Meeting the Needs of Children and Families: Part One

Name: Natalie TokmakProfessor: Chris CadieuxDue: Week 9

Introduction to Family & Needs• Delilah (4 years old) has

Cerebral Palsy• Affects the left side of her body

& ability to articulate words• Has a younger sister (Sophie, 6

months)• Delilah gets frustrated when

others don’t understand what she is trying to say

• Parents are new to Toronto & want to know about the services here

Delilah & her Family

Needs• Services for

Delilah’s communication skills (Speech-Language Pathologist)

• Child care for Sophie

• Housing• Networking

(Meeting new people)

• Schools

Facts

Medications/surgery cannot cure Cerebral Palsy

Not hereditaryNot contagiousNot progressiveIntervention strategies available if

diagnosed early

Housing in Toronto/Jobs

JOBS:

Visit http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/intro-eng.aspx to find jobs that are available

HOUSING:

-Go to real estate agencies for information on the best areas to buy a house/apartment-More information:http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=05d407ceb6f8e310VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

Schools/Child Cares in Toronto

Schools/Child cares for Delilah (4-years-old)and Sophie (6 months old):

SCHOOLS:o St. Margaret’s Public SchooloQueen Victoria Jr. Public School

CHILDCARE:oMontrose Child Care Centre

-Non-profit/licensed, located in Montrose Public School.

Treatments

Speech-Language Pathologist

• Work with adults and children who have communication/language disorders, chewing/swallowing difficulties, voice/resonance problems, and stuttering. (http://www.shans.ca/our-professionals/speech-language-pathology/)

• Work with people who have physical disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, voice problems, stuttering, etc.

Who do they work with?• Babies• Children• Adults

How can they help a child with Cerebral Palsy?• Assessing the child, observing, come up with methods and

treatments to meet the child’s need

What do they do?

Rehabilitation Clinics

-Rehabilitation clinic in Toronto that specialize in helping children with Cerebral Palsy and other disorders gain their physical independency

For more info: http://www.healthinmotionrehab.com/

A Bit About Cerebral Palsyo This term describes a group of disorders that affects

movemento Motor areas in brain disrupts ability to control

movement/postureo Can be identified in children as early as 3 years oldo Does not worsen over time

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Symptomso Difficulty with fine motor tasks (i.e.

writing)o Difficulty walking/balancingo Involuntary reflexeso Seizureso Damage to sight, hearing or speecho Unusual sensation/perceptiono Muscle tightness/spasms

Hemiplegia:o One side of body is

affected; arm more so than the leg.

Different Types of Movement Disorders

Spastic Cerebral Palsy:-most common-70 – 80% of children affected-muscles are in a constant state of involuntary reflexes

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy:-slow/uncontrolled movement-10-20% of individuals affected

Axatic (Ataxia) Cerebral Palsy:-Rare-balance, depth perception and co-ordination is affected-Unsteady walk and feet are very far apart-5-10%

Mixed Forms:-most common Spastic & Athetoid

Characteristics of Cerebral Palsy

Speech, physical limitations, learning/intellectual disability, visual/hearing, brain injury, etc.

Sensory losses/behaviour/social issues

Some more severe than othersMedical and Educational

implications

Causes

-Infections during pregnancy-Insufficient oxygen to the fetus-Prematurity-Blood diseases/Rh Disease-Severe jaundice

Modifications to Physical Environment

• Accessibility to all toys available to the children

• Ensure environment is safe

• Making sure all clutter is cleared away so child can move with ease within the classroom

• Books on Sign Language• Incorporate social

activities for all children

Teaching Strategies

1. Sign language2. Speech program3. Position changing due to muscle fatigue

and stiffness4. Limit amount of instruction to key points so

Delilah can follow along easier5. Keep an agenda of daily routine6. “low level cues” for transitions

Agency for Delilah’s family

Agency: Health in Motion Rehabilitation

“No child is seen as handicapped; therefore, we

build on his ability, and not his disability.” (http

://www.healthinmotionrehab.com

/)

Agency for Delilah’s family (Cont.)

Contact Info:• Phone: 416-250-1904• Fax: 416-250-8805• Email: info@heathinmotionrehab.com• Address: Health in Motion Rehabilitation

4256 Bathurst Street, Suite 204 Toronto, Ontario M3H 5Y8

• Hours: Mon – Fri 9:00am – 9:00pm

Closed on Holidays

Additional info:• Website:

www.healthinmotionrehab.com

• Director: Natan Gendelman

Self-Evaluation

Challenges:• Managing my time between

this assignment and all of the other assignments due

• Not knowing much about Cerebral Palsy until researching it for this assignment

Strengths:• Finding information• Gained new knowledge on

Cerebral Palsy• Importance of inclusion as a

global citizen

BIBLIOGRAPHY

For references/quotes and Images (in Notes Page)