What We Do
(click for more info)
Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of
their lives. Occupational therapy assists people in developing the "skills for the job of living" necessary for independent and satisfying lives.
Services typically include:

  • Customized treatment programs to improve one's
    ability to perform daily activities
  • Comprehensive home and job site evaluations with
    adaptation recommendations
  • Performance skills assessments and treatment
  • Adaptive equipment recommendations and usage
    training
  • Guidance to family members and caregivers

At Companion Connection we utilize an eclectic approach depending on the needs of the child and their family's needs including but not limited to:

  • Sensory Integration
  • Motor Planning
  • Neuro Developmental Treatment
  • Remediation
  • Rehabilitation
Groups
Under the same philsophical approach as mentioned under occupational therapy with a ratio of 3
to 1 with the therapist. When the child has gained the skills in a one-on-one session and progresses to utilizing those skills in a semi-structured setting with facilitation from an occupational therapist.
Social Skills
At Companion Connection we offer social skills groups that begin in a structured setting with highly
facilitated interaction and scripting of exchanges what we call boot camp. Then as the child gains skills for interaction and more appropriate use of communication and body space awareness they progress through to levels of Special Forces training and then on to Field Training. Field Training takes place within the child's natural peer group and/or community
setting.
Respite

We are not currently vendored with Regional Center, however we are working on that process. Companion
Connection offers trained staff that are familiar withbehavioral techiniques, sensory techniques, community
integration, and self-care techniques to optimize and facilitate follow through on whatever program the family is working on. In-Home respite is to provide the family with a much needed break from the day to day stress and struggles. Our staff is highly trained and will ensure that there is no breakdown in the behavioral plan, and/or sensory diet of the child while they are with them.
Parent Education Workshops
Companion Connection offers parents the opporutnity to be educated by experts on a variety of topics pertinent to families of children with special needs. Please contact Companion Connection for information on our upcoming events.
Parent's Night Out
It is a 5 hour drop off the 2nd saturday of every month, from 4pm-9pm. The cost is $65 for the first child and $5 for each additional sibling. The activities are some free play in the gym environment, and structured games, facilitated social interactions, dinner(unless diet restrictions), and a movie.


Contact Us
2175 Agate Court
Simi Valley, CA 93065
   
email info@companionc.com
phone (805) 416-3384
fax (805) 527-6002

 

How We Can Help
  • Our Mission
  • Sensory Diet
  • Sensory Integration
  • Upcoming Events
Mission
To Provide support to children and families as needed to ensure successful integration and participation in community activities that are meaningful to the families as a unit.

To Provide support to children and families as needed to ensure successful integration and participation in community activities that are meaningful to the families as a unit.

Group and Individual
Depending on the needs of the family and the child, services are provided in either group or one-on-one.
Building a connection for the family
Enabling them to access their community
Increasing strength
Improving Motor planning skills
Improving attention span
Improving sensory integration and modulation
Once a month parent/family workshops
Once a month parent's night out (the 2nd saturday of the month 4-9 pm.)

Please contact
If you have any questions about the program and if it is right for your family/child, please call Cynthia Conway, COTA/C, OTR/L at (805)340-1258

Sensory Diet
What is a sensory diet and does your child need one?

A sensory diet is a strategy used to meet each child's specific sensory needs. It provides the necessary combination of sensory input to nourish the unique child's nervous system for which it was developed. When a child's nervous system is properly organized, it is easier for that child to achieve optimal attention to task and performance of activities. A sensory diet helps get a child in his or her best state to learn. A sensory diet can:

  • Calm an over-aroused or overly active child Increase the activity level of an under- aroused or passive child
  • Prevent uncomfortable reactions to sensory input
  • Reduce sensory-seeking or self-stimulatory behaviors
  • Increase a child's productivity and comfort in the environment
  • Teach the child self regulation strategies that can be used independently
For tactile activities, try the following:
Play hide and seek games with objects hidden in a bowl of dried beans or rice.
Ask the child to describe how objects feel without looking at them.
Expose children to different textures to help teach them how to discriminate between soft, hard, rough, bumpy, smooth, etc.
Sensory Integration
The sense that helps us be aware of body position.

*Proprioception
by Zoe Mailloux MA, OTR, FAOTA
The sense that helps us be aware of body position. This can be a really big problem if it is not working properly. Just as our eyes and ears send information about what we see and hear to the brain, parts of our muscles and joints sense the position of our body and send these messages to the brain as well. We depend on this information to know exactly where our body parts are and to plan our movements.
When our proceptive sense works well, we make continual, automatic adjustments in our position. For example, this sense helps us stay in an optimal position in a chair.
The child may feel clumsy, frustrated and even fearful in some situations.
This system is activated through push/pull type activities, jumping and activities that involve weight and deep pressure or firm touch. This sensation is often calming and may be helpful to a child who becomes easily disorganized.

Upcoming Events
Respite, Parent Education and Parents' Night Out

RESPITE
We are in the process of applying for a contract with Tri-Counties Regional Center, to be a vendor for respite and social skills. If you are interested in this process please contact Companion Connection at (805)416-3384

PARENT EDUCATION
Companion Connection offers parents the opporutnity to be educated by experts on a variety of topics pertinent to families of children with special needs. Please contact Companion Connection for information on our upcoming events.

PARENT'S NIGHT OUT
Need a break? Drop your children off with us! Companion Connection sponsors open gym every second saturday of the month from 4pm-9pm. Cost is $65 for the first child and $5 for each additional sibling (dinner included). All ages are welcome.
(dates are subject to change


 
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