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Woah! $5,350 has been donated already! We have been BLOWN away by the support of this project. Every dollar donated has a direct impact on our children and their families, and it means way more than we'll ever be able to say. So, thank you!
Today, we want to talk a little about our early oral intervention services related to our children with hearing loss. Yep, we provide those services, too! On staff, we also have an audiologist and two therapists who specialize in early oral intervention for children.
All of our therapy rooms are equipped with a state-of-the-art FM system that specifically removes additional "noise" and offers our children a very clear sound. But for our children with hearing loss, who have cochlear implants or aided hearing devices, we provide them with the ability to "plug" into these systems with their own FM receiver. With this, he or she can hear our therapists directly through the device!
If you watch the video closely, you can see the FM receivers that are plugged into Marco and Kemari's devices (HINT: They are the small square silver piece). These receivers allow for Marco and Kemari to be #CAPEable of typical activity in the classroom and on the playground - two places where ancillary noise can detract from direction and therapy methods.
When we say we could not do what we do without our generous donors, we really mean it. Personal receivers cost approximately $800 per ear and we provide them at no cost to our families. The FM Systems featured in our classrooms begin at $1,600.
Check out the video below to see the system in action!
Each therapy room at The Children's Center for Communication and Development is equipped to meet every need our children have, at the most basic and complex levels. This presents itself with seating, toys, technology and more!
You probably sit in your chair without thinking a whole lot about it. But at the Center, we think about seating as a place to start for learning. When a child is supported adequately by all factors related to space, their learning experience is elevated!
While we provide a variety of seating options to our children, the most basic form are our red, green, yellow and blue cube chairs!
We know our methods are more effective when our children have a strong understanding of their own space and these cubes help them to sit appropriately. These are also loaned to our families when needed in the home.
For a gift of $45, you can play a role in our story by providing adequate seating when we need to replace or send one home with a family!
Our world is drastically different by the joy, determination and courage that all of our children possess when they walk through the doors of The Children's Center for Communication and Development, and we want to share that with you!
Throughout the next 30 days, we'll share how we provide services to children, birth through five, who have complex communication needs and developmental disabilities. We'll share stories of triumph and celebration, the tools we use to help our children reach their great big milestones, and how you are #CAPEable of playing a part in our story! So, let's get started!
Starting from the beginning, we were established in 1974 as an early intervention program. The program has grown drastically since that initial year, but the intent of working with children who have special needs and providing a clinical component to University programming has stayed the same (more on that later).
Children enrolled at The Children's Center present a wide variety of special needs and diagnoses, ranging from (but not limited to) speech, hearing and language disorders, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome to autism spectrum disorder, rare genetic disorders, or other conditions related to premature birth.
It's no coincidence that as we launch this project today, it's also World Down Syndrome Day! Our friends with an extra chromosome are more alike than different and they show us daily that they are capable of everything they set their minds to do!
Here are a few facts about Down syndrome:
And because we love celebrating our children, we invite you to check out our video below!
Our children are children first, and we believe that all learning begins with play. All of our therapy rooms include a variety of toys that initiate play at many different levels.
Seating seems like a simple concept, but for many of our children it makes the biggest difference for meeting his or her potential level of learning. This specific chair is versatile for age and height.
Dedicated communication devices are very, very expensive. As technology continues to evolve, our therapists have modeled practices from all over the country that use the technology of iPads and apps in therapy. Many of our children communicate exclusively with the help of an iPad and several apps. As a Center, we loan iPads and apps to our children who need them throughout their time enrolled at the Center.
Dedicated communication devices are very, very expensive. As technology continues to evolve, our therapists have modeled practices from all over the country that use the technology of iPads and apps in therapy. Many of our children communicate exclusively with the help of an iPad and several apps. As a Center, we loan iPads and apps to our children who need them throughout their time enrolled at the Center.
Dedicated communication devices are very, very expensive. As technology continues to evolve, our therapists have modeled practices from all over the country that use the technology of iPads and apps in therapy. Many of our children communicate exclusively with the help of an iPad and several apps. As a Center, we loan iPads and apps to our children who need them throughout their time enrolled at the Center.
Mobility matters, and it's important that our children have the opportunity to play just like every other child. With the help of switches, PVC piping and simple wiring reconfigurations, our occupational therapists can turn an everyday Power Wheels vehicle into something our children can also use!
PODD stands for Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display. PODD books are an organized grouping of symbols that help our children communicate. Many of our children start with a beginner book that holds symbols and organization for basic needs and requests, while expanded books represent a larger base for communicating and may include customized images to the child's personality or home life.
We use the Crocodile Gait Trainer with our children who have mild to moderate physical involvement and support needs. This is just one type of walker/trainer that we use with our children. Like many of our resources, we loan these items out to our families who need them for the duration they are needed. Many insurance plans only cover one walker for a period of time. Because children grow so quickly at this age, it's easier on our families for us to loan out these items.
All of our rooms are equipped with a state of the art FM system that specifically removes additional "noise" and offers the listener a very clear sound. For our children with hearing loss who may have cochlear implants or aided hearing devices, they can "plug" into the system and hear their therapist directly through their own personal FM receiver which attaches to his or her device. This cost is per ear.
PODD stands for Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display. PODD books are an organized grouping of symbols that help our children communicate. Many of our children start with a beginner book that holds symbols and organization for basic needs and requests, while expanded books represent a larger base for communicating and may include customized images to the child's personality or home life.
The Kaye Suspension Walker supports a child's need to be fully weight-bearing or in a partial weight-bearing position for walking. It also includes a manually operated winch to help lift and lower the child to vary the amount of weight placed on his or her legs. Like many of our resources, we loan these items out to our families who need them for the duration they are needed. Many insurance plans only cover one walker for a period of time. Because children grow so quickly at this age, it's easier on our families for us to loan out these items.
All of our rooms are equipped with a state of the art FM system that specifically removes additional "noise" and offers the listener a very clear sound. For our children with hearing loss who may have cochlear implants or aided hearing devices, they can "plug" into the system and hear their therapist directly through their own personal device.
This computer is adapted to fit the child's needs - from the use of switches to software. This tool allows a child to communicate and play much like his or her peers, but in a way suited to him or her. (Estimate of cost includes a basic laptop, software, specialized keyboard and switches).
Rifton Pacer gait trainers are well-known for their modular design, durability and flexibility, all of which allow for our children to have independence and improved strength and confidence. This specific gait trainer has a few more bells and whistles for our children who may need more support. Like many of our resources, we loan these items out to our families who need them for the duration they are needed. Many insurance plans only cover one walker for a period of time. Because children grow so quickly at this age, it's easier on our families for us to loan out these items.