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Encouraging Development
Through Engagement

Who are we? A team of passionate Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists who specialize in working with children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental delay. Our relationship based approach is family-centered, and we aim to empower your child with the skills they need to be happy and engaged little explorers!

What is Occupational Therapy? Occupational Therapists help children to learn, participate and engage in the daily activities that are important and meaningful to them. The Occupational Therapists at Little Buddies use play as the medium to engage, build relationships, and develop a child’s skills in the following areas: Play and Social Skills Gross Motor Skills Play and socialization are the best ways for a child to learn! Our large clinic space allows for natural peer interactions so your child can practice skills like initiating, turn taking, sharing and responding to their peers. Keep an eye out for our upcoming social groups! Does your child seem “clumsy” or have difficulties coordinating their body movements? Do they have difficulty learning tasks like riding a tricycle or scooter? OT’s can help your child to develop muscle strength, endurance and body coordination, improve motor planning skills and build confidence. Is your child sensitive to touch or sound? Are they constantly on the move and can’t seem to sit still? Do they seem fearful of activities at the playground that other children enjoy? OT’s are specialists in the area of sensory processing, and can help you to understand and manage your child’s individual sensory needs. Sensory Processing Does your child have difficulties with dressing, toileting, bathing or tasks like tooth brushing? Is sleeping a challenge? We can assess your child’s individual skills to find the best ways to facilitate their success and independence. Self-care Skills Fine motor skills are important for many of our daily tasks, like putting on socks and shoes, doing up buttons or zippers, or being able to hold and control our cutlery and toothbrush, as well printing and other school-based tasks. If your child has difficulties with these activities, we can help! Fine Motor Skills Is your child a picky eater? Do they have a limited diet and seem sensitive to certain food smells, tastes, colours or textures? Our trained therapists can help! Feeding Skills

What is Speech-Language Pathology? Our SLPs use play as the medium to engage, build relationships, and develop a child’s communication skills. In our speech-language therapy sessions, children are supported in expressing themselves using any mode of communication that is accessible to the child, including speech, gestures, or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Our SLPs also provide AAC assessments for children who cannot express themselves through their speaking capacity. The Speech-Language Pathologists at Little Buddies use play as the medium to engage, build relationships, and develop a child’s skills in the following areas: Speech Disorders Language Disorders What is AAC? Does your child have difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or fluently (e.g., stuttering) or have problems with their voice? Speech and language therapy helps with all of these difficulties. Does your child have trouble understanding others or sharing their thoughts, ideas, and feelings? Our speech-language pathologists can help your child develop their language skills. Cognitive communication disorders include problems organizing thoughts, paying attention, remembering, planning, and or problem-solving. Our speech-language pathologists can support your child in developing these skills. Cognitive Communication Disorders Children with difficulty expressing themselves effectively in all situations often benefit from using augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC. AAC can take many forms and is most successful when the child’s strengths and needs have been fully assessed. At Little Buddies, we provide AAC assessment and therapy for children who need extra support with communicating due to speech, language, or social communication difficulties. Augmentative and Alternative Communication Social communication disorders may include problems communicating for social purposes (e.g., greeting, commenting, asking questions), talking in different ways to suit the listener and setting, or following rules for conversation and story-telling. Speech and language therapy can support children in developing their social skills so that they can connect better with friends and family. Social Communication Disorders

What Our Happy Parents Say “I am so happy to have Alysha as my sons OT. She is an expert in her profession and also a kind and compassionate human being - the perfect combination of anyone who works with your child! Taylor always has a wonderful time in the clinic with Alysha and has benefited so much from working with her. In addition to clinical therapy, Alysha values and works on building a strong emotional rapport with Taylor, and their connection is so strong and clear. She coaches me on different strategies, provides me with safe opportunities to practice new techniques, and is always a patient and active listener. My confidence as a parent of a child with ASD has grown because of her."
Dana PARENT What Our Happy Parents Say "Hayley made our transition to a new O.T. seamless. She got to know our son and developed a rapport with him and us, which set the stage for impactful work. Our questions get answered in detail and with excellent resources. In addition to the improvements in his fine and gross motor skills, we see positive results in his behaviour and attitude. These positive results are due to Hayley's nurturing, kind (yet firm) disposition. We are so grateful for Hayley's dedication to her profession and our son. She is an integral part of our team to help him be the best version of himself." Amelia PARENT What Our Happy Parents Say "Chelsey works closely with my son, who is on the Autism Spectrum. She is encouraging, detailed, and dedicated. Our whole family has learned so much, and we can't thank her enough.
Chelsey creates a fun and safe environment for Logan and knows how to switch things up if he's having a challenging day. From being a little boy who would rather be off on his own to now participating in groups, making people laugh and teaching his friends how to hip hop dance!
Chelsey is a huge advocate for Logan. She's helped with school assessments, meetings with teachers and reports to help others understand his needs. Chelsey is a huge advocate for my son and has his back 100%. She's not just our son's OT; we consider her part of our family!" Lisha PARENT What Our Happy Parents Say “Keith has been working with our son for years, and has been an outstanding therapist. As a result of Keith’s effective and kind therapeutic approach, my son has shown improvement in his flexibility, play skills, fine motor, and sensory issues. Keith is patient and sensitive to our child, while always vigilant for opportunities to challenge and teach him… we feel very fortunate to have Keith as an important aspect of our son’s program.” John B. PARENT What Our Happy Parents Say "My three kids look forward to seeing Devin every week. It is apparent he loves kids and loves seeing them blossom. Devin really takes the time to think about each client individually and what might benefit them. Our overall goal is for our kids to live in their bodies with confidence and self-love. Devin supports this and provides us with the tools to achieve this outcome. Our kids each have very different body needs, and Devin is able to navigate this with fun, excitement, and purpose. We are very grateful to have Devin as a member of our team!”
Kelly PARENT What Our Happy Parents Say “I have known many providers of special services, but one stands out above them all: Keith Landherr. He did so much more as an Occupational Therapist than just provide proper exercises to improve my son’s Sensory Integration Disorder… he changed our lives for the good. He became an advocate, an ally, and a cherished lifelong friend." Dr. L. Kuslansky PARENT, PHD. PSYCHOLOGY What Our Happy Parents Say “Sam is a wonderful, patient and caring OT; I am very thankful to have met him.
He is like a big brother to my child A. He can play silly with him but also teaches him appropriate skills. He is observant and can visualize A's behaviour and the reasons behind it. As a parent, I see myself get lost and discouraged often when I see my child's weaknesses and the challenges he has to overcome. Sam is someone I can trust and fall back on. With his recommendations, I can gather myself and continue the long journey again. Cindy PARENT

Contact Us Pacific Autism Family Network
3688 Cessna Drive
Richmond BC
V7B 1C7 604-299-8862
info@littlebuddiespeds.ca Little Buddies - Richmond 3823 Henning Drive,
Unit 209
Burnaby BC
V5C 6P3 Little Buddies - Burnaby