- Children
About Milestone Pediatric Therapy Services
We are a pediatric therapy clinic in Jefferson, Georgia. We provide speech, occupational, physical, and feeding therapies
Reviews
Reviews
Age Ranges Served
Languages
- English
514 Panther Drive, GA, 30549
Get in Contact
- (706) 367-1141
- milestonepediatric@gmail.com
Reviews
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Was checked in promptly while waiting my child played quietly in the play area until the therapist came and took him back. He was not afraid of her she was very friendly and very professional with him. She said he would be gone an hour and I could wait in the waiting room or go run errands. I opted to sit in the waiting room there were alot of parents bringing children for appointments the Therapist were all very efficient at their jobs. The room was nice and clean very kid friendly lots of toys and ofcourse magazines and books for mommy and daddy. Great place
All 3 of my boys has gone to Therapy at Milestone. We love them so much
My son meets with Ashtin in Athens. She is absolutely incredible with him Very patient and understanding and knows when it is time to switch things up. My baby was very gross motor delayed and has already almost caught up thanks to Ashtin. She gives us the tools knowledge and confidence to work with my son at home as well. Ashtin also takes the time to answer all of our questions and lets me text her with questions at home as well. I recommend her to anyone in Athens looking for OT she is incredible
Ive been taking my daughter here for over 6 months every week for speech and occupational therapy. We both love it here. My daughter and I have interacted with most if not all of the wonderful staff that work here and we adore all of them. Its not just a job for them they love what they do and it shows. Ms Melissa and Ms Betsy work so well with my daughter. She gets so pumped on the days of her appointments and often asks to go see them when she isnt scheduled.The therapists communicate how each session went when its over what areas need improvement and ways to help improve. Theyre always so encouraging. The office manager Michelle is a gem. She will work hard to get your child an open space. She was able to work us in as soon as she could when other places didnt respond or put us on a lengthy waiting list. Everyone here makes us feel like family.
Our son loves this place and they have been very accommodating to him. He has been going for a couple of years and they have worked hard to keep his schedule consistent and it has shown. He has made remarkable progress with his walking and vocational program.
My soon to be 8 year old has been receiving services from Milestone since she was 6 months old. Their investment and commitment to her development has been instrumental in her growth. Each therapist there she sees several and has worked with even more is well qualified educated and trained and truly has a passion for helping kids and meeting them where they are at and creating detailed and personalized goals for their developmental growth. The owner was my childs first therapist and she was patient and kind and so very helpful in not just starting our OT PT and SLP journey but also in helping me learn how I can best help my child reach her potential. I have yet to work with or meet a therapist here that wont take the time to explain what they are doing give you tips and exercises to work at home and also listen to what struggles you are seeing outside of the clinic and adapting to work those areas as well. In a town as small as Jefferson it is surprising to find a pediatric therapy provider but to find one that is as top shelf as Milestone is a blessing. I cannot imagine ever going anywhere else. If your child needs therapy services for any amount of time you wont find a better provider than Milestone.
Very friendly environment
My 2 children have been working with 2 of the therapists who work here and they are amazing people I want to thank Jeremy and Michelle for being helpful and kind to me and my kids. I could write a litany of the things that I love about this place and the people who work hard here.
Our daughter has been going to Milestone since she was 3 months old. She is 7 now and loves it.
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
Autism-friendly camps come in all shapes and sizes, making it easier for you to find the one that best suits your needs. An autism-friendly camp may come in the form of a day camp, meaning you drop your child off in the morning and pick them up later that afternoon, or as an overnight camp. The camp programs can range in length from a few days to a few weeks. The campers that attend autism-friendly camps may be autistic only or a mixture of neurotypical and neurodivergent kids. When it comes to support for your child, some camps offer 1:1 support while others have a higher camper-to-counselor ratio.
When choosing the perfect camp for your child there are five key things you should keep in mind:
- Interests: What does your child like to do? A sports camp probably wouldn’t be a good fit for your little bookworm. Finding the right summer camp that sparks your child’s excitement will aid in transitioning to and from camp, while also ensuring they enjoy their experience.
- Professional Support: How much support does your child need? A traveling camp may not be best for your child who tends to elope. Some camps offer 1:1 support for your child, while others may have a higher camper-to-counselor ratio. When looking for a camp, pay close attention to those ratios to ensure there is adequate support for your child’s unique needs.
- Specializations: Does the camp specialize in a specific area? If your child is nonverbal and the camp has excellent experience working with nonverbal children, it may be the perfect fit!
- Responsiveness and Accommodations: Pay special attention to camps that meet with you one-on-one either by phone, video chat, or in person, to mark out a personalized support plan for your child. You can relax knowing they’re on top of things and making sure your child is properly supported. Don’t be afraid to ask tons of questions —a great camp will welcome them!
- Location and Commitment: Not many people like a long commute. You know your child’s comfort level better than anyone else, so you’ll know what’s best for them, whether it’s a half-day camp, a full day, or an overnight experience.
Here are just a few of the benefits of summer camp for autistic children:
Fostering Social Skills: Summer camp is an excellent opportunity for your child to learn about different social scenarios they may face as they grow up and provide them first-hand experience in how to approach those situations in a safe and supportive environment.
Maintaining Mental Stimulation: With school out during the summer months, a child with autism may be missing out on many of the core structures inherently provided by the classroom and their classmates. No matter what sort of camp you choose or your child’s unique needs and interests, summer camp is a great way to keep your child mentally stimulated and challenged.
Friendship: Depending on the camp size, campers are often divided into smaller groups defined by age, interests, gender, and/or needs. These groups not only give your child the opportunity to closely identify with a group that they belong to but provide them an opportunity to learn how to make friends.
Independence and Confidence: Possibly the greatest benefit of summer camp for your child is the independence they gain. While the counselors are there for support and guidance, kids will have their own responsibilities and choices to make while at camp. Your child will be doing activities independently and actively learning what they like and don’t like. Having these sorts of experiences can boost a child’s self-confidence and nurture your child’s natural curiosity about the world.
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.