boundaries so that they are safe. Even if they don't appreciate your "no" right then, they will later.

Saying "no" does not mean you have to be extremely strict, but children learn what their boundaries are by testing them. If you don't say "no", they won't learn their boundaires and their behavior will become worse.

As I discussed in one of my previous blogs, routine is very important for children. Children of all ages need to know what to expect and what is expected of them. Consistency is key!

If you only say no when you are angry or overwhelmed, you are sending your child very mixed signals. Now, they won't know when they can/can't have or do something because your response is unpredictable and they will continue to test the limits.

What about my child who has temper tantrums when I tell him/her "no"?
The more consistent your are, the more your child will learn the boundaires and the temper tantrums will decrease.  You may have to put up with some bad temper tantrums before you get there, but they will learn!

What if my child has a disorder or diagnosis?
Children with Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, ADHD, and other developmental delays still need to hear the word "no" so that they can learn what is expected of them.  Often, these children need even more structure and boundaries to guide them through life.  Many people make the mistake of saying, "Well that child has Autism, so it's OK for him/her to act that way".  Just like any other child, children with Autism and other developmental delays will rise to the expectations they are given.

For more information on this topic, check out: www.empoweringparents.com/blog/consequences-rewards/dr-joan-its-ok-to-say-no/#

Image: www.sosprograms.com