What therapy services does Lumiere Children's Therapy provide?

Lumiere Children's Therapy offers comprehensive pediatric services, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), social work, early intervention, autism testing, teletherapy, and a therapeutic preschool. Our multidisciplinary team collaborates to create personalized treatment plans that support every child's unique developmental journey.

At what age can my child begin therapy?

We serve children from birth through 18 years of age. Early intervention can help address developmental delays before they become more significant, while older children benefit from therapy that supports communication, learning, motor development, emotional regulation, and independence throughout childhood and adolescence.

How do you determine the right therapy plan for my child?

Every child begins with a comprehensive evaluation completed by a licensed therapist. We assess developmental skills, discuss your concerns and goals, and use standardized assessments when appropriate. Based on the results, our team creates a personalized treatment plan that evolves as your child grows and reaches new milestones.

Can my child receive more than one therapy service at the same location?

Yes. Because Lumiere Children's Therapy offers multiple pediatric therapy services under one roof, children can receive coordinated care from speech, occupational, physical, behavioral, and social work professionals. This collaborative approach improves communication among therapists and creates a more consistent experience for families.

Does Lumiere Children's Therapy accept insurance?

We work with many major insurance providers and help families understand their available benefits before therapy begins. Our experienced administrative team assists with insurance verification, claim submissions, billing questions, and payment options, making the process as simple and transparent as possible for parents and caregivers.

What should we expect during our first therapy appointment?

Your first visit focuses on understanding your child's strengths, developmental needs, and family goals. A licensed therapist will complete an evaluation, answer your questions, and explain recommended services. You'll leave with a clear understanding of the next steps and a personalized treatment plan designed for your child.

Why do families choose Lumiere Children's Therapy?

Families choose Lumiere Children's Therapy because we provide individualized care through a collaborative team of experienced pediatric specialists. From evaluations and insurance guidance to ongoing therapy and family education, we're committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care that helps children build lifelong skills and confidence.

How can I schedule an evaluation at Lumiere Children's Therapy?

Scheduling an evaluation is quick and straightforward. Simply call our office, send us an email, or complete the contact form on our website. Our friendly team will guide you through every step, including insurance verification, appointment scheduling, and preparing for your child's first visit so you can get started with confidence.

October 2, 2017

Child Occupational Therapy: Handwriting

Marie

In a world full of technology, handwriting seems to take the backseat but there are many benefits of handwriting. Children who are able to physically transfer the mental image of a letter onto paper have a clearer understanding of how letters form words. Handwriting is a key component to literacy development, as well as reading comprehension, memory recall, critical thinking, and creativity. Handwriting can be extremely challenging for some children possibly impacting their learning and schoolwork. Occupational therapists can evaluate and create individual based curriculums to improve handwriting.

What factors attribute to handwriting challenges?

Unrecognized vision problems
Poor grip strength/endurance
Poor eye-hand coordination
Poor posture or shoulder stability
Proprioceptive/kinesthetic issues
Nonfunctional pencil grip
Motor planning difficulties
Delayed fine motor development

What are the consequences of poor handwriting?

In elementary school, there is a strong emphasis on legible handwriting for assignments, tests, and note taking. Poor handwriting my result in lower grades due to difficulty completing assignments. Children who are focused on the difficult task of writing can often miss parts of the assignment, lecture, or directions. Children may experience lowered self-esteem when comparing their handwriting abilities to classmates.

How do Occupational therapists target handwriting?

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An OT first determines the cause of handwriting difficulty by assessing all components of writing. The following all contribute to handwriting success:

Postural control and trunk support
Fine motor skills in order to coordinate and manipulate the pencil. OT will determine the hand dominance and the ability to firmly grasp a pencil with a functional grip.
Fluency of pencil movement.
Visual motor skills: The ability to transfer what one sees into motor expression.
Visual perception: OT will assess the child’s ability to discriminate between numbers, letters, and words that are similar. Also, the organization of the writing including spacing between letters, placing letters on the writing line and using margins correctly.
Letter and number recognition
Letter and number formation
Cognitive: Letter memory, language comprehension, and specific learning difficulties that may contribute to writing difficulty.
Possible sensory processing difficulties that may interfere with handwriting

Once an OT determines the root of the handwriting difficulty, they can develop and evaluate handwriting curriculums most appropriate for your child.

What can families do at home?

Provide fun fine-motor activities at home such as playing with Play-Doh cutting cookies with cookie cutters, or cutting a pizza.
Encourage using silverware during meals to help develop hand grip.
Enroll children in sports and games that can improve visual, motor and coordination skills.
Encourage writing by handwriting cards for family members, pen pals, and thank you notes.

If your child is having difficulty with handwriting, contact Lumiere Children’s therapy for a consultation with one of our occupational therapist.

Resources:

“Handwriting.” Aota.org, www.aota.org/about-occupational-therapy/patients-clients/childrenandyouth/schools/handwriting.aspx.

“Handwriting and Writing.” Your Kids OT, www.yourkidsot.com/handwriting-and-writing.html.

“Handwriting.” Occupational Therapy for Children, 22 Feb. 2011, occupationaltherapyforchildren.over-blog.com/article-handwriting-67838149.html.

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“The Benefits of Handwriting vs. Typing [Infographic].” National Pen® Official Blog, 27 July 2017, www.pens.com/blog/the-benefits-of-handwriting-vs-typing/#.WcLTO63My8U.

SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT

Looking for expert pediatric therapy services? Our team specializes in helping children reach their full potential through compassionate, personalized care.

Book an Appointment → Call (312) 242-1665

Vasilikitsa “Kitsa” Antonopoulos

Vasilikitsa “Kitsa” Antonopoulos, MA, CCC-SLP/L is a licensed speech-language pathologist with over two decades of experience supporting children and families. After earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Saint Louis University, she gained deep clinical expertise working across pediatric hospitals, early intervention programs, and autism therapy settings.

In 2010, Kitsa founded Lumiere Children’s Therapy to create a holistic, collaborative space where children could receive personalized, multidisciplinary care. Her vision continues to guide Lumiere’s dedicated team of therapists, offering speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapy and more, to help every child reach their fullest potential.