"Achieving independence with every step..."
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Stay tuned for information on our 2024 summer camp!
Get to Know Me
Background Information
My name is Chris Vo and I graduated from the Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy program in 1996 at the University of Alberta.
Areas of practice over the last 24 years include Brain Injury, Stroke, Orthopedics, Rheumatology, Vocational Rehabilitation and Pediatrics (pre-school and school aged children). I have experience in both public and private sectors ranging from the Glenrose Rehabiliation Hospital to Khan Communication Services.
My pediatric work experience are in the areas of sensory processing disorders, developmental delays including perceptual and coordination disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
I provide individual 1:1 treatment at my clinic, online consultation in addition to in-school support to teachers, aides and students.
My practice and treatment philosophy is simple; integrate skills into function. A single skill acquired without purpose is meaningless.
My goal is to ensure that the child is able to combine individual skills acquired into meaningful movements allowing them to be successful in areas of self care (life skills), productivity (school goals) and leisure (meaningful play).
Get in touch; I am looking forward to hearing your child's story!
Skills Development
"A child is like a butterfly in the wind. Some can fly higher than others, but each one flies the best it can. Why compare one against the other? Each one is different, each one is special, each one is beautiful".....Bethany Hamilton
FINE MOTOR SKILLS
Fine motor skills is defined as deliberate, controlled movements involving the fingers and hand.
The development of fine motor skills is crucial to a child's ability to experience and learn about the world.
It's an essential part of growth and development in a child.
Fine motor (FM) skills develop in an orderly progression. Through informal observation and/ or formal assessment, skills that require additional support will be identified and treatment plans established.
Tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive processing, bilateral coordination, body awareness, directionality, midline crossing, motor planning, spatial awareness, acuity binocularity and visual tracking need to work together in order to achieve FM success.
Strengthened FM skills will help support success in school and help the child achieve greater independence with self care (feeding, dressing).
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS
Gross motor development refers to physical skills that entail large body movements most often involving the entire body.
Good motor skills allows a child to better explore their environment which invariably leads to improved cognitive development.
Successful, functional movements require a subset of numerous skills that need to be addressed or explored to determine WHY a specific movement requires additional support.
Functional movements are being taught through meaningful play in addition to strengthening the muscles of the body to ensure that it is properly supported.
Proper body mechanics and good posture are essential to prevent future injuries when engaging in physical activity.
LIFE SKILLS
Maximizing independence in the areas of self care (dressing, feeding and personal hygiene), and social skills (socialization training, safety and self management).
Achieving success in any of the above areas require understanding the root of the problem. A detailed task analysis of a specific life skill will identify whether the delay is a sensory, proprioceptive or motor issue. Once these components are properly identified we can then choose the appropriate treatment strategy.
There is no cookie cutter formula as each child is unique in their challenges and learning.
SENSORY INTEGRATION
A child with sensory processing disorder (SPD), is unable to use information received from the senses in order to function smoothly in daily life.
Sensory information goes into the brain but does not get organized into appropriate responses resulting in atypical behaviors (child who avoids ordinary sensations or seeks excessive stimulation, whose behavior is uncontrollable or whose body is uncooperative)
Successful Sensory Integration can result in the following:
Regulate arousal level
Increase attention and decrease distractibility
Decrease anxiety
Decrease stereo typical behavior and improve social and communication skills
Improve performance on day to day tasks
Successful Sensory Integration therapy involves understanding the interconnections between the 3 primary senses; tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive. These senses continually evolve as the child interacts with their environment.
Treatment identifies which sense or combination of senses is improperly organized in the brain in order to effectively address the underlying atypical behavioral responses from the child.
Contact me
Appointments can be made via email or phone.
Treatment times can be accommodated for after school or evenings and weekends.
11520-105 Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta
T5H-0H1
(780) 935-8554