Extended School Year... Trilogy Therapy is Here to Help!

Extended School Year (or ESY as it’s called in many school districts) is known as the extra or additional special education and/or related services a student receives before or after school or over an extended break like winter, spring or summer break. These services can help a student continue to grow and move toward meeting his/her IEP goals.  ESY services also assist students to avoid regression, and when used appropriately, have many benefits for students receiving special education and related services. It can be difficult, however, for school districts to find providers to fulfill the required ESY service time students need. 

There are many reasons speech, occupational and physical therapists work in school districts, one of them… extended breaks (summer, winter and spring). Let’s face it, it’s extremely nice to have these breaks, and if these specialists have children of their own, it’s an added benefit to follow a “school schedule.” Often when school districts turn to district employed, therapists to fill the required ESY hours, they find many of the specialists declining. Don’t worry Trilogy Therapy is here to help.

Trilogy Therapy has occupational, speech and physical therapists ready to take on any and all district ESY needs. We use a unique approach called our mixed model approach which utilizes both on-site therapy and virtual therapy services. With a mix of both on-site and virtual therapy services, successful outcomes are achieved for students, all while decreasing the inefficiencies of trying to fill ESY therapy positions with district therapists who want and need a break. Trilogy Therapists can provide therapy services to students over breaks to meet ESY needs, all while continuing to work toward meeting IEP goals and objectives. That way district therapists are able to return after breaks refreshed and ready to take on full caseloads. 

Trilogy Therapy is committed to providing related services to rural and hard to access areas where therapists can be difficult to find. We believe no matter where you are, access to therapy should have no boundaries and we are committed to fulfilling this need throughout Wyoming.

Trilogy Therapy is ready to take on any and all ESY needs your district may face. If you want your students to continue making good gains, and your district therapists to be refreshed and ready to take on a full caseload, ask Trilogy Therapy about covering your ESY therapy needs today!

Reflecting on Connecting

When traveling home after an on-site visit, I often find myself reflecting on what Trilogy Therapy is all about and why we are so proud to provide therapy services to anyone, anywhere. Trilogy Therapy uses a unique approach to provide speech, occupational and physical therapy, using both virtual therapy and on-site therapy (Mixed Model approach).

Recently, I had the pleasure of working on-site in a small school district. This was not my first visit to the district, but I had not been on-site in a couple of months. Currently, Trilogy Therapists provide virtual speech therapy to about 30 students in this district weekly. Our therapists have a strong connection with each student and share lots of smiles, laughs and triumphs together, not to mention virtual “high-fives,” fist bumps, and pats on the back. The students work hard during their therapy time, and they are making good gains to show for it, all while having a lot of fun. 

Once I checked into the school, I opened the office door to walk down the hall when I heard, “Mrs. Treide, you’re here!” I turned around to see one small (but mighty) kindergarten student, who was receiving speech therapy through our Mixed Model approach, running toward me with her arms open wide for a hug. That moment was a great reminder of why Trilogy Therapy provides therapy through virtual and on-site modes and the considerable difference our therapy makes. I know Trilogy Therapists are making connections whether we are providing services virtually or on-site and those connections carry-over into each student’s performance toward meeting his/her therapy goals. 

Trilogy Therapy is committed to providing speech, occupational and physical therapy services to rural and hard to access areas where therapists can be difficult to find. We will continue to work toward  building successful relationships and connections to help our students achieve the most growth possible. We believe no matter where you are, access to therapy should have no barriers.

Contact Trilogy Therapy today to learn more about how we can provide speech, occupational and physical therapy services to you, no matter your geographical location.

“Seating” Your Students Up for Success

Students can excel when given the tools they need. An appropriate work environment is imperative to facilitate function. The growing choices for seating options are exciting, but also make it difficult to decide what works best for each student. 

Traditional Chair and Desk

• Best when feet are on the floor, desk is near lower rib height and the student forearms can rest comfortably at a 90° angle. Good for most students that have adequate strength and stability to maintain internal postures correctly. 

Traditional Chair and Desk

Hokki Stool and Rocking Chair

• Allows for “controlled” movement. Great for those kids that need to move! Activates musculoskeletal system and can promote improved core posture leading to better distal control (like writing or computer work).

Hokki Stool

Standing Desks

• This is an up-and-coming new rage that allows students to be more physically active during their day while also facilitating better concentration, especially in students 3rd grade and younger. (Taking a stand to help Students. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Research Study, February 26, 2018, https://uwm.edu/news/using-standing-desks-in-schools/)

Standing Desk

Cube Chair and HowdaHug Chair

• Cube Chair - provides additional support, gives children their own space, preserves physical energy. Great for students with low tone and weakness. 

• HowdaHug Chair - provides deep pressure for improved proprioception, vestibular input. Works well for students that have Autism, ADHD, and sensory processing difficulties. 

HowdaHug Chair

Trilogy physical therapists are experts in analyzing a student’s environment and helping make meaningful implementations that improve attention, work endurance, and performance. Contact us today to learn more.

Mixed Model Approach

Everyday I’m thankful for the beautiful state I live in… the beautifully, BIG state. While Wyoming has over 97,000 square miles, it’s ranked 50th in the nation with its small population (577,737 in 2018). There are over 15,000 students in our rural state between the ages of 3 and 21 years old who receive special education, and a majority of those kids also receive related services including speech, occupational and physical therapy. Many school districts have gone to great lengths to find therapists often advertising for months and years only to fill with traveling therapists who are short-term and expensive.

By combining teletherapy services with on-site services, called our Mixed Model approach, Trilogy Therapy offers a solution to the challenge school districts face daily obtaining speech, occupational and physical therapists.  Trilogy Therapists have their feet on the ground working and collaborating on-site with students, teachers, PLC teams, and district therapists all while combining virtual services through teletherapy. The Mixed Model approach decreases the inefficiencies (including inability to fill therapy positions, increased expense, travel, etc.) of only using on-site therapy.

Trilogy Therapy is committed to providing related services to rural and hard to access areas where therapists are difficult to find. We believe no matter where you are, access to therapy should have no boundaries and we are working hard to fulfill this need throughout Wyoming.

Trilogy Therapy offers the best of both worlds with our Mixed Model approach. By combining virtual therapy services with on-site therapy services successful outcomes are achieved! Ask us about our Mixed Model approach and how we can help you implement it today! 

Contributed by Ellen C. Treide MS, CCC-SLP