Comments from Lorraine

Therapy for Children with Special Needs

Many of the children at FHC have Special Needs. A big part of the program is evaluating the children to determine if developmental delays exist and providing them with the help they need to function at the highest level possible. The Tia's work with the children in small groups on a daily basis. Each baby receives a full series of exercises to stimulate vision, hearing speech and physical development. If delays are noted they children are often referred to a local doctor who has donated his services without charge for to FHC for nineteen years.The child is evaluated and provided services by the FHC staff Psychologist or Physical Therapist.

Many opportunities exist for formal and informal therapies. FHS has a heated indoor therapy pool. Several members of our team had experiences with groups of children in the therapy pool. One group of teen age girls had very limited motor abilities and communicated with just sounds and body language. We learned to watch their expressions for signs of enjoyment or possibly fear. It was a new situation for us as adults. We felt as if God was working with us us as we tried to figure out what would work best. Sometimes they just wanted to be held and rocked. It was a joy to watch the girls move and laugh and splash with a freedom they cannot experience outside the pool.

A community group provided horse back riding therapy for children weekly at about half their usual rate. The large size and rhythm of the horse provides a secure sense of movement for children with a variety on special needs.

One day we saw the Physical Therapist teaching a group of toddlers how to walk. She had lined up the adult sized dining room chairs and had the children "cruising" from chair to chair.

The picture at the top of this section is of Clarita who is seven months old. She missed some of the milestones that are typical of a six month old so she receives individual physical therapy. The therapist is supporting Clarita in learning how to roll over and sit independently. She also does activities to stimulate her speech, hearing and vision. Look at the pictures with the blue exercise ball and you will see Clarita and the therapist working together. clarita does not need any help with her ability to smile!

The current economy has resulted in difficult budget conditions for FHC. They do not receive any government assistance for the children. One of the current concerns is the cost of the many hours of therapy needed to help the children function as capably and happily as possible.

Lorraine