Coral Gables: Programs for Children with Developmental Challenges

Coral Gables provides a range of therapeutic and intervention programs for children with developmental challenges, aiming to improve communication, social interaction, academic readiness and independence.

The First Step Program offers intensive, individualized intervention for children with various developmental challenges. It requires a minimum of fourteen hours of intervention per week. Family support and training are integral components of this program, with additional intervention time available upon request.

For younger children, the Next Step Summer Program targets ages 4-7, focusing on language development, social interaction and academic support. This program aims to enhance language and communication skills while reinforcing school readiness.

The Little Steps Big Rewards Program helps children with communication challenges develop social interaction, play, emergent literacy, language and phonemic awareness, building their confidence.

Specialized therapies include Speech-Language Therapy for sound production or language difficulties; Occupational Therapy to improve independence in daily activities; Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)/Verbal Behavior, an intensive one-to-one program tailored to individual needs; and Oral-Motor Therapy to improve oral muscle function for clearer speech and better feeding. The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) provides an alternative communication method for children with deficits, enabling them to initiate communication in social contexts. Behavioral Intervention Therapy uses proactive strategies to manage maladaptive behaviors and replace them with functional ones, improving quality of life for children and their families.