5.4.6.2: Space for Therapy Services

In addition to accessible classrooms, in facilities where some but fewer than fifteen children need occupational or physical therapy and some but fewer than twenty children need individual speech therapy, centers should provide a quiet, private, accessible area within the child care facility for therapy. No other activities should take place in this area at the time therapy is being provided.

Family child care homes and facilities integrating children who need therapy services should receive these services in a space that is separate and private during the time the child is receiving therapy.

Additional space may be needed for equipment according to a child’s needs.

RATIONALE

Quiet, private space is necessary for physical, occupational, and speech therapies (1). Most caregivers/teachers also indicate that the other children in the facility are disrupted less if the therapies are provided in a separate area. For speech therapy, working with the child in a quiet location is especially important. Caregivers/teachers should attempt to incorporate therapeutic principles into the child’s general child care activities. Doing so will achieve maximum benefit for the child receiving therapy and promote understanding on the part of the child’s peers and caregivers/teachers about how to address the child’s disability when the therapist is not present.

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home

REFERENCES

1. Olds, A. R. 2001. Zoning a group room. In Child care design guide, 137-165. New York: McGraw-Hill.