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Rocking Horse Rehab
A Pediatric Rehab and Family Wellness Center
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Read on to find out what's happening at Rocking Horse Rehab!
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We are hiring!
Rocking Horse Rehab is looking for staff to join our team! We are currently searching for speech, occupational, and physical therapists to take on some hours. WEEKEND HOURS AVAILABLE! For more information contact
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Grant Money Available!
RHR is a recipient of a generous grant from the Italian Welfare League, an organization which assists children of Italian descent who are ill or have suffered an emotional trauma. Since 2001, they have raised and distributed over $1,600,000 to hundreds of children and organizations which provide services to children. Their grant helps us to provide services for children of Italian descent who otherwise would not be able to afford our services.
Their recipients have many different diagnoses, such as brain injuries, autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. For more information on how to receive a grant for our services, please email us at:
carey@rockinghorserehab.com
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Message of the Month:
Summer Speech and Language Activites
by Doreen Cruz-Delgado, MS, CCC-SLP
Whoo Hoo! It's summertime and school's out! It's time for students and families to enjoy many activities that only summer brings. However, it is important for students to continue to practice their speech and language skills over the break. Below you'll find some activities that encourage communication while your child is home for the summer.
- Fun with chalk: Draw pictures on the sidewalk or the driveway related to summer objects or specific sounds your child may be working on. You can also draw these pictures and play a game of hopscotch.
- Buy a Journal: Encourage your child to write in their journal related to summer events. This will help in retelling stories while increasing vocabulary and strengthening writing skills. If your child cannot write yet, draw or cut and glue pictures from a newspaper or magazine. This will also help their fine motor abilities.
- Go Outside!: It's time to enjoy the weather. Limit your child's time spent on an electronic device and go to the park, the playground, the pool, the beach and/or local community events. These experiences increase a child's exposure to new language opportunities.
- Play in the Car: While driving in your car, play I Spy and look for specific objects such as colors and shapes (I Spy with my little eye something red!)
- Scavenger Hunt: Hide objects and pictures in the house or in the backyard. This is great for working on vocabulary and prepositions. If you play at night, it can be a flashlight scavenger hunt!
- Read, Read, Read!: Go to the library and pick out several books. You can work on identifying objects , answering questions about the story as well as having your child retell you the story. Play board games: Board games teach turn-taking skills and are a fun way to learn. Scattegories, Scrabble, Chutes and Ladders, Sorry. Candyland, Guess Who, Monopoly and Clue are just a few.
Enjoy the fun in the sun!
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Horse of the Month
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, or as we call him, "Nick", is owned by Essex Equestrian Center and has been with Rocking Horse Rehab for many years. He has always been a steady part of our program, working in all of our offered therapies. Nick has touched many hearts, and has been ridden for clients young and old. In July 2015, he gave a woman with terminal cancer her last ride: to ride a horse one more time. Nick has a great personality and is often found sniffing the pockets of his leader for treats.
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Staff Member of the Month
Brittney Falvo
Brittney has been an staff member at Rocking Horse Rehab since September 2012. Prior to that, she was a volunteer for a few years, coming to help when needed. Britt has been riding at Essex Equestrian Center for many years, and enjoys riding the program horses in her spare time.
She recently finished her junior year at Montclair State University, where she majors in Family and Child Services. Britt hopes to be a teacher after graduating college.
Thank you Brittney for your many years of work with us!
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Hero of the Month
The Kid's Wish Network
The Kid's Wish Network has chosen Katie as a Hero of the Month for January 2014. Congratulations Katie - we are all so proud of you! Here is some of Katie's story:
Katie is a 20 year old girl who has been receiving services at Rocking Horse Rehab on and off for the past 8 Years. Born in Russia, she and her twin brother were placed in an orphanage. Luckily, both children were adopted by their forever family as toddlers and came to the United States at age 4.
Katie struggles with a learning disability and severe anxiety that interferes with family and peer relationships as well as school performance. When Katie perseverates, that is, worries non-stop, asks questions incessantly and is unable to change the subject, she is very challenging to be around. This is particularly difficult during the holiday season and times of transition.
Recently, her family has had to face some stressful situations and Katie has come through like a trooper. She has been practicing her calming skills, keeping her focus on her own responsibilities and has even been helpful to her family. Additionally, this is the first year that Katie was not overwhelmed during the holiday season, making family life so much more enjoyable for her and her family. Watching her grow and take on more adult responsibilities has been wonderful. This has been Katie's year to shine. For these reasons, we nominated Katie for Hero of the Month.
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Volunteer of the Month
Allie
Allie was Kathy's social work intern for the summer of 2015. During her time with us, Allie learned a lot about our horses and was able to make an impact in several of our clients' lives. Recently, Allie had the opportunity to volunteer in South Africa.
Although Allie has finished her internship, she will be returning this summer to volunteer. We are very thankful to have her help us out again!
To become a volunteer, email:
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Check out our partner: The Autism Think Tank
The Autism Think Tank, NJ
is designed to provide a multidisciplinary team approach to the identification and treatment of the complicated medical comorbidities of autism. The Autism Think Tank is comprised of leading
experts in autism from renowned teaching hospitals including Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital and UCLA.
At the Autism Think Tank, the medical experts collaborate from around the U.S. in a video conference with local physicians and families to develop a cohesive plan of care for individuals with medically complex cases of autism. Medically stabilizing a child facilitates greater outcomes in behavioral, therapeutic and educational interventions. The Autism Think Tank has a global reach as we are serving families internationally with the use of telemedicine.
Like them on Facebook!
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University Partners
Thank you to the following universities and colleges for providing us with wonderful student interns. We are honored to help influence their futures in the health professions as fieldwork educators.
County College of Morris
Delaware University
Eastwick College
Farleigh Dickinson University
Felician College
Ithaca College
Kean University
Montclair State University
New Jersey City University
Quinnipiac Univesity
Rutgers University
Salus University
Seton Hall University
State College of Pennsylvania
St. Catherine's University
Stockton College
Tauro College
Thomas Jefferson University
University of Scranton
William Paterson University
To complete an internship at RHR, email:
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School field trips and individual treatment times available!
Rocking Horse Rehab is open
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm
and Sundays from 9am-5pm.
We have immediate openings for speech therapy on Sunday and Thursday
afternoons and occupational therapy on Monday afternoons.
SCHOOLS: TO BOOK A SPRING FIELD TRIP, CALL US NOW!
To request a client registration packet, email:
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NJ Family
Favorite Kids' Docs 2015
Congratulations to our RHR
therapists
who have been voted
NJ's Favorite Kids' Docs
Kathy Lutz, LCSW, CADC
Sheri Marino, MA, CCC-SLP
Kimberly Kones, MS, OT
Fiana Bezpalko, MS, CCC-SLP
Doreen Cruz, MS, CCC-SLP
Check out the December issue of NJ Family magazine for more details.
View the full list here!
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Mission Statement
Rocking Horse Rehab is a pediatric rehabilitation and family wellness center located within the Essex Equestrian Center in West Orange, NJ. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of individuals with special needs and their families by offering innovative opportunities for clinical, educational and social development. Our philosophy is to treat the "whole child" using equine assisted therapies with the expertise of our highly specialized staff.
Visit us on the web!
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About our Founder
Sheri A. Marino, MA, CCC-SLP
Sheri founded Rocking Horse Rehab in September 2001. She is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. Sheri oversees program development and daily operations for RHR with the support of a dedicated, professional staff. She is the Executive Director of The Autism Think Tank, NJ, a non-profit, medical videoconferencing team for individuals with medically complex autism. Sheri
works directly with the Autism Think Tank medical experts and the families, and
manages fundraising, marketing and family events. In addition, she is the Strategic Planning Director for the Focus For Health Foundation which is dedicated to promoting advocacy, education and research to combat chronic health issues around the world.
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Rocking Horse Rehab is a proud member of
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12-22 Woodland Ave. West Orange, NJ 07052
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