Special Programs

AQUATIC THERAPY

Beyond Boundaries offers aquatic therapy for all ages, provided by trained occupational and physical therapists.  Aquatic therapy is completed in a pool versus the clinic setting, and uses the unique properties of water to help target goals that would typically be addressed in clinic sessions. Water provides proprioceptive input to help a child feel their body in space, it helps relax the muscles due to the therapeutic temperature of the water, and helps kids move in a way they may not be able to on land.  Each session is typically 45 minutes, 1x a week for 12 weeks. It is billed through insurance similar to a standard OT or PT session. The sessions are completed at an aquatic center in a 91-degree pool.

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING.  IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• Does your child show resistance and fear to getting in the water? 
• Does your child demonstrate increased discomfort when getting the slightest amount of water in their ears?
• Is your child on the go 24/7 and never stops moving?
• Has your child completed traditional OT or PT, and you feel like you’d like to try a new approach?
• Does your child appear calmer and more regulated after going in the water?
• Does your child have difficulty independently moving their arms against gravity in the clinic?
• Does your child demonstrate weakness in their arms or legs?

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Increasing strength and endurance
• Decreasing spasticity
• Increasing range of motion
• Increasing overall comfort and confidence in the water
• Increasing attention
• Improving self-regulation 
• Improving mood/anxiety
• Decreasing sensitivities with wearing goggles, a life jacket, getting hair wet

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today.

CONSTRAINT INDUCED MOVEMENT THERAPY (CIMT)

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CI Therapy) is an intense series of treatments that teach the brain to “retrain” itself to increase motor movement. This unique approach focuses on casting a child’s unaffected arm, which results in him/her using the weaker one during a succession of kid-friendly and engaging exercises. Typically, children are scheduled for 3 hours daily,4 days weekly for 3 weeks, depending on the results of screening prior to therapy.

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING. IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• Physical  neglect of one side of their body
• One sided weakness in their upper extremity
• Limited to no use of their assisting hand throughout the day
• Difficulty with bilateral tasks
• Limited to no use of their assisting hand during bilateral tasks
• Limited functioning of one hand
• Completing two handed tasks, one handed
• Visual neglect of one side of their body
• Upper limb contractures/or muscle tightening
• Unable to open or close fist independently
• Is able to use their assisting hand, and chooses not to
• Becomes upset or angry when asked to use both hands for a task

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Increase the use of the assisting hand
• Increase the accuracy of the assisting hand
• Improving Strength and Coordination
• Improving use of arm, hand and fingers
• Improving Hand function (ie fine motor coordination, grasp, finger isolation)
• Increasing independence with Self-care skills (ie dressing and feeding)
• Improving Range of Motion
• Improving Social skills, peer interaction
• Improving Mobility
• Improving Safety

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY (previously known as HIPPOTHERAPY)    

Beyond Boundaries Therapy provides hippotherapy with use of specially trained physical and occupational therapists. It involves the therapist using the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input. A foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing, which can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities. Unlike therapeutic horseback riding, the movement of the horse is a means to a treatment goal when utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment strategy.  This program takes place at the NDSU Equine Center in north Fargo.

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING. IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• Sensory processing difficulties
• Decreased attention span and direction following
• Difficulty with emotional regulation
• Decreased core strength
• Mobility deficits
• Range of motion limitations

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Improve strength
• Improve balance
• Improve posture
• Improve endurance
• Improve coordination
• Improve sensory integration

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

ExerSHINE KIDS POWER BOOTCAMP 

Now partnering with House of Everyday Learning! www.houseofeverydaylearning.com

The program has been specifically designed to increase confidence, empowerment and pride in the children who participate by entwining self awareness, self advocacy, and independent use of strategies within the high-intensity sessions. 

Designed by a pediatric OT, the ExerSHINE Kids POWER Bootcamp program aims to foster strength and enhance self regulation in children, especially in children with sensory processing challenges by: 

1. Harnessing the neurochemical release from high intensity exercise
2. Targeting sensory integration principles
3. Using meaningful themes, graded activities, visual supports and “just right challenges” and 
4. Utilizing foundations of group dynamics to facilitate social participation and promote improved function in daily occupations. 

At its core, the ExerSHINE Kids POWER Bootcamp Program acknowledges the invaluable strength and motor skills that are developed through physical exercise, but also targets exercise as a change agent to improve self regulation and functional outcomes in children with sensory processing challenges.

WHO CAN THIS PROGRAM HELP?

• Children of all ages and ability levels have demonstrated increased strength, sensory processing, social skills and participation in functional activities as a result of their experience in the ExerSHINE Kids Bootcamp Program. 
• This program was specifically designed for children with ASD, ADD, ADHD and SPD

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Build physical strength, balance and motor planning
• Improve sensory processing skills for increased success in school and home
• Increase confidence and foster a sense of belonging- which enhances social participation and builds friendships
• Learn tools for self regulation for carry over in other settings

According to the findings of the bootcamp, significant measurable improvements were noted in:

• Tactile Processing
• Body Awareness
• Balance and motion
• Praxis and planning
• ADL performance
• IADL performance
• Increased focus for peer interactions & social participation

If you are curious about this camp being a good fit for your child, let’s have a conversation! Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you. To get registered for Fall 2023, please email trudy@beyondboundaries.us

Class info coming soon!

Learn more: https://www.exershinekids.com/Bootcamp

FEEDING THERAPY

Beyond Boundaries offers specialized feeding therapy to all ages, provided by trained Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists. Beyond Boundaries uses a team approach that allows us to thoroughly assess and treat both sensory and oral motor related feeding concerns. When your child attends his/her sessions, they will work in a kitchen where they are allowed to learn about food. Our goal is to help them create skills that allow them to safely enjoy eating. Depending on the child’s specific needs, sessions may focus on food exposure and sensory experiences or they may focus on learning to safely chew and swallow a variety of foods. 

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• Does your child avoid specific textures or temperatures of food?
• Does your child have less than 20 consistently accepted/preferred foods?
• Are mealtimes stressful for your child or caregivers?
• Does your child experience difficulty transitioning from bottles to purees/solids?
• Are you concerned about being able to meet your child’s nutritional needs?
• Does your child have a history of refusing previous favorite foods? 

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Improved feeding skills
• Improved latch and reduce maternal pain while breastfeeding
• Reducing gagging during table food feedings
• Increased maternal satisfaction with feeding choices
• Education on feeding development to increase parent confidence

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

FUNCTIONAL VISION

The Functional Vision Program is provided by occupational therapy to assist in the coordination of the eyes and brain. The Functional Vision Program can develop or improve basic visual skills and abilities, as well as the comfort, ease, and efficiency of eye movement, efficiency of reading, improving reading comprehension and visual thinking (how the brain interprets visual information).  Children need to see well to learn well.  80% of learning is visual and an estimated 15-20% of children suffer from poor functional vision skills. 

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING. IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• One eye turns in or out?  
• Squints, covers or closes one eye?
• Uses finger to keep place when reading?
• Holds items close to their face or head moves or tilts when engaged in an activity or reading?
• Confuses right and left?
• Rubs eyes, experiences watering, red eyes when reading?
• Eyes seem to be overly sensitive to light?
• Omits words when reading?
• Experiences motion/car sickness?
• Complains of headaches or reports headaches after reading?
• Complains of blurry/double vision?
• Difficulty copying from the board at school or makes copying errors?
• Fatigues easily?
• Writes “up hill” or “down hill” or demonstrates immature handwriting?
• Has difficulty aligning math problems/columns?
• Reads slow or dislikes reading or receives additional reading services at school?
• Hesitates or loses balance at curbs or changes in surfaces?
• Bumps into objects or knocks things over or has awkward/poor balance?
• History of vision concerns or learning difficulty in the family?

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Improving vision related reading, writing, spelling and math skills as well as other learning problems
• Improving attention, staying in seat in the classroom and ability to stay on task in the classroom
• Improving functional vision by improving primitive reflexes that are related to visual function
• Assisting to alleviate visual stress headaches and improve endurance for reading
• Enhancing sports performance

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

LACTATION/INFANT FEEDING

Beyond Boundaries offers specialized infant feeding support, provided by a speech-language pathologist who is also certified in lactation counseling. Evaluation and treatment would include observation of a feeding, breast and/or bottle in the home environment. The SLP/CLC will provide suggestions on how to improve latch during breastfeeding, reduce pain during breastfeeding, increase success when bottle feeding, and any other areas of concern related to your infants feeding skills. Specialized SLPs are also available to assess and treat infants who are struggling to transition from breast/bottle to purees/table foods. Treatment would include working with a variety of food textures, including but not limited to: purees, meltable solids, and mashable solids. Your SLP will guide you and your infant through safe transitions in each stage of feeding development.

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING. IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• Do you experience pain while breastfeeding?
• Does your baby experience frequent gagging, choking, or coughing while feeding?
• Does your infant have difficulty with feeding transitions (breast to bottle or breast/bottle to purees/table foods)?
• Does your infant have uncontrolled spitting up after feedings?
• Does your infant click while nursing ?
• Does your infant have a side preference while nursing or bottling?
• Does your infant have lip blisters?

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Improved feeding skills
• Improved latch and reduce maternal pain while breastfeeding
• Reducing gagging during table food feedings
• Increased maternal satisfaction with feeding choices
• Education on feeding development to increase parent confidence

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

LITERACY

Beyond Boundaries offers reading and spelling support using the IMSE Orton-Gillingham program. This program is offered through speech therapy by a speech-language pathologist or through tutoring by a trained literacy specialist. Our approach is unique in that it uses each of a child’s senses when learning rules for spelling and reading words. Not only does this help make the information easier to remember and use, but it also offers a hands-on and FUN approach to learning! 

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING. IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• Difficulty reading or sounding-out words 
• Poor spelling 
• Difficulty learning the connection between letters and sounds 
• Confusing small words such as “the” and “a” 
• Letter reversals 
• Difficulty rhyming 

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Increasing confidence when reading and spelling 
• Teaching and rehearsing specific spelling rules 
• Incorporating strategies for breaking words down into sounds to make reading and spelling easier 
• Teaching advocacy skills and learning to self-check work

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

MOBILE THERAPY UNIT

The MTU is a fully renovated school bus designed to provide space for Therapy on the Go! We will help bridge the transportation and work barriers that may be keeping children from receiving needed medically based therapy services. We will travel to serve rural communities, providing medically based therapy that is family and goal centered. Beyond Boundaries Therapy is dedicated to deliver innovative therapy services that address the unique needs of children in the rural communities. By meeting families directly in their community, we can provide a trustworthy and convenient therapy experience.

DO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS APPLY TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS? IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE MAY BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO YOU WITH OUR MOBILE THERAPY UNIT (MTU)

• Do you and your child/children live in a surrounding community more than 50 miles from the Fargo-Moorhead area?
• Does your child need pediatric therapy in the areas of occupational therapy or physical therapy?
• Are you concerned that your child may need services, but aren’t sure where to start?
• Has your doctor recommended occupational therapy or physical therapy services, but you feel you cannot commit to the drive and time that would be required to attend such services?
• Do you know of others in  your community that might benefit from aforementioned services?
• Does your child attend a daycare that might benefit from free therapy screens for children attending?

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Attention
• Behavior
• Endurance
• Executive function
• Feeding
• Focus
• Motor coordination
• Pediatric incontinence
• Sensory integration
• Social & peer interaction
• Strength
• Visual skills

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

MTU named Outstanding Rural Health Program 2022 (House of Everyday Learning) 

https://ruralhealth.und.edu/dakota-conference/awards/program

“Breaking Down Barriers” inForum article:

https://epaper.inforum.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=876a3422-425d-464a-9e59-4ad0f455c039

A HUGE thank you to the following agencies for believing in the mission of the Mobile Therapy Unit: Center for Rual Health, Lisbon Area Community Foundation, Milnor Community Foundation, Jeromy Brown Family Fund, Gibbens Memorial Grant (NDAD), Center for Rural Health, ND Caring Fundation and Medica.

Find out more about the mission of The House of Everyday Learning here: www.houseofeverydaylearning.com

OROFACIAL MYOLOGY

Beyond Boundaries offers Orofacial Myofunctional therapy for children older than four into adulthood. Treatment is provided by specialty trained SLP who is also a Qualified Orofacial Myologist. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is an individualized treatment modality that focuses on retraining of the tongue’s resting posture while ensuring proper use of orofacial musculature (face, jaw, and mouth) for eating, drinking, and breathing. Each session is typically 30 minutes, 1-2x per week. Treatment is billed through insurance similar to a standard speech or feeding session.

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING? IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• Does your child rest with his/her mouth open or tongue against the teeth?
• Does your child demonstrate open mouth breathing?
• Does your child snore at night?
• Does your child still suck their thumb and is greater than three years old?
• Is your child a messy eat and has a hard time clearing food off his/her mouth  using their tongue?
• Is your child older than 4 and still drools frequently?
• Does your child grind his/her teeth at night?
• Does your child push their tongue against or between the teeth while talking or swallowing?
• Does your child have a frontal or lateral lisp?

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Correcting lingual resting posture
• Correcting lingual placement while eating and drinking
• Improving oral motor strength and control
• Eliminating noxious habits
• Increasing nasal breathing
• Eliminating drooling

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

PEDIATRIC INCONTINENCE THERAPY

Since 2013, Beyond Boundaries Therapy has utilized a unique approach, providing a coordinated evaluation and treatment with an occupational therapist and physical therapist, both specially trained in pediatric incontinence.  Being the first integrated team in Fargo, and based on parent feedback and statistical outcomes, we have found this approach to be extremely successful, making a significant difference for the children and families we serve.  

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING? IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• Wets the bed?
• Struggles with constipation?
• Has daytime leaks?
• Has frequent bladder infections?
• Has decreased self-esteem due to leaks?

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• OT Specializes in providing education and strategies to help children:
  • Increase body awareness
  • Improve a positive sense of self
  • Understand sensory processing of the digestive and urinary process
  • Learn about fiber and bladder irritants
  • Regulate emotions related to bathroom routines/toileting.
  • Learn independence in hygiene and ADL’s
  • Integrate reflex patterns and relaxation strategies
• PT Specializes in providing education and strategies to help children:
  • Learn exercises to coordinate and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles
  • Recognize sense of urge
  • Understand and visualize pelvic floor function through SEMG and Biofeedback
  • Learn constipation management through soft tissue mobilization,
  • Stretching and strengthening of core and surrounding muscles
  • Learn relaxation/breathing techniques

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

PROMPT

Beyond Boundaries offers PROMPT therapy services for clients of all ages provided by a Speech-Language Pathologist who has been trained in PROMPT. PROMPT is a multidimensional therapeutic approach to sound production errors that incorporates tactile kinetic (touch) cues to assist with motor planning along with cognitive-linguistic and social-emotional aspects of communication. The various levels of tactile cues are specific for each speech sound and assist the client with motor planning to produce that specific sound. Each session typically last 30 minutes, 2x a week and consists of a warm-up followed by incorporating sound production in functional activities or play to further encourage generalization to daily life. It is billed through insurance similar to a standard SLP session.

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING? IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• Does your child have a diagnosis of Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
• Does your child have a motor speech disorder?
• Does your child demonstrate multiple articulation or sound production errors?
• Is your child’s speech not able to be understood due to sound production errors?

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Increasing voicing/devoicing
• Increasing jaw control/movement
• Increasing lip control/movement
• Increasing tongue control/movement
• Increasing sound production during connected speech
• Increasing prosody during connected speech

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

SAVVY SLEEPER PROGRAM

Through our Savvy Sleeper Program, we will evaluate the current sleep situation along with what is appropriate for the child’s developmental state.  Considering that all families are so unique and special, we will focus on the personal needs as parents as well as your desired outcome as a family.  We will work with you to come up with a customized sleep plan for which you are comfortable with that suits your personal parenting style. We want to help you build a better sleeper for life!

DO YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO EXHIBITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING? IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING…..WE CAN HELP.

• An infant or toddler that struggles with sleep?  
• A child that won’t sleep, has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep? 
• A child having difficulty getting in a good rhythm for naps and bedtime routines?

GOAL AREAS OF THIS SPECIALTY PROGRAM INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

• Learning and implementing safe sleep practices
• Learn to establish healthy sleep habits for your little one
• Nursery recommendations/assessment to make sure the environment is conducive to safe and healthy sleep
• Resources for future sleep-related concerns

To put your mind at ease, let’s have a conversation about how we may be able to help your child.  Our team of expert therapists are here to listen.  Whatever feelings you are experiencing, we here at Beyond Boundaries completely understand.  We’re here for you.  Give us a call today. 

You can also inquire here: https://forms.gle/qzQeBDp2gWYy9nux5

UNIQUE MODALITIES/TRAININGS

• Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Techniques
• Assistive Technology
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Cleft Lip and Palate (Velopharyngeal incompetence)
• Cochlear Implants
• Cognitive Rehabilitation
• Credentialed Clinical Instructors
• Debra Beckman Oral Motor Technique
• DIR/Floortime
• Dysphagia
• Emotional Regulation
• Environmental recommendations for the home
• Executive Dysfunction
• Handwriting without Tears
• Home Adaptation and Modification
• Kaufman Apraxia Program
• Kinesio-Taping
• Lee Silverman Voice Technique (LSVT LOUD for Kids)
• Orthotic Prescription and Management
• Parent/caregiver training and workshops – Growing Futures approved provider
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
• Sensory Processing/Sensory Integration
• Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S) Feeding Techniques
• Social Skills / Peer Interaction
• Talk Tools Oral Motor Program
• The Alert Program (How does your engine run)
• The Listening Program
• Universal Exercise Unit (UEU/Spider Cage)
• Vestibular Activation Protocol
• Wilbarger Deep Pressure Protocol