Overview of Services

The Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CAND) provides evidence-based, individualized Physical Therapy assessment and treatment to children and adolescents who struggle with functional mobility, gross motor skills, balance and postural control, and gait problems as well as play skills, which serve as a critical foundation for learning.  

Physical Therapy addresses sensory regulation or dysregulation, which can be a root cause of behavioral concerns and interfere with participation in therapy. We believe that a family-centered approach, working closely with parents and caregivers, is critical to optimally support the development of a child’s motor skills.  All Physical Therapy services are provided by highly skilled, licensed pediatric Physical Therapists. 

Concerns Addressed

Our Physical Therapy team has extensive experience evaluating and treating disorders in all areas of gross motor development, strength, balance, and sensory regulation particularly those associated with autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental disorders.  Some of the most common areas addressed within our program include:

  • Gross motor skills and functional mobility
  • Locomotor and movement problems
  • postural control and balance difficulties
  • Gait abnormaliteit
  • Coordination and motor planning issues
  • Play skills
  • Sensory processing and dysregulation

Program and Services Offered

  • Comprehensive Physical Therapy evaluations
  • Interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluations
  • Individualized Physical Therapy treatment 
  • Collaboration/Consultation with public school programs and other agencies to facilitate optimal progress for the children we serve
  • Parent trainings and community outreach

Visit Expectations

Evaluations 

A Physical Therapy evaluation at our center involves review of medical and educational records, caregiver interview, and direct assessment of a child using both standardized testing measures and informal measures of gross motor skills, flexibility, strength, postural control, and coordination.  Following the evaluation, a treatment plan is developed including recommendations for therapeutic services, and specific goals and objectives to be used within therapy sessions.  A written report summarizing evaluation results and the treatment plan is provided to the family and their medical team as appropriate. 

Treatment

We provide individualized 1:1 therapy sessions. A therapy session includes direct face-to-face time with the child and caregivers as well as documentation time at the end of the session. We strongly encourage parents and caregivers to be active participants in therapy sessions, so that they can learn how to carry on critical practice at home to maximize therapeutic gains across all environments. Our treatment team also works closely with medical providers, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, behavior therapists, and school staff to ensure that children are using their Physical Therapy skills with all caregiving partners and environments.  

More information about Physical Therapy can be found at:

American Physical Therapy Association at https://www.apta.org

California Physical Therapy Association at https://www.cpta..org