Intense Progress

Well, I'm exhausted.  AJ's exhausted.  And we have one more day until we can both collapse...although I'm sure he needs it more than I do at this point.

AJ has been participating in the Partners for Progress Intensive Therapy Program all this week.  Partners for Progress was started by Rona Alexander, PhD, CCC-SLP, C/NDT and Linda Kliebhan, PT C/NDT.  I've had a lot of questions about what exactly this intensive therapy week means/entails, etc.  I made sure suggest a website for the program, which I was thrilled to hear was already in the works!  For now, here is a tidbit taken from the brochure-I've added my own take on things in italics:

Partners for Progress (PFP):Is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting children with special needs and their families in improving functional abilities for maximum independence, quality of life,  and participation in home, school, and community.

PFP provides short-term intensive therapy programs which are designed to supplement community based or school based therapy programs by targeting specific functional activity, or by working through obstacles that may have caused a plateau or regression in function. 

Short-term intensives are individualized programs specifically designed to meet the needs of the child and his/her family in moving forward.  They include a combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech therapy and usually involve 4 hours or more of therapy per day over a 5 or 10 day period (we are doing 5 days).

Parents/caregivers and other family members participate as partners in short-term intensives, providing support, learning and developing carryover strategies and working through obstacles that impede progress.

Theraputic Philosophy:
PFP utilizes a combined therapeutic approach maximizing the backgrounds of the experienced staff.  Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT), Sensory Intergration, Manual Therapy, and other theraputic modalities are combined, incorporating state of the art theory in areas of motor learning and motor control.  Regardless of the functional outcome desired, programming focuses on buildng on the strengths of the child while minimizing problems/impairments that may interfere with progress. Short-term intensives may include emphasis on evaluating the effects of adaptive equipment for seating, mobility, or exercise, and other therapeutic modalities such as taping, compression garments, electrical stimulation, augmentative communciation devices, and splints/orthotics, including their role in programming and carryover at the completion of the intensive.

Staff: Rona and Linda ROCK.  They've both treated AJ in the past. Oops, that was an adlib from me.  Whoopies. 

PFP was developed by Linda Kliebhan and Rona Alexander, experienced pediatric therapists who for over 25 years have provided direct treatment for children with special needs including short-term intensives throughout the United States.  Both Linda and Rona are an intergral part of the planning, development, and implementation of the short-term intensive progreams at PFP.  They are joined by other experienced therapists from Wisconsin and other areas of the country....

Documentation and Communication with Other Professionals:A videotape, (pictures), (Powerpoint presentation), and a written summary will be provided to the family at the completion of the intensive, highlighting the areas of progress and strategies for continued carryover.  PFP staff will also be willing to speak directly with other professionals involved in regular programming for the child, when requested by the family.

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While I won't get into specifics today, I will say that AJ is making huge progress. INTENSE progress.  This week has most definitely been intense.  For AJ, for me, and for his awesome therapists.  There are a few kids participating that are out of state, and quite a few therapists that are out of state that have gathered for this week of therapy. 

This experience has been life-changing for me as a Special Needs Mom.    I am so proud of our little man. AJ has benefited from this program, and then some.  I can't even explain it.  When we started saving for the program, which is NOT covered by insurance, I was leary.  Of course I knew it would be good, c'mon.  It's Linda and Rona.  But I wasn't sure how AJ would fit and how it would help him specifically. 

I am SO glad we saved our pennies and were able to have AJ participate in this program.  SO GLAD.