The Children's League jumps through hoops setting up teletherapy

Students everywhere are adjusting to online learning. While it may be difficult to manage at times, it’s important to remember the hard work that teachers have been putting in to make this all possible. At The Children’s League, teachers and therapists alike have had to completely change how children receive the proper care and education they need.

The Children’s League serves children with learning disabilities and impairments in a center-based program that provides them with therapeutic and special education services. Services are also provided at-home and in community-based settings. Since the start of COVID-19, teletherapy has been the new way of providing any and all services a child needs according to their Individualized Education Program.

Dr. Gerald Guild, PhD is a licensed psychologist and behavior specialist with The Children’s League. He understands that adjusting to teletherapy will be difficult for everyone. To help, he's personally written and posted different resources to the organization’s website, including a few different guides to Behavioral Coping Strategies as well as various Teletherapy Tips and Strategies (for teachers, therapists and parents.) 

“My objective as a psychologist is to give away my skills so they eventually become unnecessary,” said Dr. Guild. “Sometimes we’re asking kids to do things that are inherently quite difficult. We have to teach ourselves and our students how to learn in this entirely new way. It is important to me to be helpful and encouraging during this challenging transition.”

More resources from other therapists and teachers can be found on the COVID-19 Resource page on The Children’s League website.  

The dedicated therapists and teachers aren’t the only ones working hard. According to Dr. Guild, IT Specialist Mike Gardner of WNY Consulting Group, Inc. worked tirelessly in concert with Office Manager Sally Cambio and CFO Thomas Kelchlin from The Children’s League to make teletherapy possible.

“Mike worked in-house with Sally and Tom to get Microsoft Teams and Zoom set up for literally everyone,” said Dr. Guild.  “Without their help, we would all be sitting at home without the resources that we need to work. Because of him, everyone has access in their own homes.”

Erie 2-Chautauqua Cattaraugus BOCES also worked with The Children’s League to get all staff members setup with Zoom Video Conferencing at a significantly reduced price. 

The setup of teletherapy has truly been a group effort, but one that Guild says was absolutely worth it, because at the end of the day, everything is about the kids.

“We are striving to meet the educational objectives of over 150 children using this new approach, which has necessitated development of an entirely new skill set for all involved. Teaching through teletherapy for preschool children, particularly those with developmental and behavioral challenges is exceptionally difficult. But the entire staff is rallying together (apart) to make it happen.”

“It is very important to mention that we are asking a great deal of parents,” The Children’s League Executive Director Marcole Feuz in a statement. “In addition to adjusting to managing family life in a very different manner during these unprecedented times, we are asking parents to be the co-teacher or co-therapist during teletherapy sessions. This requires their undivided attention and creative efforts to keep their child engaged in learning activities in an entirely new way. It truly takes a village to educate children.”