Early Childhood Programs
What is Early Intervention?
Apollo Center is home to the Huron Valley Schools Early Intervention Program servicing eligible children between the ages of birth and three with special needs. Services are individualized based on the needs of the child and family. If you have developmental concerns about your child, please call Early On Oakland at 248-209-2084.
What is the Play & Learn (PAL) Program?
The "Play and Learn" program is a special education preschool for mild to moderately impaired children ages 21/2 -5. There is an Early Intervention Component for children ages birth to three. Children qualify the program based on evaluations and are eligible under:
Cognitive Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Emotional Impairment, Visual Impairment, Speech and Language Impairment, Early Childhood Developmental Delay, Physical Impairment or Other Impairment
A child is eligible for the PAL Program after a referral has been made and the child is evaluated by the PAL team. This team consists of Special Education Teachers, a School Psychologist, a School Social Worker, and a teacher of Speech/Language Impaired. If a child is suspected of a significant delay, an Individualized Educational Planning Committee meeting is held with the parents. At this time, all assessment information is shared and available services are discussed before a placement is made.
The children attend the program for half-day sessions, four days per week, either in the morning or afternoon. The philosophy of the staff is that each child is a unique individual and that learning takes place at each child's own developmental level and pace. The curriculum is language based and focuses on learning domains to meet the developing needs of the whole child.
Children have the opportunity to freely explore and play while interacting with other children and the teacher, both individually and in small groups. Also the children participate in activity time, "circle" time, gym, music and snack time. During all of these times, language is being experienced, cognition (thinking/reasoning) is being developed, fine and gross motor skills are being practiced and social/personal/emotional skills are being learned.
For more information, contact the PAL office at 248-684-8019.
What is the Preschool Speech and Language Program?
Preschool children, three to five years of age, who may experience difficulty communicating or difficulty being understood due to unintelligible speech are serve at Apollo in the program.
Communication skills are a key to success in school. Listening and speaking provide the foundation for reading and writing. The goal of speech therapy for preschool children is to increase intelligibility and reduce frustration when communicating. A variety of material and techniques are sued during therapy and demonstrated to parents who also participate in a home program in which word list, literature and activities involving targeted sounds are emphasized.
If parents suspect that their child is having difficulty in listening or speaking, it is advisable to contact a Speech and Language Pathologist for an evaluation. An evaluation would determine whether or not a child’s communication skills are within normal limits for his/her age, or whether some extra help is this area would be beneficial prior to kindergarten.
The Preschool Speech and language Program is designed primarily for children who are having articulation (sound) errors in their speech.
For more information, email Rachel.Lepore@hvs.org or call (248) 676-8305