School-Based Services with Emerge Pediatric Therapy
Did you know Emerge Pediatric Therapy offers therapy in the convenience of your child’s school?
Emerge Pediatric Therapy offers customized occupational and speech therapy services within the familiar and convenient location of your child’s school. Therapists are able to work with your child in one of their most frequented environments, and engage with their teachers to support ongoing progress on the goals that are most important to you!
Common Opportunities in Speech Therapy
- Articulation
- Language
- Social Skills
- Stuttering
- Literacy
- Building Confidence in Reading & Speech
- Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
Common Opportunities in Occupational Therapy
- Fine & visual motor skills
- Handwriting
- Attention
- Self-care
- Social skills
- Sensory strategies for the classroom
- Self-regulation & emotional regulation
Schools We Serve
We are currently offering Occupational & Speech Services in the following local schools:
- Duke School
- Triangle Day School
- Lerner School
- St. Thomas More
- Durham Academy
- Carolina Friends School
- Immaculata
- Our Play House
- Jordan Lake School of the Arts
- Triangle Montessori Academy
If your child’s school is listed above and you’re interested in exploring school-based services, please fill out the inquiry form below!
School-Based Services FAQ's
What's Included in a School Screening?
- A school screening for speech & occupational therapy services includes a 30 minute session with your child. The screening will be completed using clinical observations, informal screening measures, and supplemental standardized assessments, if indicated. The screening results and recommendations will be communicated to you in a summary report via email.
- The screening is not a comprehensive evaluation. Your child’s therapist may use ongoing therapy sessions to collect additional data to further inform treatment. If you would like a comprehensive evaluation to be completed, this can be set up in our clinic with a clinic therapist.
How are Therapy Sessions Scheduled at School?
- Therapy sessions are scheduled with support from the school’s learning specialist and/or classroom teacher. Your therapist will work directly with the school team to find an appropriate time to schedule services.
- School services are scheduled on a weekly basis. We unfortunately do not schedule on a biweekly basis.
How do school-based therapy services differ from clinic-based?
- Speech therapy: School-based sessions are held for 30 minutes and clinic-based sessions can be held for 30, 45, or 60 minutes. School-based sessions offer opportunities to support your child’s speech and language growth in naturalistic settings.
- Occupational therapy: School-based sessions are held for 30 minute sessions and clinic-based sessions are held for 60 minutes. School-based sessions utilize tools available in the school environment to support your child’s fine motor, sensory, and regulation needs. Your therapist may recommend clinic-based services in the event your child would benefit from specially designed sensory equipment that isn’t available in the school environment.
What type of communication can I expect throughout the year?
- A session note will be shared with you after each therapy session through our medical records system. This note will include which goals were targeted, what activities were completed, and how your child progressed. Depending on the session, there may be some suggestions and activities for home practice included at the bottom of your note.
- If you would like to discuss your child’s progress and goals in more detail, you can request to schedule a consult call with your therapist. Consult calls are scheduled for 30 minutes and have the cost of a regular therapy session ($87.)
What happens with services at the end of the school year?
- Your child’s therapist will reach out to you via email toward the end of the school year to discuss service options. Depending on your child’s progress and summer plans, you may either continue services over the summer at our clinic, pause services over the summer and resume next school year, or discharge from services.