Flash forward a few decades:  DJ has a masters degree in Sports Management, walks with a cane and lets nothing stop him.  To prove it he’s walking every PGA Tour event this season and blogging about it on the PGA Tour’s website.

To date, DJ has accomplished many feats which he keeps up to date on his blog.  He’s attracted his own list of sponsors and has propelled himself and Cerebral Palsy.  Here’s a young man anyone with a special need should look up to.  The stats on the right are funny but jaw dropping as well.  He’ll be walking over 1000 miles during this initiative and showing the world that he’s capable and full of potential.

Thanks DJ for being an inspiration - to all of us.

With the miracle of a baby’s birth, there is an overwhelming sense to provide care and nurturing in the best way possible.  Parents know the importance of the basics… health, safety and love.  But the new infant is also dependent on us for positioning and movement.  Too much time in one position can actually change a baby’s head shape – a condition know as plagiocephaly.

The Check List

As a physical therapist, the increased incidence of plagiocephaly facilitates the need to provide help for families – both prevention and early intervention.  Following is a quick check list for parents:

1. Supervised TUMMY TIME during awake hours (www.starbandkids.com).
2. Change positions frequently.
3. Play with baby to encourage overall development (basic checklists are available to help you know “what’s next”).
4. Do not overuse infant positioning devices, and alternate frequently.
5. Watch to see if baby’s head seems to tilt or turn more to one side – this may indicate a condition known as torticollis (i.e. neck muscle tightness).

Potential Next Steps

Repositioning is a first line of defense for plagiocephaly.  However, if this is not sufficient to address a concern, a Cranial Remolding Orthosis (i.e. helmet) may be an appropriate course of treatment.  At Children’s Care Rehab Center / Rehabilitation Medical Supply, I experience a unique opportunity to work with infants in this capacity.  As Pascal said, “Symmetry is what we see at a glance,” so each day gives us the privilege to problem-solve, educate and provide options for caring parents and their newest family member.

- Annette Vollan-Kerber, PT, MS, PCS
Children’s Care Physical Therapist

Tummy Time
As a physical therapist working primarily in pediatrics, the biggest concern I see is the rising incidence of plagiocephaly and torticollis, both which, in most cases, can be easily prevented if parents were better equipped with an important piece of information.  Because of our busy lifestyles and the opportunity to use devices such as car seats, bouncy seats, and swings for positioning, babies born today are spending more and more time on their backs or in devices.  This has had a dramatic effect in head shape, neck tightness, and overall development.  Babies are developing flat heads and are delayed in their gross motor skills because they learn how to sit before they can roll.  Babies need time on their tummies to develop the appropriate curves in their spine, to strengthen their necks and arms, to provide flexibility in their hips and trunks, and for appropriate development of good hand-eye coordination.  Babies should be placed on their tummies from the very beginning of life.  Initially for only short periods of time and with a parent directly present for supervision.  Following your child’s development using published checklists is recommended.  If you are seeing areas of delay, contact your physician in order to determine if therapy intervention is needed.

Play Time
The other recommendation I have for parents is to go outside and PLAY with your kids!  Teach them how to play catch, shoot a basket, jump rope, ride a bike.  Again, in our busy lifestyles, these are vital activities that easily go by the wayside and go unnoticed until children get to be school age and struggle in PE.  I don’t mean to say that all children should become athletes, but being physically active and providing activities to improve coordination do a lot for a child’s self esteem and overall health.

-Shawn Frewaldt, MS, PT, ATP
Children’s Care Physical Therapist

With other family centered shows that show the trials of a family with eight children and another where both parents are Little People, this show gives a dramatic look at challenges seldom seen.

For more information on the family, you can visit their website, Autism Bites.

Today marks the first day of National Physical Therapy Month.  This year’s theme, “Movement” aims to raise awareness of what physical therapists do.  According to the American Physical Therapy Association, “Physical therapists are the movement experts. We help people move forward. We help people who have had a stroke or an amputation regain their independence. We help millions of Americans manage or eliminate their neck or back pain. We help children with cerebral palsy improve their overall function and participation in life. We help people move forward.

Movement is essential to our everyday lives. Having the ability to move safely and effectively is crucial in our lives and the lives of the people physical therapists treat. The physical therapy profession empowers people to move forward and take control of the movement that is so important in all of our lives.”

Physical Therapy is critical to many - adults and children.  The picture below shows a portion of our team who work everyday to improve lives.  If you or someone you know has limited mobility, see your primary care physician today.

This is the first of a series we’ll provide on Physical Therapy, so come back for more information.  Or, if you’d like, please comment below on an area you’d like more information on or how a physical therapist helped you!

Yesterday, Technorati posted their annual report on the blogosphere.  The reports were surprising, even to one who does blog.  Blogs are a fantastic communication tool so that anyone can convey their thoughts, opinions or expertise and allow others to respond.  It’s a method of sharing your intelligence with the world.  In the world of blogs, Technorati is its Google.  Within Technorati’s site you can search for blogs or blog posts on any subject that interests you.  They index the majority of blogs and now have knowledge of over 133 million blogs since 2002.

WHY BLOG?

Blogs have allowed the free flow of information across the internet.  Republican or Democrat, blue collar or white collar, Mac or PC user - there is a blog to suit you.  And that is why Children’s Care created Blog Talk.  As parents, school districts, donors, physicians or simply interested parties, Blog Talk has and will continue to provide timely information and resources in the world of special needs children.  Our blog allows readers a forum where they can read a post and then comment on it.  We’ve been very fortunate with many comments supporting our work. In addition, according to eMarketer.com, research shows that women are not only the healthcare decision makers for the family, they are also on the internet much more than one might think.  For that very reason, our blog and website exist to answer parent questions and to be a valuable resource - for both moms and dads.  Our CEO is a self confessed “Mommy Geek” and we’re of the opinion there are many more out there like her.  Perhaps you?

HOW DO YOU USE A BLOG?

There are many ways to use blogs.  Many blog users are simply observers -those who are reading right now, taking in the information and later moving on.  Then there are the participants - those who read and will comment from time to time on subjects close to their heart.  This is the audience who makes blogs fun because they reply back with their comments or questions.  They initiate a conversation. We encourage this conversation at any level, so if you’re reading and not participating, please join in!  And for those who are  new to the blogosphere, take heart - click here to read more.

BLOGS ARE HERE TO STAY

Due to their growth and popularity, blogs are here to stay.  For that reason as well as many others, we recommend you become a part of the Blogosphere, the active world of blogging, commenting and reading.  Subscribe to our RSS Feed to stay up to date on our information.  Most of all, let us know how we’re doing and what topics you’d like to know more about.  Our blog is only as good as the content it contains.  Do you have subjects you’d like to know more about?  If so, our comments area is just below!

Few people know how to surf.  Even fewer people excel at surfing.  Enter Clay Marzo.  Clay is a teenage surfer, recognized by many former world champions as one of the best today.  But Clay deals with more struggles than challenging waves.  Clay has Asperger’s Syndrome, a higher functioning form of autism.  While he has no problem riding the waves with the best, he is like many with autism because he has challenges dealing with people on a social level.

Now Clay’s story will be told in the form of an upcoming movie.  Here’s a short clip about the movie, Just Add Water.

What special talents do people with autism have that you know?  We’d love for you to tell us in the comments section.

In a recent case-control study published by the Public Library of Science ONE, there was no link found between autism and the MMR vaccine.

The purpose of this  study led by scientists at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, was to determine whether GI symptoms and autism onset were related to the delivery of the MMR vaccine.  In doing so, bowel tissue was taken from 25 children with autism and GI disturbances as well as from 13 children with GI disturbances.  No differences were uncovered between the case and control groups.  The study involved three laboratory sites to ensure consistency of results.

“We are certain that there’s no link between autism and the MMR,” Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, director of the Mailman School of Public Health Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, said at a Wednesday teleconference.

“We found no evidence that the [gastrointestinal] pathology consistently preceded autism, and we also found that the MMR didn’t consistently precede either autism or GI pathology,” he added.

The study was reported wide spread in several journals including US News & World Report, the LA Times and the Washington Post.

Each time the camera showed Sarah Palin’s family, family members were tending to the newest family member, 4 month old Trig.  Trig has Down Syndrome and Sarah referenced how she would become an advocate for special needs children in the White House should McCain be elected.  These were great words to hear, but was not the moment captured in my mind.

It was this picture - 7 year old Piper holding her baby brother and as the cameras turned to her momentarily, she lovingly combed back his hair and licked her hand to slick it back.  While this might be a common sight when moms hold their children, this was a precious moment when the love for family filters down into the body of a 7 year old.  If children such as Piper can accept special needs children, shouldn’t we, as a nation and international body, also accept their differences?

While the campaign continues and holds many keys to our future, all of us at Children’s Care will continue to work our hardest to ensure special needs children get the love they deserve, as well as acceptance.

Dianna Rajski
CEO, Children’s Care