Washington Health System

At WHS Children's Therapy Center (CTC), our therapists use countless tools to deliver individually tailored treatment plans in a challenging and fun environment. In physical therapy, children jump on trampolines, walk on treadmills and work their way through obstacle courses to improve their core strength and motor skills. In speech and language therapy, children who are nonverbal use augmentative and alternative communication devices, like iPads, to interact with therapists and family members. Allyse Konton's therapists incorporated a tablet, as well as partial sign language to first encourage her to make sounds and then to graduate to words and full sentences. The iPad provides access to specifically designed therapeutic software and applications, and time with the iPad can also be used as a reward. You can give children the tools they need when you support Washington Health System Foundation. The Kontons had worked with the specialists at CTC for more than a year before Allyse was diagnosed with global developmental delay in January 2011. Allyse's treatment plan included physical, occupational and speech therapy sessions twice a week. Six years later, Krisha thinks of the center as another home. "e sta embraced us as soon as we came in," she says. "ey're all wonderful and welcoming. ey want to see the kids do the best they can do." ONE STEP AT A TIME CTC oers physical, occupational, speech and language, and social and behavioral therapy. e outpatient center sees children from infancy to 18 years old with a range of development disorders (see "Reaching eir Full Potential"). e qualied therapists on sta have extensive training and experience treating children with a variety of needs. Each child receives an individual treatment plan, and therapists involve parents so therapy can continue at home. e center also oers group classes for dierent ages, such as water therapy and sports classes, to provide the opportunity for peer interaction. Allyse, who is in school, visits the center less oen now. She can walk the stairs independently and rides her adaptive bike with her parents. "If it weren't for the Children's erapy Center," Krisha says, "we wouldn't be where we are now." » TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CTC, VISIT WASHINGTONHOSPITAL.ORG/SERVICES/ CHILDTHERAPY. THE KONTON FAMILY FIRST CAME TO WASHINGTON HEALTH SYSTEM CHILDREN'S THER APY CENTER (CTC) WHEN THEIR DAUGHTER ALLYSE WAS 2 YEARS OLD. SHE WAS NONVERBAL AND JUST STARTING TO WALK. TODAY, 7-YEAR-OLD ALLYSE IS "VERY VERBAL," ACCORDING TO HER MOTHER KRISHA , AND EVEN RIDING A BIKE. » articulation deficits » attention deficit disorder » autism spectrum disorder » cerebral palsy » hearing loss and cochlear implant rehabilitation » sensory processing disorders » torticollis » other motor and speech delays The interdisciplinary staff at the Children's Therapy Center (CTC) works together to help children reach their potential in physical, cognitive, speech-language, social and emotional development. The therapists at CTC have experience with a range of developmental disorders, including: F U L L POTE NTI A L Reaching Their How You Can Help Give at washingtonhospital.org/ foundation. connections | F A L L 2016 14 whs.org

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