Therapy Program
Developing Individuals To Their Fullest Potential
Program Description
DCO's Therapy Program is nationally accredited and approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. DCO has provided therapy services to individuals with developmental disabilities since 1954.
Evaluations and therapy services are provided by licensed and/or certified, Physical Therapists, Speech/Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Special Instructors.
Therapy or evaluation appointments will be scheduled based on the recommendation from your physician and/or team. An Individual Plan will be developed which will include type of therapy, frequency of the sessions, goals, objectives, strategies, and duration of the treatment program.
Our Therapists provide First Steps intervention services to children while assisting the classroom teachers, parents, or other interested individuals to develop strategies and activities which can be integrated into the natural routines and schedules of the individual and/or family. These First Steps services are provided through home visits and include family/caregiver training and coaching.
For those who are not part of First Steps, our Therapists evaluate and develop plans based on the assessed strengths and needs of the individuals. This service is a more traditional therapy approach.
Who Can Attend?
- Any individual who has a need for and is recommended through a physician and/or multidisciplinary team referral may receive therapy services at DCO.
- Referrals for physical, occupational or speech therapy, and/or special instruction will be referred to the Therapy Department.
Admission to any DCO program, service or staff position will not be denied due to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, creed, sexual orientation, military status or disability.
Did you know we have ABA Services?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a scientific approach to understanding behavior. ABA refers to a set of principles that focuses on how behaviors change, or are affected by the environment, as well as how learning takes place. With our newest addition of a BCBA, DCO can provide individualized behavioral services to fit your child’s needs and improve overall quality of life. To reach our BCBA and inquire about our behavioral services, call 417-829-0824.
Self-Pay Therapy Services
ATTENTION DAYCARE FAMILIES! If you have a child enrolled ages 3-6, we have private-pay therapy options. The self-pay therapy services would be provided while the child attends DCO daycare.
The cost for this therapy service would be as follows:
- $100/hour for evaluation, then $25 per additional 15-minute increment after the
first hour. (A three- hour cap will be placed on the evaluations.)
-$100/hour for therapy sessions.
DCO will accept payments of cash or check. Payment will need to be made at the time of service. The morning of the session is the latest the payment would be accepted for the session to be held. In the case of an evaluation, payment for the $100 would be needed and any time over the first hour would be billed following that appointment.
Any family interested in participating in the self-pay therapy services, please call 417-829-0820 to inform the Therapy Department in regard to which services are of interest or for more information.
Children under the age of three years of age also have a possibility of receiving therapy services while at DCO, if eligible for services through the Missouri First Steps program. Please speak with your child’s daycare teacher to find out more information about the First Steps program.
Annette Thomas, DCO Therapy Coordinator