TherAplay got a deal when we got hooked up with these volunteers from Dealer Services Corporation. They came in on a mission, ready to get  their hands dirty. They did some much needed weeding and mulching in  our flower beds and sensory garden. The grounds got a major facelift thanks to their "get 'er done" attitudes. Many thanks to our new friends with Dealer Services! We hope to see them all again real soon!   


 

Our friends at WellPoint came out Saturday ready to get dirty and work hard! They cleaned this place from top to bottom and did it all with a smile on their faces! They gave our party room a fresh coat of paint, scraped and sanded our play-set, weather-proofed our benches, set-up 3 new bat houses for our unique TherAplay bat colony, laid tile flooring, cleaned the barn, the clinic, the kitchen and yes...even the bathrooms! We can't thank them enough for coming out on a cold, dreary morning and weathering the storm for a good cause.  We already can't wait for next year!

 

Our Occupational Therapists are now certified in Therapeutic Listening and after only two weeks of using this new tool, we are thrilled to report some great success stories! 

One of our kiddos diagnosed with autism, has been coming to TherAplay for X years.  During this time, among other goals, our therapists have worked to expand his verbal range beyond his ability to vocalize one or two sounds.  After his first therapeutic listening session at TherAplay, this kiddo is now chattering away with all sorts of new sounds!  While there are more goals to meet, this breakthrough is the jump start we’ve been looking for!

Another kiddo who is diagnosed with a chromosomal abnormality has been unwilling to walk for more than 10 – 15 steps before reaching for assistance or sitting down.  While her parents report they have seen some good progress this spring, they have seen nothing like what happened just last week at TherAplay!  After 10 minutes of Therapeutic Listening, this kiddo literally “took off” – with ear phones and MP3 player attached.  She walked non-stop for nearly 15 minutes enjoying the mild weather and taking in the scenery around the TherAplay grounds!  It was a beautiful day in more ways than one!

TherAplay needs to purchase additional Therapeutic Listening modules to build upon the success we have already seen with our kiddos.  On average, a module costs $45.  If you would like to donate funds to help us purchase additional modules and support other programs and services, click here now.  Thank you!   

More about Therapeutic Listening:  Developed by Vital Links, Therapeutic Listening is a research based tool for treating people who have difficulty with processing sensory information, listening, attention, and communication. High quality music, recorded specifically for Therapeutic Listening, is altered to exaggerate the sounds that naturally capture attention and tap into the parts of the brain involved in regulating bodily functions, relating to others, and organizing behavior.

Parents, teachers, and therapists worldwide have seen significant results by using Therapeutic Listening including:

• Increased Focus and Attention

• Better Moods

• Balanced Energy Levels 

• Greater Tolerance to Noise                                        
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• Improved Sleep                                     
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• Better Handwriting

• Fewer Tantrums

• Less Anxiety

There just aren't enough ways to say thank you to our friends at J.C. Hart Company, Inc. for all their hard work on Wednesday evening. They volunteered their time and expertise to help us with some much needed repairs around our great (but old) barn. Not only did they repair our sprinkler system, replace old piping, change filters and install a new spicket for our barn faucet, they also made time for the kiddo's as seen above. We are forever indebted!


 

Thursday was quite an emotional day here at TherAplay. Our girl Nikki provided her first round of therapy since her accident, and it went off flawlessly. We couldn't be more proud of Nikki's triumph over tragedy, nor can we say enough about how grateful we are of those who donated to her veterinary costs. We are also honored to have such patient, kind and knowledgeable staff to handle situations like this. And last but not least, while we're handing out props, we would like to thank our rider, who you may recognize from Marge's first ride. He's a true cowboy, willing to "break-in" any mare that comes his way. YEEHAA!

 

They don't come much sweeter than this!

      TherAplay's newest four-legged employee has officially clocked in! Marge gave her first round of therapy today, and as you can see from the above picture, her "client" was quite satisfied with the ride. We are so happy and excited to welcome Marge to the TherAplay Family. Feel free to stop by and greet her. We guarantee, she want won't turn down a carrot or peppermint.