We are absolutely delighted to introduce you to the two new pediatric occupational therapists who are helping TherAplay’s kiddos get stronger: Abigail and Jessica.

While Abigail is completely new to TherAplay, some of you may recognize Jessica from her clinical rotation last year.

With the addition of pediatric physical therapist Sam in 2012 and Abigail and Jessica more recently, we have room for new patients.

Do you know of a child who would benefit from treatment at TherAplay? 

We’ve made it even easier for new patients to get started!

Many times families contact us wondering if TherAplay is a good fit for their child and how they can get started. That’s why we created the Getting Started webpage. On it, visitors can:

• Learn about the parameters of our program
• Find the answers to commonly asked questions
• Download the patient referral form and TherAplay policies
• Walk through the three steps to referring a child for services at TherAplay 

And with our two new pediatric therapists, now's a great time to put that page to use! Visit our Getting Started page here.

The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Inc. exists for special needs children and their families but it exists because of our dedicated team of staff, volunteers, families, and supporters.

While each therapy session costs TherAplay $200, insurance generally pays less than half the cost, leaving a significant amount of money which must be made up for in other ways. You can see why community involvement is so vital to TherAplay and the children we serve.

Meet a company with heart

That’s why, each time the work crew from J.C. Hart Co. has walked into TherAplay over the past two years, there has been an audible sigh of relief heard throughout our clinic and barn. Our sprinkler system, pipes, filters, and spigots have all been on the receiving end of the Hart team’s expertise.

This April, for example, they gave our sprinkler system a much-needed spa treatment, removing, flushing, and cleaning every single sprinkler head in our enormous indoor arena. That’s a huge job, made even more impressive by the fact that all those sprinkler heads are 25 feet off the ground!

And J.C. Hart’s in-kind contribution adds up for TherAplay in dollars and cents as well. The generous donation of their time and talent means TherAplay is able to save much-needed funds and apply them to other parts of the program.

Three questions for J.C. Hart

TherAplay: Why does J.C. Hart choose to volunteer?

J.C. Hart: Volunteering is what makes our communities work. Whether it’s in your schools, your churches, or even putting on the Super Bowl, all civic organizations run with assistance from their volunteers. It is an opportunity to feel a part of something larger than yourself and to connect with other people – sometimes they are like minded, sometimes they are very different from yourself, but it’s still a human connection that makes you feel alive and that you’re making a difference in the world.

TherAplay: How did J.C. Hart get connected with TherAplay?

J.C. Hart: A few years ago, Ellen Annela, then CEO and President of United Way of Central Indiana, approached John Hart, the President and owner of J.C. Hart Co., to ask if he would become a contributor to United Way. John enthusiastically said yes and began encouraging the associates of J.C. Hart Company to also support United Way.

To introduce us to some of the many ways that United Way agencies serve their clients, United Way met a committee of J.C. Hart associates at Children’s TherAplay to tour the facilities and see firsthand some of the amazing work they do. The committee was blown away. We ended up having a very successful first United Way campaign and it all started with that tour of TherAplay!

TherAplay: What do you enjoy most about volunteering at TherAplay?

J.C. Hart: When you learn about the countless stories of how TherAplay has positively impacted the lives of children with Autism, Downs Syndrome and other developmental conditions, it makes you feel good knowing you’ve helped the people who are directly helping these children make these positive strides every day. That’s a pretty special feeling.

You may have noticed that that we at TherAplay do a lot of asking: asking for volunteers, asking for your donations, asking for your participation and your time.

Have you ever wondered why?

It’s because we know that every hour that is volunteered, every in-kind service that is provided, every donation that is made means more choices for special needs children here in Central Indiana.

Those of us at TherAplay see the positive strides forward these kiddos take when they come for therapy each week. But we realize you might not have that same opportunity. That’s why we want to share something special with you – this video.

We at TherAplay would like to put in writing, right here on the page, what is always, always in our hearts: Thank you. Because of your generosity, your gifts, your time, your support, we are able to continue doing what we do best, helping special needs kiddos get stronger. Thank you.

You might also enjoy these links and blog posts from TherAplay:

Meet our kiddos
 

 With $25,000 we all win!

From our Equine Ambassador Zippy: My Gift
 

We’re Giving Thanks for Cornerstone Autism Foundation and Their Grant for Our Therapeutic Listening Program!

Matthew and Troop 120 Soar Like Eagles!

Hoe-Down 2012: Together We Did It!

I love all the holidays but Thanksgiving has an extra special place in my heart. There’s something wonderful about the way our kiddos talk about it. Their eyes get big when they tell me about the wonderful sights and smells and tastes that are part of their families’ traditions.

I especially enjoy hearing about how so many of our kiddos and their families take a moment to share what they’re thankful for. In fact, it’s a tradition we horses have adopted here at the barn.

In the past, we haven’t really had a way to share our thanks with you but this blog has opened up a whole new world for us!

Each day for the next week we’ll post a note – some will be short, others longer – from one of my equine friends and that horse will have a chance to share what he or she is thankful for.

We’re not able to sit around the table, hold hands, and share our thanks in person with you this Thanksgiving, but we hope that our words will find their way across the blogosphere and into your heart this holiday season.

With that being said, I’d like to pass the keyboard to my good friend Nikki.

Nikki

I’m very thankful that I’ve fully recovered and am feeling so much better. The surgery and recovery period were pretty tough but even through all of that I could feel you cheering me on. That was pretty special and it fills my heart just thinking about it.

Many of you even pitched in to help fund my treatment. That’s something I’ll always be grateful for too. Thank you.

And I know I say this one every year, but I’m going to say it again because it’s true! I’m thankful to be here with my family doing what we do best: helping the kiddos.

Thank you all. And I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you are!

Nikki

We are blessed to have some of the best physical and occupational therapists on the planet. They’re always on the lookout for new ways to help our kiddos achieve their goals.

For instance once our therapists found out about therapeutic listening, there was no holding them back. Quicker than Gideon can gobble a carrot, they were fully trained and applying this new modality at TherAplay with great success.

We aren’t the only ones who were excited about our kiddos’ successes. Last week David Ide, Co-Founder of Cornerstone Autism Foundation, stopped by with a very special gift: a $1,000 check to fund equipment for our therapeutic listening program and lending library.

Thanks to David and Cornerstone Autism, we’ll be able to expand our therapeutic listening offerings so even more kiddos and their families can benefit from this innovative therapy.

Thank you David and thank you Cornerstone Autism Foundation!

There’s something wonderful about partnering with therapy interns. It’s so exciting to see them as they work with the therapists to put into practice what they learned in class. But at the same time, there’s a definite downside: we miss our new friends when they leave! (Sniff!)

Which brings me to my most recent favorite clinical intern, Laura. (I know, by the end of their rotation, they’re all my favorites. That’s okay. I have room in my heart for lots of people.)

Laura has been with us on her clinical rotation for twelve whole weeks, working under the supervision of our occupational therapists to help our kiddos in their treatment. And she's done a great job. You can tell by the smiles on our kiddos’ faces!

It’s downright tough to see her go, but I’ll just keep reminding myself that this is a very exciting time for Laura. Very soon she’ll be graduating with her master’s degree in occupational therapy and sitting for her board exams. And she’s so talented that I know someone will snap her right up to work in their clinic.

So I’ve decided I’m not going to feel sad. No! Instead I’m going to turn that frown upside-down and cheer: GO LAURA GO!

Thank you so much for helping me and all our friends and families at TherAplay, Laura! We know you have a bright future in store. Congratulations!

You’ve heard the expression, “leave something better than the way you found it”? The folks at USA Funds certainly have, and at the United Way Day of Caring it showed. Talk about making a difference!

Twenty of their enthusiastic volunteers cleaned TherAplay from top to bottom. No tool – or tire swing– was left unturned in the clinic. And no stall was left unmucked in the barn. Mr. and Ms. Clean were definitely here!

They even stayed late to make sure our expansion wall was covered with a fresh coat of paint. And, in case you’ve been wondering, yes they do windows – and alllll the plexiglass in the arena. Wow!

USA Group was so devoted to their task that they would have cleaned the spots off our pony Tiger if they could have caught him. (Run, Tiger, run!) Thankfully were able to convince them that we like Tiger’s spots! 

Thank you again for the white-glove treatment USA Funds!

And thank you to everyone who participated in United Way of Central Indiana 21^st annual Day of Caring. On August 24 and 25, more than 1800 volunteers contributed a total of $225,000 worth of labor at nearly 60 project sites across six counties.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your doing what you do best helps us do what we do best, and there are a whole bunch of kiddos, families, horses, and staff at TherAplay who appreciate it!

Want to join the fun?

We at TherAplay love our volunteers and are always ready to expand our volunteer family! To learn more about service opportunities for your business, organization, group, family, or you as an individual, please contact Office Manager, Breinne at blasley@childrenstheraplay.org. We’ll be excited to see you soon!

Our Occupational Therapists are now certified in Therapeutic Listening and after only two weeks of using this new tool, we are thrilled to report some great success stories! 

One of our kiddos diagnosed with autism has, among other goals, one to expand his verbal range beyond his ability to vocalize one or two sounds.  After his first therapeutic listening session at TherAplay, this kiddo is now chattering away with all sorts of new sounds!  While there are more goals to meet, this breakthrough is the jump start we’ve been looking for!

Another kiddo who is diagnosed with a chromosomal abnormality has been unwilling to walk for more than 10 – 15 steps before reaching for assistance or sitting down.  While her parents report they have seen some good progress this spring, they have seen nothing like what happened just last week at TherAplay!  After 10 minutes of Therapeutic Listening, this kiddo literally “took off” – with ear phones and MP3 player attached.  She walked non-stop for nearly 15 minutes enjoying the mild weather and taking in the scenery around the TherAplay grounds!  It was a beautiful day in more ways than one!

TherAplay needs to purchase additional Therapeutic Listening modules to build upon the success we have already seen with our kiddos.  On average, a module costs $45.  If you would like to donate funds to help us purchase additional modules and support other programs and services, click here now.  Thank you!   

More about Therapeutic Listening:  Developed by Vital Links, Therapeutic Listening is a research based tool for treating people who have difficulty with processing sensory information, listening, attention, and communication. High quality music, recorded specifically for Therapeutic Listening, is altered to exaggerate the sounds that naturally capture attention and tap into the parts of the brain involved in regulating bodily functions, relating to others, and organizing behavior.

Parents, teachers, and therapists worldwide have seen significant results by using Therapeutic Listening including:

• Increased Focus and Attention
• Better Moods
• Balanced Energy Levels 
• Greater Tolerance to Noise                                        
• Improved Sleep                                     
• Better Handwriting
• Fewer Tantrums
• Less Anxiety

While looking up the leaderboard at the Masters today, I stumbled upon a nice article (by ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski) about Ernie Els and his eight-year-old son, Ben, who was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2006.  It's a very good article you can link to below.

Ernie Els and son: Interlocking grips

I always liked Els as a golfer, but after reading this article, I'll cheer louder for the Big Easy at Augusta!

4MyChild (www.cerebralpalsy.org) recently posted the following article about the benefits of Hippotherapy for children with Cerebral Palsy.

A Walk on the Wild Side May Help Your Child Thrive

The Hippotherapy Alternative

When you find out that your child has cerebral palsy, you are concerned that his opportunities for fun and recreation will be forever limited. You desperately want to spare him the pain of being cooped up in a hospital room for treatment sessions while his friends run and play outdoors.

However, today's therapeutic options for youngsters with CP offer up the kind of thrills and adventure that any child would remember for a lifetime.

Click here to read entire article