May 2026

We can’t wait to celebrate our speech team and recognize the important work you do for our clients!

Welcome back, Naomi! We’re excited to support your capstone work towards becoming an OTR/L!

Thank you Rebecca for organizing and creating a more organized system to store client grooming and hygiene supplies!

We are so grateful to our incredible team of SLPs and feel lucky to work with all of you!  Happy Speech Month to Alli, Cierra, and Kat!

This month, we’re bringing spring into sessions with a playful “Flower Market” activity! Kids create and “sell” flowers using craft materials. As they assemble flowers, sort them by color or type, and engage in simple buying/selling exchanges, they’re naturally working on fine motor strength, bilateral coordination, and hand dexterity.

This also supports sensory exploration through a variety of textures, while targeting executive functioning skills like following multi-step directions, organizing, and problem-solving. In group, it encourages social interaction, including turn-taking, flexible thinking, and conversational/social skills.

Materials:

• Pipe cleaners (stems)
• Tissue paper / cupcake liners (flowers)
• Clothespins or tweezers
• Play money or tokens and cash register
• Labels/colors for sorting (optional)
• Real or faux flowers (bonus sensory input)
• could even have them make a ‘menu’ with prices, etc.

Some modifications:

• Younger kids: Pre-make flowers, focus on sorting and simple exchanges
• Older kids: Add price lists, budgets, or “special orders” (3-step directions)
• Sensory-sensitive kids: Offer gloves/tools or limit textures
• High-energy groups: Add a “delivery” component (carry flowers across room obstacle course)

Reminders: 

Updated Vacation Time Off/Coverage Procedures: 

• As we move into Summer, here are some helpful reminders for our time off and coverage procedures. 

• • Please submit your vacation/time off forms at least 3 weeks prior to your absence.
    • It is okay to submit a form with just dates you are away if you are unsure of the specific amount of hours you would like to use/if your schedule is changing.
      • If applicable: Just note on the form if there is a max amount of PTO hours you would like to use and the remaining hours will be unpaid time off.
    • Please note any kids with authorizations that will expire when you are away and any kids that have a co-treat.

What’s changing for you: We want to eliminate the administrative ​task of soliciting coverage interest​ from families. From now on​ please:

• Add your clients ​from your caseload​ to the coverage spreadsheet.
• Share that list with your therapy team.
• Pass it over to the Admin team after your first attempt to gain coverage.

• Therapist creates a coverage spreadsheet tab and updates it accordingly and shares it with the team so they can fill in coverage availability.
  • The spreadsheet will include any restrictions with scheduling (example; group vs. must be 1:1, co-treats).
• Admin does the second reach out to families to offer coverage, notify of no coverage, and follows up with any unresponsive families.
• Once coverage is sorted, Admin will process your time off form and add appropriate payroll notes for Mary.
• Please make sure all notes and charges are completed before the pay period ends if there are any days you work within the pay period.

Sarina- SLP undergrad (going into grad school) Sarina will be observing the SLPs the next month or so if you see her around

Treatment Rooms – please use the done/in use cards so that admin/volunteers know if a room is still in use or needs to be cleaned up.

We’re starting a pen pal activity at Little Hands.  Please fill information here so we can pair kids that have goals around handwriting, social, etc. to create a fun and motivating activity!

The 2026 Walk for Apraxia will be held Saturday, September 26th. Help us spread the word by sharing the save the date! Click here to download

SMA Webinar- Beyond Responding: Bridging the Gap to Social Communication Development in Selective Mutism

https://www.youtube.com/@NeuroDoodles

Self Regulation Took Kit from Everyday Speech

Brain Works

• Login: rh@littlehandsot.com
• Password: LittleHands505