Progressive Steps

Our developmental specialist, Claudia has been working with our twin girls for more than a year now and my husband and I have been amazed with how receptive the girls have been to her teaching strategies. She is warm, loving and extremely attentive to both of the children and their reaction to her arrival at our front door is priceless. One of our girls is a bit shy around people and she literally starts clapping and jumping when Claudia walks through the front door. Their sessions are back-​to-​back and the girls usually race to Claudia to try to be the first to work with her when she arrives. While she works with one baby, the other baby looks on in admiration and anticipation of their turn to sing songs, interact with the new toys that she has brought to the session and to get that one-​on-​one uninterrupted time with Claudia. My husband and I are always kept in the loop with exactly how well the girls are doing and ideas for how to help them continue to grow and meet important milestones. So far our work with Progressive Steps and the regional center has been seamless. We feel very fortunate to have found this agency.

My son has been a client of Progressive Steps for 2 ½ years and we have had nothing but wonderful experiences with them. The staff not only provides the services for my son but has been an incredible support system for me when I have needed advice. When we began with Progressive Steps, we were paying for services ourselves, but when it was clear that my son was eligible for Regional Center services, they advised me to get him reassessed and provided the reports. On the other side, they have always been honest with me when my son did not need help in a certain area, or no longer needed a specific service. The therapists have always been fantastic with my son (even when his behavior was sometimes challenging) and they helped me to deal with those behaviors. After every session, each therapist reviewed what they had done that day and ways I could continue to the work during the rest of the week. For each reporting period, the therapists reviewed the assessments with me and helped me to prepare goals for the upcoming 6 months. The social skills group (pre-​preschool) that they have for 2 year olds has done wonders for him as well. It has really helped to prepare him for preschool. We are at the point, where my son is turning 3 and it is time to move on to the school system. I kinda feel like I am losing a second home. Thanks Progressive Steps!!!

We have had a great experience with Progressive Steps. Nathalie has been working with our four children for a couple of years and is fantastic. She recognizes what each of them needs to work on and comes up with creative, innovative ways to teach them. She has also provided me with great advice on how to work with my children between sessions. She is simply outstanding! Our children cannot wait to see her each week.

This review is not based on the actual therapists who work for Progressive Steps Inc. in Santa Clarita, CA because I never got the chance to even get through the door to meet them. This review is about their person in charge of the Santa Clarita, CA office, Cheryl Keehne.
Okay, so I am looking into private OT services for my child since in two years she’ll be starting private school where my husband works. I contacted my insurance company to see what my percentage of the cost would be as you have to do these days so there are no surprises when the medical bills come. I get my insurance info. that I need and decide to contact Progressive Steps Inc. of Santa Clarita, CA.
Unfortunately, at least how I feel now, Cheryl Keehne is the only point of contact for this organization for anything. I e-​mail the given e-​mail address on the Progressive Steps Inc. site asking how much speech services are from their company, (so that I could calculate my percentage of the cost minus my insurance’s). The response from Cheryl Keehne was: «Often times we can bill your private insurance for speech. Have you investigated this option? I can help you through the process. Also, some cases can be referred to your local special education preschool services by contacting your home school and requesting evaluation. Please contact my office if you need further information, or email me with you phone number and I will contact you.»
Hmm…where’s the answer to my question? Also, I don’t remember asking Cheryl Keehne to refer me to services outside of her organization but apparently since I asked what the costs for Progressive Steps Inc. services were Cheryl Keehne decided that I should just go local, AKA «free». The best part about her response was «if you need further information»…yes, I did… the cost.
Understanding that acceptance of medical insurance is new for Progressive Steps Inc. Cheryl Keehne might get a one-​time pass for her dismissive communication skills. However, the fact that I replied to her saying thanks but it’s apparent that she thinks I should look into services elsewhere and her reply to that was that I misunderstood her e-​mail, Cheryl Keehne gave a bad representation on what type of company would hire someone with such poor communication skills to be in charge of their image. Cheryl Keehne showed a lack of experience and expertise. I just can’t imagine that the organization who put her in charge is any different from that.
That being said, I didn’t even get a chance to get inside the building because of Cheryl Keehne so I don’t know about the services of the therapists.