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Adaptive Equipment 101 (for Non-Ambulatory Children)
Equipment overload!! If your child is not able to walk, chances are that his/her physical therapist has suggested, or even tried, a variety adaptive equipment. There are so many types of adaptive equipment and at times it can really feel like your home has been invaded by all of them. So what is each piece of equipment for and what does it look like? 1. Adaptive Activity Chair Activity Chairs are used for children who may have inadequate head or trunk control, are unable to sit up on their own or cannot sit in a regular chair for a variety of other reasons. They can be customized with headrests, lateral trunk supports,…
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Wheelchair for Your Young Child – How do you choose the right one?
If your young child is unable to walk yet or has a permanent disability you may be using a baby/toddler stroller to get them around. Our son had poor trunk control and was unable to sit up on his own until the age of three. I was always looking at the latest strollers wondering if it would have just a little more support than our current one. I thought, “If it did, we may not ultimately have to get a wheelchair”. We ended up going through a variety of strollers. Eventually, our son became to tall to comfortably sit in any of them and we came to terms with the…
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Transitioning from Early intervention to Preschool
Just when you finally became comfortable with having therapists and teachers in and out of your home…it’s time to transition to preschool services!! Time certainly does fly, doesn’t it? Depending on your state this may be called “Preschool” or “3-5 services” or something else depending on which state you live in. In many states it is mandatory that these services take place in a school-based setting and other states may have options to extend home services for this age group (3 – 5 years old). Your early intervention team will help guide you through this process but it’s helpful to do your homework if you can. Around six months before…
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Your first IEP meeting
Tips for surviving your first IEP meeting You may be receiving early intervention services, or maybe you just learned your child hasn’t reached a particular milestone yet. In any case, developing an appropriate IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for your child can seem complicated. Here are some tips to help you prepare and make the process flow smoother. The IEP meeting date should be convenient for you, the parent(s). You are a major player in this game so the meeting date/time should take your schedule into account. Remember, if your child has multiple therapists/teachers finding a convenient time for all of them to meet can be tricky so if your schedule…
