Southland Snapshot: HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Bulldog 100, New SLP and ASHA Convention

Southland Snapshot: HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Bulldog 100, New SLP and ASHA Convention

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We want to wish our Southland patients, their families and our staff a fabulous holiday season. We hope you had a wonderful turkey day and are getting excited for your holiday plans. Please see below for office closures and plan accordingly with your therapist for any missed therapy appointments due to travel or days off.

SOUTHLAND WILL BE CLOSED ON:

– December 24 – 26th (Christmas Break)

– January 1st (New Years Day Only)

 

SOUTHLAND OWNERS NOMINATED FOR UGA BULLDOG 100

Southland owners and University of Georgia alumni, John and Dee Dee Mesaros, have been nominated as owning one of the 100-fastest growing businesses operated by UGA alumni. “The Bulldog 100 embody the best of the University of Georgia…[they] are leading the way in business and are building better communities. They are committed to their ideas, their innovations, and their employees. They demonstrate the value of a degree from the birthplace of public higher education.” (https://alumni.uga.edu/b100/). John, graduating class of 1995 and Dee Dee, UGA class of 1993, exemplify what it means to be a Georgia Bulldog. Southland Therapy is lucky too have such compassionate, dedicated and professional leaders.

Final rankings will be announced January 26th, 2019 during the 10th Anniversary Bulldog Celebration. GOOD-LUCK DEE DEE & JOHN – WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!

 

SLP MARJORY ATTENDS ASHA SPEECH CONVENTION IN BOSTON

On November 15th 2018, Georgia SLP Marjory flew to chilly Boston, MA for the three-day ASHA (American Speech- Hearing Association) Convention. All of our SLPs are ASHA certified and are credentialed through this national organization. Each year therapists from all over the country convene at the convention. They earn CEU credits (Continuing Education Units), visit the vendor booths and become re- energized about their passion for speech and hearing. Marjory had an amazing time. She said the highlights of her trip included the opening ceremony which featured bagpipers in full kilt, and seeing a snowstorm. We are glad to have her back with us here in sunny Savannah and are so thrilled she had an amazing and inspiring time at the ASHA 2018 Convention.

 

JOIN US IN WELCOMING NEW GEORGIA SLP SHELLEY JENKINS

Shelley received her undergraduate and Master’s degrees from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!). She works at Southland in the afternoons and full-time in the Savannah-Chatham Public School System as a Speech Pathologist in the PSI Program. Her favorite part of the job is when the children make her laugh (which is every day!) Her second favorite part is seeing how proud the parents are when their children learn something new. Some of her favorite hobbies include hanging with her family, watching her daughter cheer, and watching the Georgia Bulldogs play. Her favorite dessert is raw cookie dough and says that it’s a risk she is willing to take. Shelley has a grown son and a daughter in high school. WELCOME TO THE SOUTHLAND TEAM SHELLEY!

 

PRESCHOOL INTERVENTION PROGRAM: CHATHAM- COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Georgia Southand SLP Shelley shares the importance of early invention and the ways it helps children throughout their years in school.

“Preschool Intervention (PSI) is a program that actively seeks to locate and identify children 3-5 years, who may have developmental delays, and in need of special education and related services. Early identification of developmental delays can help children avoid serious learning problems when they reach elementary school age.” (http://internet.savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us)

In the state of Georgia, state programs such as Babies Can’t Wait provide early intervention services in the home or daycare from birth to 3 years old. After the age of three, a federal program called PSI helps children receive necessary treatment to ease them into the school system. Therapy provided through the PSI program is paid for through the school system. Services provided in clinics like Southland Pediatric Therapy, is paid for through insurance companies. This allows children to receive services through both programs. If your child gets therapy outside of Southland, please keep us informed. We would like to communicate with your child’s care team.

Contact the PSI program to get started – 912.395.1294. If you have any questions, please speak to SLP Shelley – she is extremely knowledgable and willing to help!

 

GSU’S ‘WALK FOR RITE CARE’ RAISED FUNDS AND AWARENESS

On Saturday, November 5th, Southland staff walked around Lake Mayer in Savannah in support of the GSU Rite Care Center. The Scottish Rite Care Center is located on the Armstrong Campus of GSU. The center provides Speech Therapy services for a minimal fee. Led by GSU Faculty and graduate students, the program proves to be a great resource for our community. It is also a wonderful learning opportunity for GSU graduate students. On the brisk Saturday morning, Outreach Coordinator Laura with her daughter, alongside SLP Cindy and GSU professors and students, walked around Lake Mayer. Surrounded by honking geese and fallen leaves, the beautiful fall weather didn’t disappoint.

 

Southland Snapshot: Happy PT Month, LDSS Buddy Walk and new Therapists

HAPPY PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH!

We want to wish our Southland Physical Therapists a happy PT Month.

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to your patients. Southland PTs: Anne Marie, Brandi, Laura, Leslie, Mary Beth and Rachel.

We are lucky to have you on our team!

 

LDSS BUDDY WALK & AMBUCS BOWLAPALOOZA

October was a busy month full of wonderful events in support of two great local organizations. The month kicked off with the LDSS Buddy Walk which took place in Forsyth Park on an unseasonably warm and humid day. October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month AND LDSS is “a family support group for anyone touched by Down syndrome in the greater Savannah, GA / Lowcountry area.” With over 50 booths and hundreds of participants, the day was a huge success. Our second event of the month was the AMBUCS Bowlapalooza at the AMF lanes in Savannah. With celebrity bowlers and local sponsors, the event raised over $120,000. Savannah AMBUCS was able to give an Amtryke adaptive tricycle away to a very deserving boy and will be able to provide the gift of mobility to many more kids.

Join us at the Walk for Rite Care at Lake Mayer on Nov. 3rd @ 10 a.m!

CONGRATULATIONS TO SLP ANDREA ON GETTING HER C’S

Please join us in congratulating Andrea who completed her Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) and is now a Georgia licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. The CFY is completed as the last phase of the graduate program. After graduating with a masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology, 1,260 hours of therapy must be completed under the mentorship of an ASHA- certified Speech-Language Pathologist. SLP Cindy Green mentored Andrea who completed her CFY in just under a year. We are so proud of her hard-work and dedication to her patients, their families, and the staff at Southland. We are lucky to have her on our team and hope she will be with us for a long time to come. Andrea is a bilingual SLP who can evaluate and treat both English and Spanish speaking patients. Good job Andrea- we are so very proud of you!

 

WELCOME NEW SOUTHLAND SPEECH THERAPISTS

ROSSANA R. RAMIRES – GEORGIA SLP:  

Rossana received her Master’s degree in Clinical Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology from Pontifical Catholic University, in Brazil. She also participated in 2-year post-graduate specialization programs: one in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy and another in Public Health. She moved from Brazil to Seattle, WA, U.S. in 2012 and since 2016 has called Savannah home. Rossana has over 16 years’ experience and is a specialist in the area of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT).

Her main focus as a professional is to provide individualized treatment and customized therapy with a team work approach when applicable. She has extensive experience working with clients with oral motor, normal and abnormal orofacial/craniofacial development and function, and orofacial functional disorders associated with incorrect swallowing patterns (known as tongue thrust), feeding disorders, mouth breathing, abnormal sucking habits, syndromes, cerebral palsy, craniofacial abnormalities like cleft lip and palate, tongue/lip-tie and dental malocclusion, and articulation and speech disorders. Rossana is fluent in English and Portuguese, and is working on her Spanish.

JENNIFER LEE- GEORGIA SLP:

Jennifer is originally from the Pacific Northwest. She earned her degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. Jennifer has lived in Savannah for over a decade and is married with a preschool-aged son. She has been practicing speech therapy for over 15 years. She specializes in the treatment of apraxia of speech and autism-related language disorders. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys camping, reading, and crocheting. She is very excited to be a part of the Southland team!

 

What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) and what problems does it help?

OMT is neuromuscular re-education that aims to achieve adequate orofacial muscular patterns for optimal functioning of breathing, chewing, suctioning, swallowing, speech, and even sleeping. Orofacial myofunctional intervention includes behavior modification techniques and orofacial myofunctional exercises to improve the strength, tone, mobility and/or coordination of orofacial structures (tongue, lips, cheeks, pharynx and jaw), focusing on the airway, rest posture and oral awareness (RAMIRES, McCORMICK, 2014).

Is someone you know currently experiencing incorrect swallowing patterns? Examples include: tongue thrust, mouth breathing, oral habits such as thumb sucking, excessive pacifier use or nail biting, tongue and/or lip-tie, oral-motor dysfunction, drooling, cleft lip and/or palate, sleep disorder breathing, dental malocclusion or feeding/ swallowing disorders. Southland has skilled therapists that can evaluate to determine if surgery, additional therapies or referrals are necessary. Southland’s wonderful relationship with local area pediatricians, lactation consultants, pediatric dentists and ENTs allow our therapists to build a comprehensive team and provide a thorough plan to assist your child on their speech journey.

Have questions or concerns? Contact us to find out how we can help you

 

Southland Snapshot: 2018 Hurricane Preparedness and Amtryke awardee

Newsletter- September 2018 PDF

Hurricane Season is upon us:

This past week we were reminded that hurricane season is upon us as Hurricane Florence made her way for the Carolina coasts and affected many of our neighbors. We hope you and your loved ones are all okay and are thankful it didn’t hit us as hard as predicted. Hurricane season isn’t quite over and we hope that we won’t have anymore major storms, but if we do please remember to watch our Facebook page for updates and office closures. We promise to update our social media page often during these kinds of storms to keep you aware of our office closures or changes that could affect therapy.

 

WELCOME NEW SOUTHLAND THERAPISTS:

CALLI STUDEBAKER SOUTH CAROLINA OT: 

Calli is a pediatric Occupational Therapist who loves developing a relationship with the kids and their families. She enjoys being creative in treatment and finding new and exciting ways to motivate a child. Calli is from Springfield, OH and recently graduated from Kettering College with her doctorate in OT. She has experience working as an ABA therapist in the home health setting.

Calli currently lives in Folly Beach, SC and loves enjoying the beach, going kayaking, and taking her dog Apollo on hikes and to the park. Some fun facts about Calli are that she played four years of softball in college, raised dairy feeders when she was younger, and enjoys sewing things like bags, quilts, pillows, and a  variety of other fun things! Calli also admits that ice cream and dark chocolate are her guilty pleasures! Calli has two sisters and one nephew. Her whole family lives in Ohio and this is her first time moving out of state.

SLP BRITTANY STROTHMANN- GA CLINIC: 

Brittany received her bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Armstrong State University. She has worked with pediatric clients in a variety of settings which include: home health, teletherapy, school, and private practice. Brittany’s favorite part of the job is interacting with the kids and their families. She loves watching the kids make progress with their communication skills and master their goals!

 

Pencil Grip Tricks Recommended by OT Nicole

“The issue with many kids who hold a pencil with an inefficient grasp is the dexterity and limited motion that results. They are holding the pencil with their fingers wrapped in such a way that they can’t hold a pencil with dexterity. They lack pencil control needed for efficient handwriting speed. Letter formation suffers and legibility lacks. When a child moves ahead in grade level or age and are required to write more quickly, they can’t keep up with written work requirements and legibility suffers. They then can’t read their class notes, handwritten work, homework lists, etc.

For this pencil grip trick, you’ll need just a single clothespin. The clothes pin can be the standard wooden variety or a colorful plastic type. Why not make it a project and decorate the clothespins as a group to add a bit of fine motor play?”  

Post your pencil grasp clothespins on our Facebook page – show us how it’s working for your child!

Article and photos adapted from: www.theottoolbox.com/2018/08/easy-pencil-grasp-trick.html

 

SOUTHLAND PATIENT CHANCE RECEIVES AMBUCS ADAPTIVE TRICYCLE

Chance has been a longtime patient of Southland Pediatric Therapy Services and makes us all smile as soon as he enters our doors. On Monday evening September 17th, Chance was honored at a ceremony at the Knights of Columbus in Savannah. Surrounded by family, friends, Savannah Ambucs members, his Amtryke sponsors and Southland Therapy staff, Chance’s smile reached from ear to ear as he showed off his new adaptive Amtryke and took his first ride around the room. His mother Yvette mentioned that instead of running behind him, she was going to need to wear her roller blades to keep up with her excited son. Chance received an Amtryke that will adjust and grow with him. If he does grow out of this size bike, he can donate this it back into the Ambucs organization and get the next size Amtryke to continue to enjoy life on three wheels. We couldn’t be more proud of this young man and felt honored that his family invited us to be a part of this exciting and wonderful event.

Congratulations Chance! Wear your helmet & be safe!

“The AmTryke Therapeutic Tricycle Program is about abilities, not disabilities. Our goal is to provide people with disabilities with all the classic benefits of riding a bike: mobility, strength, exercise, coordination, interaction with family and friends, & just pure fun!” (Excerpt from the Amtryke 2015 Catalogue)

Southland Snapshot: Back to School Edition!

Back to School Edition:

Now that summer has officially come to a close and the new school year is upon us, some of our therapists and staff offered to share some tips and information to help you and your children stay on task with their therapy goals. Our therapists are always available to you for any questions regarding your child’s success- even as the school year continues. Don’t be shy to ask!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC USAGE AFFECTS POSTURE

“Teens and tweens who bury their heads and hands in their iPads, Laptops, Chrome Books and/or cellphones for several hours a day can inadvertently change their posture. It’s been dubbed “Text Neck” (neck slumped forward, shoulders rounded and tight chest muscles).

Kids can return to school and keep posture top of mind with a few stretches.

  • Shoulder Blade Squeeze: 

Pinch your shoulder blades back behind you,

working to touch your elbows. Once back as

far as you can go, hold this position for 5

seconds before relaxing. Repeat this 20 to 30

times.

  • Neck Stretch:

Sit up nice and tall with your head held high.

Pull chin toward your chest, creating a double

chin, and hold this position for 5 seconds.

Repeat this 20 to 30 times.

  • Chest Stretch:

Stand in the middle of a doorway and hold both

ends of the door frame. Lean forward until you

feel a stretch. Hold this position for 5 seconds

and repeat 20 to 30 times.”

 

Article adapted from http://www.athletico.com/community/backtoschool/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southland Snapshot: Back to School Preparations and New SLP!

Click here for PDF version!

With back to school on your mind.. 

As the summer quickly comes to a close and your back to school preparations begin, the staff and therapists at Southland ask that you keep your therapy sessions in mind. The time you chose for your summer therapy may not work with your new school schedule. Most therapists’ schedules are extremely full and the coveted spots that require little to no school to be missed will fill up quickly. If you need to make any changes to your child’s therapy time, please talk to your therapist as soon as possible to ensure there will be no issue once school begins. We also ask that you keep upcoming orientation and parent conference dates in mind. Below you will find the link to the Savannah-Chatham County Open House dates and times. The list is also hanging on our bulletin board in the Savannah office. Please plan ahead and keep your therapist informed of any possible missed appointments. Thank you! 

 

WELCOME NEW SOUTHLAND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST!

Talia (wife and mother) grew up in New York and graduated with her Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders from Western Kentucky University in December 2010. She has worked in many settings, which include public school, rehabilitation hospital working with adults, early intervention working with children and tele-practice. She has experience working with children in the fields of articulation, language, and feeding therapy. In her free time she loves hanging out with family and friends.

SOUTHLAND’S BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS:

Preparing to go back to school can be an exciting time. The new school year may also make a child who doesn’t adjust well to change feel nervous and overwhelmed. Read on for more tips on how to prepare your student for a new a schedule and school year.

Attend all orientation and open house events:

Meeting the teachers and seeing the layout of the school and classrooms may help ease some anxiety about what to expect. Be sure to ask lots of questions so you and your child leave feeling more empowered and secure. If they allow the student to attend, bring them along! Seeing their new surroundings before the “big day” may help lessen some fears.

Take photos!

Taking photos of their teacher, classroom, lunchroom, cubby or locker, etc… during the orientation could be a useful tool to prepare your child for their new routine. When talking about their new schedule, and the wonderful new people they will work with, it’s very helpful to have a visual reminder to make this new adventure less scary. Look at the photos each day as school approaches and help them talk about all the new things they are excited for.

Review child’s IEP and accommodations:

If edits need to be made to your child’s IEP, now is the time to set a plan in motion. Some schools evaluate the students during the summer, so definitely bring this up during the open house. If a new evaluation is needed, make plans now so they don’t influence the start of the school year. As always, if paperwork from Southland is needed to supplement any documents or advocate for accommodations, please ask us for a copy!

Start the new schedule early:

Summer allows for sleeping in and having a more relaxed schedule. Once school starts, catching the bus and being busy all day may take it’s toll on your little ones. Starting this new routine a few weeks before the first day of school may make your mornings a little less chaotic.

Remember that school can be fun!

We know that any change in routine can add stress; we hope that you and your family keep in mind that learning can be fun also. Remember the value of reading and the important place is holds with acquiring and practicing language skills. Talk with your children about what they are learning and the new people and skills they experience each day. We hear that school is “boring” and they learned “nothing” but we know there must have been something that stood out to them- even if it was being kind to the kid sitting alone at lunch.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR TWO SOUTHLAND JUNE BABIES:

South Carolina Occupational Therapist Melinda welcomed new baby Indrielle “Indy” Jolyn Morris. She was born on 6/18/18 at 6:07am at a whopping 9 lbs.

South Carolina Occupational Therapists Bridget welcomed new baby Lyla Rabia Fijlane. She was born 6/22/18 at 6:22 am weighing 11.1lbs 21 inches long.

KUDOS TO SLP PAT FOR A GREAT SUMMER! 

SLP Pat Roberts has been on fire this summer! During the months of June and July she completed

16 SPEECH EVALUATIONS and covered for multiple therapists while they were on vacation. Way to go Pat! You took the record for evaluations this summer! Pat works as an SLP in the Savannah – Chatham County public school system during the school year as well as with us here at Southland Pediatric Therapy. We were lucky to see more of her this summer when she had free time to see more amazing Southland kiddos!

Good-luck with back to school preparations Pat! 

Southland Snapshot: June Raffle Winner & New Southland Team Members!

Southland Snapshot – June 2018

click here to see PDF version of newsletter

 

JOIN US IN WELCOMING NEW SOUTHLAND TEAM MEMBERS

MELLISSA PARKS- AUTHORIZATION SPECIALIST: 

Mellissa has a Bachelors of Science degree in Healthcare Management. She loves to travel and spend time with her family. She is married and has two daughters and a dog. Her hobbies include shopping with her daughters and swimming. Some of her favorite places to visit are Hawaii and Korea. Mellissa is our new Insurance Authorization Specialist and comes to us with lots of wonderful experience.

AMANDA GIBSON – OFFICE ASSISTANT: 

Amanda is a Speech Therapy undergraduate student at the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern who is joining us as our new Office Assistant. She will be graduating in May 2019 with her bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis. Outside of school, Amanda is an aspiring performer, and loves working with children in any and all fields – her favorite work so far has been visiting children’s hospitals dressed as their favorite characters and putting a BIG smile on their faces.

 

SOUTHLAND THERAPISTS & STAFF ‘SAY CHEESE!’

Front row (L to R) – SLP Ali, Outreach Coordinator Laura, (standing) OT Megan, SLP Pat, Authorization Specialist Mellissa, (sitting) OT Nicole, SLP Cindy, & SLP (to be!) Andrea Back row standing (L to R) – Owner Dee Dee, PT Katie, Referral Coordinator Regina, SLP Marjory and Office Assistant Amanda.

Not pictured: PT Anne Marie & SLP Talia

GRAD-STUDENT MARISSA JOINS SOUTHLAND FOR SUMMER STUDIES

“I am a second year graduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Georgia Southern University – Armstrong. I moved to Savannah from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania last August to continue my studies. I will be at Southland until the end of July working with Cindy, Marjory, and Pat for some hands on experience and education in the field. I would love to work in pediatrics some day! Outside of school, I enjoy exercising, exploring new places, cooking, and spending time with friends and family” – Marissa Dardozzi

 

Pictured from Left to Right: SLP Pat, SLP Marjory, Graduate Student Marissa & SLP Cindy

 

 

 

 

FUN IN THE SUN RAFFLE WINNER!

Join us in congratulating the Jackson Family for being our raffle winners! Enjoy your summer goodies and the Target gift card! Thank you to everyone who entered for a chance to win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLP ALI SAYS HEARTFELT FAREWELL

Saying goodbye to patients after completing their therapy goals can be such a bittersweet moment. Ali had been working with Adalee for a while and had a wonderful relationship with her family, We will miss seeing her sweet smile every week but are happy to share in her success!

SOUTHLAND SUMMER SAFETY TIPS

  • Don’t forget your sunscreen! As little as 5-10 minutes in the sun can burn the skin. Reapply sunscreen often, especially after going in the water! Don’t forget to hydrate!
  • When using the garden hose or a sprinkler to cool off on these hot summer days, make sure to let the water run first for a few minutes. The water that sits inside the hose can get dangerously hot baking in the sun and has led to extreme burns and serious injury.
  • Summer means trips to the beach and pool to cool off- be sure to check the safety fitting of your child’s flotation devices and make sure they are wearing it properly the entire time in the water since straps may loosen as they wiggle around and swim. Never leave a child unsupervised near any water, even as shallow as a kiddie pool.

HAVE FUN – STAY SAFE – BE ALERT- DRINK WATER – WEAR YOUR HELMET

Southland Snapshot: May SLP Month & RAFFLE KICKOFF

May 2018 Southland Snapshot

Click here to read the full PDF

 

Peaceful Pals Thanks to SensaCalm

Earlier last month, SensaCalm sent Southland Pediatric Therapy Services TWO amazing Peaceful Pals to share with our patients. Pictured left are the weighted plush stuffed animals that each weigh approximately 5 pounds.

Occupational Therapist Megan had wonderful things to say about these great therapy tools and their uses: “Weighted equipment such as a stuffed animal, lap pad, or weighted vest provides proprioceptive input which can be calming and soothing to a child. Proprioceptive input, or heavy work input, gives a child’s body information about position and body awareness. It is the same concept as an adult who likes to run to relieve stress or taps their

foot on the ground while working. This type of heavy work input has many benefits for kids including increased attention to task, improved self-regulation and calm, and decreased fidgeting. Research supports the idea that weighted equipment can assist children during structured tasks and reduce interfering behaviors such as inattention or increased

movement during seated tasks. While not all children respond positively to weighted equipment, I have seen it assist fidgety, inattentive kids during structured tasks with increased focus and decreased stress.”

The monkey will stay in the office as a tool to be used by our patients during therapy treatments and evaluations. The adorable grey dog will be raffled off to a very deserving Southland patient very soon, please stay tuned for more information. As you can see, these pals have already been welcomed with warm hugs in the office and have proven how valuable they can be to calm and comfort the patients and staff.

 

Happy Better Speech & Hearing Month!

We want to wish our Southland Speech-Language Pathologists a happy Speech and Hearing month. Thank you for all your hard work. Georgia SLPs: Cindy, Marjory, Pat, Ali & Andrea. South Carolina SLPs: Dana, Angela, Tanya, Randy, Amy, Samantha, Sarah, Kayley, Jessica, Jennifer, Abby & Eileen- We are lucky to have you on our team!

 

Month of the Military Child Recipients

Southland Therapy celebrated our military kids, with thanks to the Military Child Education Coalition, during the month of April. The military kids we serve are some of the toughest kiddos around and we were happy to award them with a certificate to honor their hard-work and sacrifice. Thank you for your service to our country and for letting us be a part of your journey. Southland loves our Military Kids!

MAY 2018 FUN IN THE SUN RAFFLE

Our “FUN IN THE SUN” Summer Kick-Off Raffle has begun! The gift basket includes lots of fun

summer goodies like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, sand toys and a $50 Target gift card!

Want to know how to win? Like or Follow us on our social media pages, write a review and then place your name in the box located in the office. A winner will be selected on May 31st!

 

SOUTHLAND NAMED A FINALIST IN BEST OF THE BEST OF COASTAL EMPIRE

On Thursday, April 26th, Owners Dee Dee and John along with Outreach Coordinator Laura and her husband Jacob, attended the the “Best of the Best” finalist event. Surrounded by lots of amazing entertainment and delicious food, the night was a great success. Southland Pediatric Therapy could not have been a finalist without your support- THANK YOU!

Southland Snapshot: April Awareness & OT Month!

April is Autism Awareness Month & the Month of the Military Child

Click here to read the full PDF newsletter

Our office is decorated this month with many colorful puzzle pieces in honor of Autism Awareness Month. Southland is also proud to serve our brave military families. Alongside the puzzle pieces adorning our office, you will see stars hanging in honor of military kids month. We hope you will join us in celebrating these wonderful kids and their hard work & resiliency.

 

SLP Ali attended April 2018 NANT Conference in Charlotte, NC

“This is my third year attending The National Association of Neonatal Therapists Conference (NANT). I had an incredible opportunity to spend two days continuing to learn from experts within this niche in the field and expand my knowledge of evidence based practices and resources. Some of the presentations I attended focused on areas that included, bridging the gap in therapy post discharge and feeding fragile infants.” – Ali Rice, SLP

Website link: www.nantconference.com/2018/
Ali RIce is a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Georgia clinic.

 

SUPERHERO SCRAMBLE AT GSU A ‘SUPER’ SUCCESS

For the second year in a row, Southland Pediatric Therapy Services sponsored the Doctor of Physical Therapy Club’s Superhero Scramble fun run. Donning superhero apparel and bundling up for a chilly

Savannah morning, Owner Dee Dee, Outreach Coordinator Laura (with daughter Abigail), and PT Katie were all smiles on March 31, 2018 as the event began. Physical Therapist Katie ran the 10k race while Dee Dee and Laura manned the table and handed out Southland cups, brochures and goodies. “We love supporting the students at GSU,” Laura stated, “the PT and SLP students are the future of the therapy field and I think it’s awesome for them to see our organization out at these events and showing up.” A few days later Southland attended the GSU career fair which was a great success!

 

Easter at Southland

In the week leading up to Easter, our patients worked hard to make adorable bunny themed crafts. After a week of being creative with our therapists, they were ready to hippity-hop into the Easter weekend.

 

MAY 2018 FUN IN THE SUN RAFFLE

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details on how to win our “FUN IN THE SUN” Summer Kick-Off Raffle! The gift basket will include lots of fun summer goodies like sidewalk

chalk, bubbles, sand toys and more! (with a few surprises!) Stay tuned for more information!

 

Happy Occupational Therapy Month

We want to wish our Southland Occupational Therapists a happy OT month. Thank you for all your hard work. Georgia OTs: Megan & Nicole and South Carolina OTs: Bernadette, Camille, Charly, Bridget & Melinda- We are lucky to have you on our team!

Southland Snapshot: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

 

Another LUCKY AmTryke Recipient!

On February 27th, 2018, Kendrick become another lucky Southland patient to receive a new set of wheels. His family will be moving soon, so sadly we had to say goodbye. We were very happy that his tricycle arrived just in time so he can take it with him on his next adventures. We would like to thank the AMBUCS of Savannah President, Kevin Sheehan and AmTryke sponsor, Cecilia Russo Turner (Cecilia Russo Turner Marketing, LLC) for making this a reality for Kendrick. It was very special to have the entire team here at Southland Therapy Services to celebrate alongside Kendrick and his family.  During the month of February Katie helped two other children receive their AmTryke tricycles- way to go Katie!

“Kendrick received an AmTryke to allow a safe way for him to interact with his family and peers and will provide a means for exercise and to enjoy being outdoors. Riding a foot propelled bike will also provide a way for him to work on strengthening his legs and his core muscles for improved gross motor function. This bike will also help him to work on gross motor coordination, left and right discrimination and motor planning.” - PT Katie Osborne

           Congratulations Kendrick- safe travels to you and your family!

 

 

Best Practices ’18 Conference Inspires Southland SLP

Georgia Speech-Language Pathologist Cindy Green attended the Georgia Organization of School Based Speech Language Pathologists' (GO-SSLP) Best Practices 2018 conference during the first week of March. The two-day long conference in Atlanta, GA covered a number of interesting topics ranging from autism and anxiety to literacy strategies and how to assist in identifying behaviors. Cindy was able to attend the conference alongside other SLP friends and colleagues and had a wonderful time. In the coming newsletters we will begin to recap the amazing information she gathered while listening to the diverse speakers and presentations. Keep a look out on our Facebook page, Southland Therapy blog and our Instagram account for tips and tricks from Miss Cindy!  Stay tuned!

www.southlandtherapy.com/blog

 

NEW THERAPISTS!

Anne Marie Conroy- Georgia Physical Therapist:

Anne Marie has worked in the field of pediatric physical therapy for over 35 years after receiving her degree from the University of Buffalo. She has worked in many diverse settings which include: hospital, NICU’s, neonatal follow up clinics, center and Home based early intervention with medically fragile children,  special needs and public school settings, and outpatient pediatric clinics. She has worked in many states including New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, South Carolina and now Georgia! Anne Marie loves working with children and their families. She has specialized training in adaptive equipment, torticollis, pediatric treadmill training, aquatic therapy and intensive therapy with the Therasuit and Universal Exercise unit. Anne Marie and her husband, Joe, relocated to Beaufort, South Carolina from coastal New Jersey in 2016. She has 3 children,  Matthew, Meghan and Daniel, and a 2 year old grandson, Carter. She loves her new life in the Lowcountry and is looking forward to providing services to South Carolina and Georgia families!

 

Ali Rice- Georgia Speech- Language Pathologist:

Ali graduated with her Master’s from Long Island University C.W. Post. She enjoys building a strong rapport with patients. Ali has a hands-on experience in various settings including clinic, hospital, home, and school environments, treating toddlers through adults. Her experience includes evaluating and treating patients with a range of diagnoses, including language delays/disorders, articulation disorders, autism, down syndrome, apraxia, fluency disorders, and dysphagia as well as cognitive and neurological disorders. Ali has a growing interest in providing intervention for infants, recently graduating from Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), helping to decrease the gap in services post discharge. Her continuing education includes Neonatal therapy which has led to her interest in the specialized area of feeding therapy. Ali was raised in Princeton, NJ. Being a military spouse, she has lived and worked in several areas of the country. In Ali’s spare time, she enjoys being a foodie and exploring great restaurants, bakeries, & coffee shops.

 

Tumble Tykes St. Patricks Playdate 

 

In the week leading up to the March 10th playdate, Southland Therapy patients worked hard to make a piece of the rainbow. Busy cutting, gluing, taping and coloring, the patients’ paper pieces, when put altogether, turned into a wonderful paper chain rainbow that now resides in our OT/ PT room for all to enjoy. The Tumble Tykes kids had so much fun walking over the leprechaun gold on the balance beam and swinging in our cloud swing!

Keep an eye out for our next Spring themed playdate!

WWW.TUMBLETYKESSAV.COM

 

Best of the Best of the Coastal Empire - Savannah Morning News!

Southland Therapy Services was nominated as one of BEST of the BEST in the Coastal Empire for Physical Therapy practices. Thank you for voting and keeping us in the running all month long! We have the best therapists and patients around - no matter the results of the vote!  We are honored to have been nominated.

 

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Hiring Pediatric Occupational Therapist- Charleston, SC!

Southland it currently looking for a new Occupational Therapist to add to our team in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Looking to improve the lives of children in your area? Call us today – we are eager to meet you!

Position: Occupational Therapist (Pediatric)

SKILL: BOARD CERTIFIED
Location: Charleston, SC 

We currently have an immediate need for a licensed Occupational Therapist to provide quality pediatric therapeutic services in Charleston, SC. Southland offers therapy in the convenience of our patients’ homes or the most natural environment for them in order to ensure maximum comfort and support throughout their care. We offer the opportunity for therapists who want more flexibility in their career and their schedule. Our therapists treat as few or as many clients as they choose and in the locations that are convenient for them.

 

In addition to flexible schedules, other benefits may include:

  • License and liability insurance reimbursement
  • Mobile technology and electronic
  • Software solutions to minimize paperwork
  • Remote office staff support with paperwork and referrals
  • Competitive compensation

 

You can apply by sending your resume to: [email protected]

 

 

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