About Building Blocks Rehabilitation & Autism Centers
Building Blocks Rehabilitation & Autism Centers (BBRAC) is a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility offering occupational, physical, and speech therapy, as well as social services to children in the Rio Grande Valley. Building Blocks is dedicated to the treatment of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as well as other people who exhibit the need for therapy services.
Please note that without member information we cannot guarantee that
your specific plan covers these services. We recommend asking the care
provider before beginning services.
Aetna
HealthSmart
Medicaid
Molina Healthcare
Tricare
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5013 S McColl Rd,TX,78539
Get in Contact
(956) 686-8485
Reviews
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My daughter has been a patient here for 6 years now and I couldnt be happier with the therapy services she receives here. The staff is really nice and friendly. They communicate very well with us parents and make my daughter feel welcomed and comfortable. I have seen great improvement in her.
Sara Martinez
17 March 2024
google review
Very welcoming staff is very knowledgeable and communicative. Theyve done an amazing job with my 8 month old.
Bree Steinke
17 March 2024
google review
Hi AllMJ sir is an extremely talented patient person. He helped my son in overcoming obstacles such as responding to name other milestones. His dedication towards the student is appreciable. Moreover his humbleness and down to earth nature helps parent explaining their queries comfortably and getting answers in a prompt manner.I will rate MJ sir 5 out of 5. Keep going you are doing an amazing workThanks RegardsInder Dhand
inder dhand
17 March 2024
google review
We have been going with Mr. Raschke since my daughter was 2 weeks old. We have seen great improvement. Everyone is kind and understanding and they work great with my schedule.
Rebekah Nino
17 January 2024
google review
Every single staff member is wonderful and my son loves everyone hes worked with. Therapists provide feedback at every appointment and you can see how much they care about their patients.
Evelyn Gaytan
17 December 2023
google review
I have seen a significant improvement in my sons physical development since he started PT and OT at building blocks. Extremely grateful for their support and patience with my son.
Arlet Cantu
17 December 2023
google review
Ive been coming here for a few years and i want to give a special appreciation to all the staff Thank you so much for your hard work and support yall shown to my son hes been making progress. such an amazing staff and even my son shows excitement coming to his sessions For those of you are looking I recommend coming to this place.
Kassandra Bowden
17 November 2023
google review
They have such a great staff super friendly and professional in the amazing work they do. They are very attentive and accommodating to my work schedule.
Oscar Elizondo
17 November 2023
google review
I love it they work with my schedule if need be my children love coming they always look forward to their therapy sessions ive seen improvement in their speech over all behavior
Delilah Castillo
17 November 2023
google review
My son loves this place hes improving so much and he loves his therapists
Vivian Martinez
17 November 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Speech therapy is almost always recommended for autistic children since many people with autism have difficulty with social communication. Even if a child is very verbal and says a lot of words, they might need to work on communication skills like:
responding to questions
starting or ending conversation
changing conversation topics
using gestures like pointing
understanding other people's body language
Speech therapy is a big focus in early intervention for autistic children and is usually the starting place for recently diagnosed kids. There is a critical period in the brain for language development and so, it's really important to teach language and communication skills as early as possible, especially if there are any delays in that area. Your child will learn effective ways to communicate which will help them grow into more independent and confident individuals.
It might be obvious when a child struggles with speaking —they are very quiet, say only a few words, or don't speak at all.
Spot speech and language delays like a doctor here.
The goal of speech therapy is to help your child communicate effectively with other people across all environments. This may take the form of using gestures, simple signs, verbal speech, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Some other common things speech therapists can help with:
Nonverbal skills, such as signs or gestures
Forming speech in a clearer way
Communicating thoughts and feelings clearly
Understanding and responding to questions
Discerning facial expressions and their corresponding emotions
Noticing and understanding body language
Feeding and swallowing
Stuttering
The occupational therapy process includes an OT evaluation before care starts. Here are the four steps your family can expect when starting occupational therapy:
Complete OT evaluation. An occupational therapist first identifies your child’s strengths and needs through a thorough OT evaluation, also known as an OT assessment or screening. You’ll answer questions about your child’s skills, and your child will most likely demonstrate their skills via hands-on activities with the therapist. Evaluations can last 30 minutes to a few hours.
Approve OT plan. The therapist develops a care plan with individualized goals and customized interventions based on your child’s needs. You can also share any specific goals or concerns before approving the OT plan.
Start therapy sessions. The therapist works directly with your child and your family, using various strategies and exercises to systematically improve areas of limitations and to build upon a child’s strengths. Some exercises your child might participate in are animal walks, obstacle courses, and therapy swing activities. Your family may learn strategies for supporting your child’s individualized needs at home, such as ways of supporting emotional regulation and sensory processing. The therapist may also recommend tools and techniques to use at home, in the community, or in the classroom to help your child succeed.
Monitor your child’s progress. Parents and caregivers can expect ongoing progress monitoring and communication to ensure the child is achieving their short and long-term goals.
Occupational therapy can also be provided virtually via telemedicine. Virtual therapy is a great option for families in rural areas who may not have access to in-person services, or for families who prefer to have therapy in their child’s home.
Virtual OT allows the opportunity for increased caregiver participation and understanding of a child’s strengths, areas of improvement, and generalization of skills in the child’s home environment. Virtual therapy also provides increased opportunities for caregiver and family education to support the child and the family based on each family’s needs.
Once you find a quality physical therapist you want to work with, here are a few things you need to know:
There will be an evaluation. First, you can expect an assessment to identify your child’s areas of strength and needs. A physical therapy evaluation usually lasts 30 minutes.
You’ll review and approve the care plan. The physical therapist will create a care plan, also known as a plan of care (POC), outlining the goals and strategies. They will review this with you and your care team before moving forward with therapy sessions.
Physical therapy sessions will be fun. PT with children is designed to be enjoyable. The therapist will use strategies and exercises based on your child’s needs. Exercises might involve playing on large stability balls, obstacle courses, movement equipment, stretches, and other hands-on activities.
Expect home exercises. Physical therapists commonly assign exercises to work on at home. Doing these exercises with your child outside therapy sessions can improve your child’s overall progress.
Yes! Most providers offer physical therapy in their offices or a clinical setting, but many are offering at-home options. Virtual options have become more popular in recent years. You might facilitate care with the guidance of the physical therapist.
Pediatric physical therapy is considered safe and should not hurt. Autistic children spend their time in PT moving and exploring their environment. If you are concerned about your child experiencing pain during certain exercises, especially if they may struggle to communicate and advocate for modifications, speak with their physical therapist about your concerns.
Get in touch with Building Blocks Rehabilitation & Autism Centers