Early Intervention

Who Do We Serve?

We serve children from birth to 5 years of age who have physical, neurological, and intellectual or developmental disabilities and reside in Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver, West Vancouver or Richmond.

Where Are Services Delivered?

Services may be delivered in a variety of environments and may change as your child grows. Locations include the BC Centre for Ability, regional clinics, home, community settings or in daycare or preschool facilities. Decisions about where and when to deliver services are dependent on goals being addressed, the family situation and the therapy team capacity.

How to Access Services for Your Child

A physician referral is not necessary to access the BC Centre for Ability Early Intervention Services. Parents or guardians can complete the Referral Form and check off the “Early Intervention Program”. We also welcome referrals from community professionals, healthcare providers, and physicians.

If you are already a client of the Early Intervention Program and would like to access additional services within our program you do not need to fill out another referral form, please let your current service provider know.

Social Work

Families are eligible for Social Work for Early Intervention Therapy when their child is receiving or waitlisted for occupational therapy, physiotherapy or speech-language therapy in the Early Intervention Therapy Program. Social Work is not automatically assigned when your child is in the Early Intervention Therapy Program. To receive social work services families must self-identify and request a referral to Social Work from occupational therapy, physiotherapy or speech-language therapy.

Occupational Therapy

Why is Occupational Therapy Important?

Occupational Therapists are healthcare professionals trained to help children engage in everyday living, including play, self-help and participation in family and childcare routines.

The early years are crucial for skill development as children learn at a rapid pace and build their sense of self-worth and independence. Complex skills are built on early successes. OTs use their training in typical and atypical development and in task analysis to help parents recognize developmental red flags, identify readiness for new learning and find the best approach to build on emerging new skills. OTs help family members and others in the child’s life to understand the child’s developmental profile, and provide appropriate support and facilitate success. Using a collaborative approach, we identify family and childcare routines in which learning opportunities can be embedded and determine strategies which will best address identified goals and reflect family priorities. OTs also help to identify and understand differences in sensory processing and to modify sensory environments which children find challenging.

All BCCFA’s Occupational Therapists are licensed to practice in BC and hold either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an accredited university program. Occupational Therapists are registered with the College of Occupational Therapy BC at http://www.cotbc.org/

What Do We Offer?

Occupational Therapists work with your child to assess current level of play, fine motor and self-help skills to ascertain what your child is doing independently and the barriers that are being encountered. Parent input is important as this helps put clinical observations into the context of the child’s experience and family interests. The Occupational Therapist will often demonstrate strategies when coaching caregivers which can be worked into everyday routines like playtime, outdoor fun, meal-times or bath-time.

Services focus on helping the child become successful in daily routines and participation in home and daily life. The intensity of early intervention therapy is dependent on the entire clinical picture, and changes over time in relation to your child’s current needs and abilities.

For More Information Contact:

Nicole Nybo, MOT
Leader, Occupational Therapy
Phone: 604-630-3034
Fax: 604-451-5651
Nicole.Nybo@bc-cfa.org

Speech & Language Therapy

Why is Speech-Language Therapy Important?

Speech-Language Pathologists are trained in human communication, its development and disorders, eating and swallowing problems. SLPs are committed to the prevention, early identification and treatment of speech, language, communication or feeding difficulties.

SLPs provide screening and assessments to identify delays or disorders and develop therapy programs to help children develop strong speech, language and communication skills. The early years are crucial for speech, language and communication problems. Building skills in the first 5 years of life is important to lay a strong foundation for learning in school.

An important component of speech-language therapy programs is teaching strategies to parents and caregivers so that they can help the child to understand and produce language and communicate more effectively with others. A communication problem affects not just the child but also the communication partners, family, peers and teachers. All BCCFA’s Speech-Language Pathologists are licensed to practice in BC and hold a Master’s degree from an accredited university program. Speech-Language Pathologists are registered with the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC – www.cshhpbc.org

What Do We Offer?

Speech-Language Pathologists work with families to identify goals and family priorities for the child. Family circumstances are taken into consideration and therapists work together with the family to determine a plan of care that best suits the needs of the child and the family.

For More Information Contact:

Jamie Hack Msc, RSLP
Director of Speech-Language Pathology
Phone: 604-630-3002
jamie.hack@bc-cfa.org

Social Work

Why is Social Work Important?

Social Work for the Early Intervention Therapy Program is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of families and communities. Our Social Workers are committed to helping families achieve their best possible level of personal and social well-being by addressing parental and child concerns to help build capacity, increase coping, learn about resources, and facilitate development of formal and informal support networks. Social Workers also provide education and information that assists with key transitions and support healthy adjustment. Social workers are registered with the BC College of Social Workers at http://www.bccollegeofsocialworkers.ca/

What Do We Offer?

Using a collaborative approach, Social Workers develop a service plan to best support children and families. This plan is based on family concerns and desired outcomes and is written with measurable goals so that over time achievements are demonstrated.

Service may include individual consultation in person or by telephone, and education through groups and workshops and other related activities to build community capacity.

Social Work for Early Intervention Therapy may be requested by families who have interest in consultation and support in the following areas:

• Counseling regarding the impact of the child’s special needs or disability;
• Managing the emotional demands and stresses of family life;
• Transitioning to/from daycare, preschool and kindergarten;
• Identifying available resources and funding sources;
• Dealing with family to family connections;
• Planning, coordinating and navigating services.

For More Information Contact:

Emma Gauvin MSW, RSW
Phone:  778-828-8512
emma.gauvin@bc-cfa.org