Westside Children's Therapy

🍂 October is National AAC Awareness Month! 🍂 This month is all about raising awareness of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and its profound impact on individuals with communication needs. We love finding creative ways to engage our kiddos—like this switch-activated pumpkin carving activity, thoughtfully set up by our AAC Program Coordinator and SLP, Megan Covey, to celebrate the fall season. AAC opens up a whole world of possibilities, giving every kiddo a voice to express themselves and engage in meaningful interactions. From playful activities to building important skills, it’s all about empowering children to connect and create while having fun. Let’s continue to celebrate the power of AAC this month! #AACaware24 #AACAwareness #SwitchActivatedToys #InclusivePlay

We were honored to sponsor the annual Autism Hero Gala, which supports The Autism Hero Project (AHP). For those unfamiliar with the Autism Hero Project, their mission is to promote autism acceptance, advocate for policy change, and encourage diversity within the autism community. They provide medical insurance for autistic children, ensuring access to essential therapies like ABA, and offer educational scholarships to help individuals on the spectrum grow both personally and professionally. Westside is proud to support this incredible organization, as we work together toward a future where autism is embraced, and every individual is celebrated and empowered! A special thank you to Tiffany Spicer, MA, BCBA for attending this wonderful event on behalf of Westside. #AutismHeroGala #TheAutismHeroProject #AutismAcceptance #InclusionMatters #AutismAwareness #CelebrateDifferences #EmpowerAutism #WestsideSupports #AutismAdvocacy

A Career that Makes a Difference! 💫 Are you passionate about helping children grow and thrive? As a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at Westside Children's Therapy, you'll have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of our kiddos and their families every single day. At Westside, we’re clear on our "why"—to empower children to achieve their fullest potential. In this role, we offer support at every step, opportunities for advancement, competitive benefits packages, financial security, and meaningful connections that make your work deeply fulfilling. Whether you're just starting your journey or looking for a place to grow, there's no better time to join our team! Hear directly from our Director of ABA and CEO to learn more about the meaningful work RBTs do at Westside! ⬇ https://lnkd.in/gzRkh7VS 

In honor of AAC Awareness Month, we’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on Kellie, one of our incredible AAC evaluators at Westside! How long have you been at Westside? "Almost 3 years! But I've been in the field for over 8 years." How long have you been an AAC Evaluator? "Since January 2024." What is one piece of advice you love to share with therapists or parents? "I like to make sure they know that we are all in this together, and each of us plays a significant role in AAC success!" What is your favorite AAC memory? "When I introduced a high-tech device to a client for the first time, the amount of enthusiasm he displayed was magical. His eyes lit up, he laughed, and jumped with joy. Using the device, he independently labeled the color of over 10 items in the room. Not only did he show me more of his comprehension skills, but he was also able to share a different side of his personality. That’s a memory I’ll never forget—it still makes me tear up!" Thank you, Kellie, for all the amazing work you do in helping kiddos find their voice! 💛 #aac #joy

Read about our new partnership with Northern Illinois University. This is another example of our efforts to partner with higher education to advance the skills of our team members and improve the service provided to children and their families, leading to great outcomes for all! #NIU #BCBA

We're #hiring a new Speech Language Pathologist in Joliet, Illinois. Apply today or share this post with your network.

🔍Step inside and explore our Park Ridge clinic! All of our Westside clinics are designed with a similar vision but feature their own personal touches, creating spaces that inspire and support our team and the families we serve. In this walkthrough, you'll see our custom-made sensory gym, which serves as a space for both our physical and occupational therapy teams. You’ll also see our vibrant ABA gym, therapeutic swings, and areas for socialization and individualized support. The tour continues through our specialized feeding room, several private therapy rooms for 1-on-1 sessions, and our dedicated counseling room—a safe space for emotional support and guidance. Explore the heart of where you can make a difference—take the tour now! https://lnkd.in/eEGz3ch

🌟 A Special Shoutout to Dr. Mary Smyers, SLPD, CCC-SLP/L! 🌟 We’re thrilled to recognize one of Westside's very own, Mary Smyers SLPD, CCC-SLP/L, who recently earned her doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology! 🎓 Her capstone focused on research into feeding difficulties in children with Autism. For the past 3.5 years, Mary has been a key member of both our feeding and speech teams, sharing her invaluable expertise. We’re excited to share that she has also stepped into the role of Speech Lead for our Willowbrook and Elmhurst locations! 👏 Congratulations, Mary, on this incredible accomplishment! Your dedication and hard work continue to make a meaningful impact on our teams at Westside and the families we serve. 🙌 #WestsideChildrensTherapy #Leadership #SpeechTherapy #FeedingTherapy #CareerGrowth

Join us at Westside Children's Therapy Oak Lawn for an exciting Job Fair on Friday, October 11th from 8am-3pm! 🎉 Meet our HR team in person and explore amazing career opportunities. Don't miss out on this chance to be a part of our team! Sign up for your time here: https://bit.ly/3BEsD15 #hiring #rbt #aba #oaklawn

Big congratulations to Veronica who was recently promoted to Lead Physical Therapist at our Joliet clinic! Every day, you will find Veronica with a smile going above and beyond for her teammates and families. She has a way to make PT fun even when it is so hard and is always communicating with families what they can do at home to result in the best possible outcomes. Veronica is a born leader and her positivity is so contagious! A message from Veronica: "I absolutely love working as a Physical Therapist here at Westside! Every day, I have the privilege of helping children and young adults break barriers and reach their fullest potential. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness their joy and sense of accomplishment as they achieve goals and master tasks they once found challenging—whether it’s keeping up with peers at school, riding a bike, taking their first steps, recovering fully from an injury to play again, climbing playground obstacles, or standing flat-footed instead of on tiptoes for the first time. The best part of my job is reminding these amazing kids that they are capable of doing hard things and watching their hard work pay off in ways they never imagined! 💪💙❤️" #physicaltherapy #leader #breakingbarriers