Business - But not as usual...

Times have changed. Some of the changes will pass, and some are likely to stay with us. In the face of a global pandemic and world wide disaster things are bound to change. We have little choice but to alter our lives, our choices, and the way we conduct our day to day activities to control the spread of the virus. Thankfully, change doesn’t have to mean the end of anything. We can still make it fun!

As an added safety measure for work and home, our therapists all have handmade masks with filter pockets so that we can add additional filters when needed. It’s not perfect protection but used with proper hand washing and frequent laundering we now have an added layer that will help us reduce the spread of cooties!

There are various tutorials for making masks available now online. HERE The mom who made our masks has links to her sources as well as tips on how she altered the pattern for easier sewing and a simpler pocket creation.

Now let’s talk about things that are much more fun.. STAFF MEETINGS are still underway but with the fun new SOCIAL DISTANCING. Not gonna lie, there are benefits to having a reason to sit further away from people - I mean… personal space has a whole new meaning these days! In these pictures you can see our therapists working hard to learn how to use Zoom so that we can explore the idea of adding online therapy services for our families. Exciting!!

We are still having fun! Look at the great art our friend created. Using a hole punch tool is fun for kids and promotes hand and finger strengthening. It makes a lot of confetti! Gluing it to pretty paper to make a masterpiece includes lots of controlled squeezing of glue bottles. Win win!

Oh! We found a new project toy! To all of the self isolation families looking for more indoor fun, this is a fairly inexpensive motor activity. It isn’t super pricey or hard to store. At the recommendation of an ACTG parent, we scored this great cornhole game on Amazon for just fifteen dollars! As a BONUS it is fairly kid friendly for assembly and can be a great little project for parents and kids to build together. The set is very light weight and flat enough to easily store or hang on a hook. It is called “GoSports Portable PVC Framed Cornhole Toss Game Set” - and to get it at the lower price you have to look in the “other sellers” section. Setting up this game includes skills like following directions, object manipulation, and visual motor challenges. Playing it requires force control, turn taking, frustration management, and targeting. Another win win!

We didn’t see who won this game but we are all winners here! Thank you to all the parents helping us make sure that our children still receive therapy in a fun and disinfected environment. We’ll continue to update you on progress with the clinic and try to keep passing on tips that come our way. Thank you all for all that you do. We appreciate you!

~ Mrs. Janey & Miss Quinn

And We're Off !!

We’re off to a great start in the new clinic, that is. I suppose that means we’re on? On our game, on a roll? Either way we pretty much have things hung, placed and set up.

As per the recommendations all little ones are washing hands upon arrival. (Yes we are washing ours too !) We are seizing this opportunity to teach them better hand washing skills. Especially now this is a needed target goal for ALL the children (truly these days for many adults as well.) We encourage you to practice with them at home to help them gain the skills of proper washing so that this lovely pandemic can go away please!! We’re going to do our part to help.

So far so good with the transition. The little ones are making themselves right at home… ERRR… right at therapy… Smiles all around. We missed them even more than they missed coming though!

Just to make sure no one has missed it…. I’ll repeat the ever important…

• No staff member will be working if they have any signs of illness

• Please refrain from bringing children who have a fever, cough, runny nose, or are sneezing

• No one but staff and patients will be permitted into the building at this time. We will come out to your vehicle to collect our little buddies for therapy and return them to the vehicle. Keeping the waiting room empty right now is necessary to help keep everyone well.

• Upon entering ALL children will be taken to immediately wash their hands and helped if necessary to make certain hands are thoroughly cleaned.

We want to thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep the staff and facility free of germs so that no one has to miss much needed therapy sessions. Safety is our number one priority while making certain everyone can still make the progress during this time that they should! If you have any questions feel free to give us a call.

~ Mrs. Janey & Miss Quinn

The final throw down...

Well… throw out I suppose is more accurate. The final items that just wouldn’t quite fit into the new space were placed out and donated to whomever needed them. Hopefully they found great homes!

The owls are finally placed.. the curtain is closed… (it opens too) Most areas now have been organized fully.

All labor was free labor …. a big thanks to Janey’s husband as well for helping with the heavy lifting and anything that needed to be hung correctly and straight. This guy is on the level… OK well the level is on the bracket. Either way its level right?

The cleanup song is helping, Quinn’s space is almost presentable as we now have a floor….But maybe it needs another verse?? I mean that shelf could still use some organizing don;t ya think? Sing louder maybe?

It’s been a long week! Much was accomplished. We will crash harder than the kids will on these crash pillows we finally have in place.

Tomorrow is a new day! A new week… in this crazy year. Here’s to a great start back and a lot of progress despite all that is going on around us. In these times it’s important to keep everyone safe and healthy. So there will be some new measures implemented for the time being.

• No staff member will be working if they have any signs of illness

• Please refrain from bringing children who have a fever, cough, runny nose, or are sneezing

• No one but staff and patients will be permitted into the building at this time. We will come out to your vehicle to collect our little buddies for therapy and return them to the vehicle. Keeping the waiting room empty right now is necessary to help keep everyone well.

• Upon entering ALL children will be taken to immediately wash their hands and helped if necessary to make certain hands are thoroughly cleaned.

We want to thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep the staff and facility free of germs so that no one has to miss much needed therapy sessions. Safety is our number one priority while making certain everyone can still make the progress during this time that they should! If you have any questions feel free to give us a call.

Nearing the finish line

Almost ready for next week! The staff has been organizing again. Getting every space ready.

And when social distancing has you down you just drag your spouse to work.

Every space has a purpose and every thing has its place. We will eventually all agree on those places and stop rearranging the shelves and furniture. Not that it will matter entirely once your children arrive next week and happily inform us all of our misguided ideas for placement and busy themselves with the destruction… I mean reorganization of each and every area.

As you can see Mrs. Amanda keeps her desk much neater than Quinn does. Has anyone started that clean up song?? Please turn it up.

As you can see in the images rug wrestlers THREE and rugs ZERO.. Currently the battle has been won and we have done our victory dance. Miss Quinn even managed to stay almost slightly in tune during the victory song. I said almost I mean it is Miss Quinn…

And these soldiers have served well. They conquered the enemy never wavering (or letting their little bottoms fall out) . Still standing tall and without hesitation that are waiting to serve YOU… or you or you… just let us know if you need moving boxes. They are at your disposal… as in please pass them on or DISPOSE of them after use. Just don’t bring them back we will be saying our farewells and wish not to look back on baggage (Ok packaging) of the past.

_ Mrs Janey & Quinn