Early Matters E-Newsletter October 2016 Wow! This has been such a fun month so far and we are only on Day 5! (When I wrote this.) It has been wonderful to see all of the Down Syndrome Awareness going on through Facebook. I’m sure it is also happening face-to-face and through the schools. There is a lot of informaon that you are welcome to pull off of the DSAGC website at www.dsagc.com if you are looking for more material. Also, if you have quesons or would like to fact check then just let me know. I am happy to look into these quesons for you. (I wish I knew all the answers, but I don’t.) I have a few excing announcements to make! 1. Hospital Care Packages - I am so excited that this project has made it to fruion! We have received a grant and an amazing company donaon to finish the care packages. More informaon below! 2. Emergency Fund - Each year, the DSAGC keeps aside a pocket of money to help families during emergency situaons. This year this fund has not been ulized much. More informaon below! 3. DSAGC Early Maers Facebook Page - I have had the request from families that they would like to learn from parents throughout the ages within the Early Maers Program (0-5 yrs). So this is a great way we can all learn from one another! I look forward to seeing you there! Here’s the link to the group. Thank you, Jena Wells (Early Maers Coordinator)
Transcript
Early Matters E-Newsletter October 2016
Wow! This has been such a fun month so far and we are only on Day 5! (When I wrote this.) It has been
wonderful to see all of the Down Syndrome Awareness going on through Facebook. I’m sure it is also
happening face-to-face and through the schools. There is a lot of information that you are welcome to pull
off of the DSAGC website at www.dsagc.com if you are looking for more material. Also, if you have questions
or would like to fact check then just let me know. I am happy to look into these questions for you. (I wish I
knew all the answers, but I don’t.)
I have a few exciting announcements to make!
1. Hospital Care Packages - I am so excited that this project has made it to fruition! We have received a
grant and an amazing company donation to finish the care packages. More information below!
2. Emergency Fund - Each year, the DSAGC keeps aside a pocket of money to help families during
emergency situations. This year this fund has not been utilized much. More information below!
3. DSAGC Early Matters Facebook Page - I have had the request from families that they would like to learn
from parents throughout the ages within the Early Matters Program (0-5 yrs). So this is a great way we
can all learn from one another! I look forward to seeing you there! Here’s the link to the group.
Along with Down Syndrome Awareness Month…October is also Physical Therapy Month! So what better way to celebrate both, than to learn about how Physical Therapy supports and helps our children with Down syndrome? Please see below:
How can Physical Therapy help my child?
Your child’s physical therapist can be an important partner in health care and fitness for anyone diagnosed with Down syndrome (DS). PT’s help people with DS to gain strength and movement to function at their best throughout all stages of their lives. PT may be provided in your home or at another location such as a community center, school, or a physical therapy outpatient clinic. The goal of PT for your child is not to accelerate attainment of gross motor skills (“walking sooner”, for example), as is sometimes thought. Rather, children with DS are prone to developing ways of moving to compensate for their hypotonia, decreased strength, altered posture, and lax ligaments. The overarching goal of PT is to minimize these compensations, showing kids new and healthier ways to move and function, to lessen the likelihood of orthopedic and functional challenges in their future. What can I expect during a PT evaluation? Birth and developmental history. We will talk about your child's birth and developmental stages (the
age he/she held the head upright, rolled over, sat up, crawled, walked, etc). General health questions. We may ask you about things like: Has your child been sick or
hospitalized? When did your child last visit a physician health care provider? Were any health concerns shared with you during that visit?
Parental concerns. We will ask about your chief concerns. What are you worried about? What do you hope to accomplish first in therapy?
Physical examination. We may include measuring the child's height and weight; observing movement patterns; making a hands-on assessment of muscle strength, tone, and flexibility; and testing your child's balance and coordination.
Motor development tests. We will perform specific tests to determine your child's motor development, such as sitting, crawling, pulling up to standing, and walking. We will also use our observational skills to assess these abilities. We also may screen your child's hand use, vision, language skills, intellect, and other areas of development.
Referrals. We may refer you to other health care professionals who can participate in a team effort to address your child's needs.
At your child’s physical therapy sessions, PT’s will work with your child to improve muscle strength, balance, coordination, and movement skills to improve daily activities and quality of life.
Physical Therapy
What can I expect in our PT treatment sessions?
Improving strength. We will teach you and your child exercises to increase muscle strength, making these activities fun and accessible. As your child grows, we will maintain awareness of increased risk of obesity and the need to increase heart health, and we will add/change the activities to reflect this.
Improving developmental skills. We will help your child learn to master motor skills such as crawling, pulling to standing, and walking. Research has shown that infants with DS can benefit from such activities as walking on a treadmill. PT’s can help you support your child's movement development by providing hands-on training for positioning, movement, feeding, and play. We also may suggest changes at home to encourage these skills.
Improving balance and coordination. We may use equipment such as a steps, benches, or exercise balls to improve your child's ability to hold his head erect or to maintain a sitting position. Bilateral coordination skills, such as jumping, skipping, and dribbling a ball may be incorporated into therapy.
Equipment needs and alternative techniques. We will assess and discuss with you the appropriateness of different equipment choices and orthoses needs as they arise. Examples are orthoses, gait trainers, kinesiotaping, parent-driven walking aids, etc.
Improving physical fitness. We will help determine the specific exercises, diet, and community involvement that can promote healthy living choices and prevent complications of DS such as activity limitations and decreased participation with siblings or peers.
So, the bottom line is, please ask your child’s PT anything, anytime. All questions are welcome and always helpful, even if we’ve talked about something before. The more we know from you and about your child, the better our sessions will be for all of us, and the greater our successes can be. Written by: Michelle Day, PT at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Division of Occupational and Physical Therapy, Division of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, Thomas Center for Down Syndrome References: PT’s Guide to Down Syndrome (n.a.), (http://www.moveforwardpt.com/), March 2013 Gross Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. Patricia C. Winders. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. (1997)
Intended for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is proud to present TCT’s first ever Sensory-
Friendly performances, intended for individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as people with other developmental or cognitive disabilities who may benefit and their
families.
To create a Sensory-Friendly performance, the show is being performed in a welcoming, supportive environment for those with sensory challenges. Slight
adjustments to lighting and sound will be made for the performance. Effects such as fog, strobes, and lights that extend into the audience will be minimalized. In the
downstairs theater lobby, there will be an area staffed by specialists in the field where you and your child can take a break from the performance.
A downloadable Social Narrative (in Word format) with pictures of the theatre and the production will be available on our website, designed to personalize the experience for individuals wishing to prepare for the show. Additional resources for this performance, such as a Character Guide, and a Guide to Attending the Show will also be available
here on our website approximately one week before each show.
The designated “sensory-friendly” performance will occur during the Monday 12:30 pm performance for each production.
Alice in Wonderland: Monday, October 17 at 12:30 PM
Elf The Musical JR.: Monday, December 12 at 12:30 PM
The Wizard of Oz: Monday, February 13 at 12:30 PM
Tarzan the Stage Musical Based on the Disney Film: Monday, April 10 at 12:30 PM
Questions about booking? Please call Pam Young at 513.569.8080 ext. 13 or
