The Morris Center’s treatment program differs from other learning and language disability intervention programs. Our staff is trained to treat the root of learning disabilities and not just the symptoms. Upon completion of our program, each individual will have acquired the necessary skills to achieve success both in the classroom and in life. We are convenient and convenient – one location to avoid driving to different therapists in different locations. We treat the whole child across multiple disciplines.

Short-Term intensive treatments typically last 9-12 weeks, depending on the individual’s needs (language and sensorimotor interventions need a more intensive approach while individuals needing language and ADHD interventions need more in school and after school support). No Homework is typically involved. However, a school-aged child typically keeps up with their math, social studies, science, and language arts studies via a homeschool model. School-based reading and spelling instruction are placed on hold during our unique treatment program.

About Treatment

Speech-Language Therapy

Targets improving foundational language skills that may cause the learning difficulty, e.g. phonological processing/decoding, the current areas of specialization are:

Hanen – It Takes Two To Talk

The It Takes Two to Talk Program teaches you, step-by-step, how to become your child’s most important language teacher. The focus is on identifying the different levels of communication used by the child and allowing the parent to let their child lead all activities.. Each session is guided with direction from a Hanen-Certified speech-language pathologist.

The program is designed specifically for parents of children ages five and under who have been identified as having a language delay. In a small, personalized group setting, parents learn practical strategies to help their children learn language naturally throughout their day together.

Hanen ITT2T Website

Parent Education and Participation

Opportunity to meet with the psychologist once per week for the duration of the treatment program for the following purposes:

• Awareness of the treatment the child is receiving
• Progress updates
• Gain knowledge and tools to support your child and enhance the treatment at home
• Allows you to voice your concerns and questions and receive feedback from therapists
• Learn behavior management techniques

The unique treatment program is frequent (daily), explicit (clear treatment goals and progress reports), short term (4-12 weeks), and intense (4 to 6 hours per day). For elementary or middle school children, absences are allowed from public school by enrolling your child in a home school program, typically for children up to the 8th grade. For our international clients, we set up treatment programs that match your availability. High school and college students typically participate in treatment during the summer. Full-time employed adults can set up a flexible treatment schedule. Retired adults, who missed out on part of their educational experience or never reached their true learning or language potentials, can be treated anytime during the calendar year based on our flexible staff availability.

Occupational Therapy

OT provides specific instructive therapy that can assist clients in overcoming sensorimotor difficulties, these occur in approximately 50% of the clients and may be one or a combination of the following:

• Oral-motor and motor planning difficulty
• Fine and gross motor delays
• Visual perceptual delays
• Somatosensory deficits (lack of body awareness)
• Sensory hypersensitivity

OT works to improve overall strength, balance and coordination. Attention is also given to handwriting, oral control and ocular motor skills. This type of intervention helps build self-esteem and self-confidence.

Medical and Psychological Treatment

Our team of professionals will collaborate on and provide options for interventions which may or may not include medication for behavioral management of attention, mood or behavior disorders.

Each therapy hour the client’s attention is monitored and reported. Non-pharmacological measures designed to maximize attention and arousal are integrated into all language and OT sessions. In cases where these do not suffice, medication may be recommended.

Transitional Unit

Following treatment, clients are recommended to attend to TU 2 to 4 times per week for approximately 2 to 10 weeks, with the following objectives:

• To generalize the client’s newly acquired language, sensorimotor, attention and behavioral skills to his/her schoolwork
• To establish optimal working behavior and organizational skills
• To help clients become independent and self-confident in the use of their improved skills