|
Services
|
|
|
Early Intervention Some children are born with brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy. Some have genetic conditions like Down Syndrome. And some have developmental delays with unknown causes. For children who are not meeting their developmental milestones -- for whatever reason -- early intervention helps them learn the skills they haven’t yet mastered. Sometimes it is a matter of strengthening muscles, sometimes it is learning to use muscles a certain way, and sometimes it has to do with figuring out problems or with language. Whatever the cause of a delay, it involves the brain. Nerves in the brain send messages to the body, asking it to do something like roll over or sit up. Then the muscles have to get the message and do what they are told. It becomes a conversation between the brain and the muscles, negotiating how to accomplish the task. Therapists use different movements to help the muscles perform their task, or to help a child perform the task repeatedly to learn how to do it. All these activities contribute to the development of nerve pathways in the brain. It is like paving a road; each layer makes it stronger and more permanent. If a child has had brain damage or malformation due to trauma, illness or a genetic disorder, the therapy can help to build new pathways. Complete Our Free Online Screening Tool Early identification of delays, for any reason, is very important. The sooner intervention is started, the faster a child can learn the skills that are missing and, hopefully, catch up with peers before they enter school. All children should be screened for their development. Now Easter Seals is offering a free developmental screening tool -- The Ages and Stages Questionnaires®. If you are a child’s parent or caregiver, complete this free screening tool and you will receive results in two weeks. Construction Zone: the Adolescent Brain Around the age of 7, the brain experiences a “growth spurt” of neural connections followed by a pruning of unused connections. This process leads to faster, more efficient connections. Researchers believe that this process occurs again sometime in a person’s early twenties. In fact, it is not until around age 30 that a person’s brain has reached full development. Providing opportunities to practice these developing “executive functions” is important in these brain growth years. Easter Seals camps, after school programs, behavioral interventions and mental health programs all help to support and encourage healthy development during this vital time of brain development. At Easter Seals we believe that nearly everyone can work! The Brain as We Age For people with and without disabilities, brain health becomes more critical as we get older. While we used to believe that memory loss was a normal part of aging, we now know it isn’t. Science has debunked the belief that we lose large amounts of brain cells as we age. Learning, and the production of neurons, often continue until late in life.
Through Easter Seals programs, people with disabilities are provided with opportunities and empowered to maintain or rebuild lifelong interests, learn new skills, engage in new experiences and develop meaningful relationships. Our National Center on Senior Transportation increases transportation options for older adults and enhances their ability to live more independently within their communities.
|
|
|
