Advance Wellness and Education Center

Advance Wellness and Education Center Serving children in Butler and Armstrong Counties in their home environments and our friendly outpat We accept insurances and private pay.

The AWE center is a family friendly pediatric therapy and tutoring center. Our mission is "Empowering Children and Their Families to Find Solutions." We offer physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and special instruction services to children through Early Intervention 0-3 program in Butler and Armstrong Counties. In our clinic we offer PT,OT and speech therapy to children birth to 21 years of age. Tutoring, wellness classes, and positioning/mobility assessments are also available.

🐻 Pediatric PT Tip of the Week: Getting Your Baby to Crawl!Crawling is an important milestone that builds strength, coor...
10/26/2025

🐻 Pediatric PT Tip of the Week: Getting Your Baby to Crawl!

Crawling is an important milestone that builds strength, coordination, and sets the foundation for walking!

Here’s how to encourage it:
1. Tummy Time Every Day: Place your baby on their tummy several times a day while awake. It strengthens their shoulders, arms, and core — all needed for crawling!
2. Use Motivation Wisely: Put favorite toys or mirrors just out of reach to encourage forward movement.
3. Try a Rolled-Up Towel Trick: Place a small rolled towel or nursing pillow under their chest to help them lift up and bear weight through their arms.
4. Mix Up the Surface: Let your baby play on blankets, rugs, or foam mats to build balance and sensory awareness.
5. Join the Fun: Get down on the floor and model crawling — babies love to imitate!

💚 If your baby isn’t showing interest in crawling or seems frustrated during tummy time, come see us at Advance Wellness and Education Center for a personalized developmental check and guidance!

10/18/2025

🌟 We’d love to hear from you!
If you’ve had a great experience with our team at Advance Wellness and Education Center, please take a moment to leave us a Facebook review! Your feedback helps other families discover the care and support we provide every day. 💬💙
👉 Tap “Reviews” on our page to share your thoughts!

🗣️ Speech Tip of the Week: EXPECTANT WAITING!Think of it like a roller coaster climbing up that big hill — the pause rig...
10/16/2025

🗣️ Speech Tip of the Week: EXPECTANT WAITING!

Think of it like a roller coaster climbing up that big hill — the pause right before the exciting drop! 🎢

That anticipation is exactly what we want kids to feel before they imitate an action or use a word.

✨ Try this:
• When you stop blowing bubbles, pause and say, “Oh, you want more bubbles? More…?”
• Or when rolling a toy car, say “Ready, set…” and wait for your child to say “Go!” 🚗💨

That little pause builds excitement, keeps their attention, and encourages them to use language or gestures to communicate what they want.

💡 Tip: The key is to pause just long enough for your child to take the lead — their response is the magic moment!

10/11/2025

🎉 Help us reach 500 followers! 🎉

We’re so thankful for all the support from our amazing families, clients, and community 💙 To celebrate this milestone, we’ll be doing a gift card giveaway once we reach 500 followers!

👉 All you have to do is follow our page for your chance to win!
Help us spread the word — share this post and invite your friends to follow Advance Wellness and Education Center!

You can also follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on tips, events, and all the fun happening at the clinic! 📸

Thank you for continuing to support our mission to help children and families thrive 💫

🎃 OT Tip of the Week: Pumpkin Power Play! 🎃This October, our pediatric OTs at Advance Wellness and Education Center are ...
10/09/2025

🎃 OT Tip of the Week: Pumpkin Power Play! 🎃

This October, our pediatric OTs at Advance Wellness and Education Center are turning pumpkins into fine motor fun! 💪✨

Try decorating mini pumpkins with stickers, pushpins, yarn, or Mr. Potato Head pieces — no carving needed!

🍂 Builds:
🖐 Fine motor strength & precision: pushing in pieces or peeling stickers
🤲 Bilateral coordination: holding the pumpkin steady while decorating
👀 Visual-motor skills: placing pieces with control and accuracy
👃 Tactile sensory exploration: feeling the smooth, bumpy, or sticky textures

Bonus: Scoop out real pumpkin seeds for extra hand-strength fun (and a little messy sensory play 😉).

10/07/2025

🎉 October is Physical Therapy Month! 🎉

We’re celebrating our amazing PT team — Becki, Michelle, Jess, and Ellen — who help our pediatric clients grow stronger, move with confidence, and reach new milestones every day! 🌟

From first steps to playground skills, our physical therapists make movement fun while helping kids build strength, balance, and coordination — all through play! 💪💙

Let’s hear it for our incredible PT team who keep our little ones moving, learning, and thriving! Drop a 💪 or 💙 in the comments to show your appreciation for our amazing PT team! 🙌

10/07/2025

We’re excited to share that we have immediate pediatric occupational therapy openings available every other Tuesday at 4:45 PM for 45-minute sessions! 💙

Our outpatient pediatric OT sessions are play-based and personalized to help children gain confidence and independence in everyday activities.

Here are just a few areas we focus on:
🖍️ Fine motor skills (handwriting, grasp, cutting)
🎯 Hand-eye coordination and visual-motor integration
🧩 Sensory processing and self-regulation
🍎 Feeding skills and picky eating support
👕 Independence with daily routines (dressing, feeding, etc.)
🤸 Strength, balance, and motor planning

If your child could benefit from extra support in these areas, we’d love to help!
📅 Contact us today to reserve this limited spot — these openings go fast!

IEP vs. 504 Plan: What’s the Difference? ✏️✨If you’re navigating school supports for a child with disabilities, here’s a...
10/04/2025

IEP vs. 504 Plan: What’s the Difference? ✏️✨
If you’re navigating school supports for a child with disabilities, here’s a quick breakdown:

🧩 Governing Law
• IEP – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• 504 Plan – Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (civil rights law)

🧠 Purpose
• IEP – Special education & individualized instruction
• 504 Plan – Accommodations for equal access (doesn’t change instruction)

✅ Eligibility
• IEP – Must have 1 of 13 qualifying disabilities and need special education
• 504 Plan – Any disability that substantially limits a major life activity

🛠️ Services
• IEP – Special education, related therapies, measurable goals, yearly reviews
• 504 Plan – Classroom accommodations (extra test time, seating, assistive tech)

📝 Documentation
• IEP – Detailed, legally binding plan with goals & progress tracking
• 504 Plan – Less formal; lists accommodations & implementation steps

👥 Team Involvement
• IEP – Parents, teachers, school psychologist; annual meeting required
• 504 Plan – Smaller team; periodic reviews recommended

⸻

🎯 Bottom line:
An IEP provides specialized instruction.
A 504 Plan ensures access through accommodations.

✅ Steps to High-Quality IEP Goals1️⃣ Review the PLAAFP🔎 Start with the Present Levels of Academic Achievement & Function...
09/25/2025

✅ Steps to High-Quality IEP Goals

1️⃣ Review the PLAAFP
🔎 Start with the Present Levels of Academic Achievement & Functional Performance.
Ask: strengths, barriers, missing skills.
✨ Quality Tip: If a goal isn’t tied to a PLAAFP need, it doesn’t belong.

2️⃣ Prioritize Needs
🎯 Focus on skills that boost independence, access grade-level curriculum, and support behavior/function.
✨ Quality Tip: Fewer, focused goals = deeper instruction + better progress.

3️⃣ Write SMART Goals
Specific • Measurable • Attainable • Relevant • Time-bound
Include: condition, observable behavior, mastery criteria, timeframe.

4️⃣ Align with Standards (when appropriate)
📚 Connect to grade-level standards while tailoring to the student’s level of access.
✨ Quality Tip: Keeps goals meaningful and academic.

5️⃣ Use Clear, Observable Language
Use action verbs—identify, write, solve, label, state.
✨ Quality Tip: If two team members couldn’t measure it the same way, rewrite it.

6️⃣ Determine Progress Monitoring
📊 Decide how and how often you’ll collect data (rubrics, work samples, observations).
✨ Quality Tip: Pick methods that are sustainable and meaningful.

💡 Remember: 3–5 well-written goals beat 10 vague ones every time.

💬 Need help crafting the right goals for your child’s IEP?
📅 Schedule a consult with our IEP Coach, Ashley, today!

🌟 Teaching Kids to Walk Up & Down Steps Safely 🌟Learning to navigate stairs independently is a big milestone! Here are s...
09/11/2025

🌟 Teaching Kids to Walk Up & Down Steps Safely 🌟

Learning to navigate stairs independently is a big milestone! Here are some fun and safe strategies to support your child:

👣 Start Small – Practice on a few steps before moving to a full staircase.
🤲 Use the Rail – Encourage one hand on the railing for balance.
👟 Step-to Pattern – Teach your child to bring both feet to the same step before moving to the next.
🧸 Carry a Small Soft Toy – Holding a lightweight toy can encourage steady, calm movement.
🎯 Add a Target – Place a sticker or piece of tape on each step to guide where their feet should go.
💪 Model First – Show them how you walk up and down slowly and carefully.
✨ Celebrate Success – Praise their effort and progress, even if they need reminders.

📈 Stair Climbing Milestones
• Around 18 months: Walks up steps with support, using a hand or rail.
• Around 2 years: Walks up and down stairs using a step-to pattern (two feet per step), holding rail.
• Around 3 years: Begins alternating feet going up (may still step-to when going down).
• Around 4 years: Walks up and down stairs alternating feet without support.

Safety first—stay close by until they’re ready to do it all on their own! 💛

✨ Encouraging Conversational Skills ✨For many children, learning how to carry a back-and-forth conversation can feel ove...
09/05/2025

✨ Encouraging Conversational Skills ✨

For many children, learning how to carry a back-and-forth conversation can feel overwhelming. But with the right support, it can also become exciting and engaging! 💬💡

Here are a few strategies you can try at home:

📖 Stories – Build a story together, taking turns to add new characters, events, or silly twists. This helps children practice listening, responding, and expanding ideas.

👀 Visuals – Use pictures from books, magazines, or even family photos to spark conversation. Encourage your child to comment, describe, or ask questions.

🎭 Role Play – Pretend play (like playing “restaurant” or “doctor”) naturally encourages children to take on roles, respond to others, and practice real-life conversational skills.

🌟 Why it matters: These playful activities don’t just make conversations easier—they build social confidence, listening skills, and stronger connections with others.

Remember: progress happens in small steps. Consistent, supportive practice can make a big difference in helping your child grow into a confident communicator! 💕

BACK TO SCHOOL! 🎒✏️This time of year can be both exciting and stressful for students and parents alike.Sleep deprivation...
08/15/2025

BACK TO SCHOOL! 🎒✏️

This time of year can be both exciting and stressful for students and parents alike.
Sleep deprivation, meltdowns, tantrums, and sensory overload are all common—especially in those first few weeks.

Here are some ideas to help make the transition back to the school routine a little smoother:

⸻

1️⃣ Practice “dry run” school mornings
Don’t wait until the first day to wake them up early. If you can, start a week (or at least a few days) ahead of time. Practice getting up, dressed, and eating breakfast by the time they’ll need to be ready for the bus or drop-off.

2️⃣ Match the school meal schedule
If your child’s school has set snack/lunch times, try to follow that schedule at home in the days leading up to school. For younger students (K–2), have them practice opening their lunch containers—juice boxes, Tupperware, baggies—so they feel confident at mealtime.

3️⃣ Ease into bedtime
Shift bedtime earlier before the night before school starts. A gradual adjustment will make those early mornings much easier.

4️⃣ Lighten the load after school
Especially in the first week (or first two weeks for Kindergarten), keep after-school activities minimal. School days are full of stimulation, and their bodies need time to adjust. If your child is melting down after school, try:
• Giving them space
• Quiet white noise and dim lighting
• “Heavy work” activities (crashing into pillows, carrying laundry)
• A thick drink through a straw
You might be excited to hear all about their day—but for kids on sensory overload, lots of questions right away can push them over the edge. Offer a snack, let them decompress, and let them share when they’re ready.

5️⃣ End the night on a calm note
Try a warm bath, calming scents (lavender, vanilla, chamomile), and big hugs or squeezes to help their bodies relax before sleep.

⸻

✨ Wishing you and your kiddos a smooth, happy, and meltdown-minimized start to the school year!

Address

105 S Pike Road
Sarver, PA
16055

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 6pm
Thursday 8:30am - 6pm
Friday 8:30am - 6pm

Telephone

(724) 353-3330

Website

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