Kathleen’s Therapeutic Approach to Education

Kathleen Rooney believes that the key to educating children with autism and developmental disabilities lies in their neurodevelopmental needs. Her therapeutic approach to education is based on well-known research in “neuroplasticity”, the ability of the brain to continue developing at any age.

Kathleen’s Neurodevelopmental Approach focuses on all areas of development. Because communication, cognition, social function and fine and gross motor skills are all neurologically interconnected, Kathleen believes they should be developed in tandem with one another to help a child reach his/her full potential.

To promote the development of new neural pathways and minimize the effect of sensory processing differences, Kathleen assesses a child’s needs and provides appropriate forms of sensory input: a Sensory Diet/Body Break plan. These personalized multi-sensory plans may include music, swinging, spinning, jumping, bouncing, rolling over a physioball, – all aimed at facilitating the processing of information.  When sensory issues have been addressed, learning becomes its own reward and always follows.  Sensory Integration Therapy prepares the brain to learn.