Developmental disabilites

Evidence Based Practice State of the Evidence: Intervention Effectiveness in Children with Cerebral Palsy March 26, 2020 by Elena Noble, MPT
A therapist helps a young girl into a gait trainer
In 2013, Iona Novak and her team put together one of the most comprehensive evidence-based overviews of pediatric interventions. With over 200 systematic reviews performed since then, this evidence update adds strength and definition to recommended interventions for children with cerebral palsy.
PT/OT SATCo, Adaptive Equipment and You November 18, 2019 by Sue Cecere PT, MHS
boy sitting on Rifton Activity Chair with caretaker
SATCo is a valuable tool to help clinicians determine just where a client needs trunk support in order to engage in a task or activity. The work of Butler et al. demonstrated the validity of the tool and its ability to detect trunk weakness and postural control challenges. This approach to assessing the trunk is a paradigm shift.
Stories May I Have This Next Dance? June 24, 2019 by Jeoan Pierre, Special Education Teacher
a young girl dancing in a Rifton Pacer gait trainer in front of a red stage curtain
As a special ed teacher who has worked with students with a variety of physical challenges, I have a particular appreciation for Rifton Equipment. There’s a distinct excitement in seeing how the right equipment can change a child’s life. A piece of equipment could help someone be a runner, walk down the aisle to receive a diploma, or, in the case of one of my students, be an independent...
PT/OT Useful Tips for Writing a Letter of Educational Necessity for Adaptive Equipment April 22, 2019 by Sue Cecere PT, MHS
A young girl feels flowers on a table while standing in a Rifton Mobile Stander.
As a school based practitioner, I understand the challenges and frustrations of acquiring adaptive equipment for students that will help bridge the gap between their capacity and performance. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) defines capacity as the student’s abilities in a situation apart from real life, such as during an evaluation in a quiet room with no...
PT/OT Four Essentials to Know Before Writing an Effective Letter of Educational Necessity April 10, 2019 by Sue Cecere PT, MHS
A young boy sits in a Rifton Activity Chair and uses an assistive device to talk to his caregiver.
1. Understand the requirements of federal law IDEA 2004. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that requires schools to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities. Funds for IDEA are allocated at federal, state, and local levels. To be eligible for the provisions of IDEA, the student must present with one of the following disabilities: intellectual disability...
PT/OT New Webinar: An Introduction to MOVE™ March 07, 2019 by Julie Sues Delaney, PT
A caregiver and young girl in a Rifton Mobile Stander laugh together while posing for a portrait.
Last week, Rifton offered a 30-minute webinar providing an introduction to the philosophy and practice of the MOVE Program: Mobility Opportunities Via Education/Experience. Under the MOVE program, teachers, clinicians, and parents join together to assess an individual's ability and then teach key motor skills incrementally. Everyone benefits. Watch the recording or read the transcript here. The webinar...
Evidence Based Practice Prospective cohort studies can inform pediatric physical therapy practice February 04, 2019 by Lori Potts, PT
A young girl with braids and a colorful t-shirt smiles at her caregiver.
The field of pediatric physical therapy has long recognized the difficulty of conducting high level research with the cerebral palsy population. Meeting the qualifications of a randomized controlled trial while implementing interventions with children with multiple physical disabilities – with all their varied daily realities – is extraordinarily difficult. In turn, the systematic review that...
PT/OT Encouraging Participation-Based Goals in the School Setting January 21, 2019 by Lori Potts, PT
A young female talks to a young boy sitting in a Rifton HTS.
Physical therapy goals in the school-based practice setting can focus on a variety of areas, including: participation (student’s involvement in a life situation), activity (student’s execution of a task or action) and impairment (i.e. at the level of body structure and function.) For a number of reasons we find that student goals that address participation within the context of school routines...
Evidence Based Practice Evidence Update: New Research Suggests Increasing Pediatric Intervention Frequency January 02, 2019 by Elena Noble, MPT
A caregiver steers a child in a blue Rifton Adaptive Tricycle.
Existing evidence on pediatric therapy dosing is scanty and conflicting, though motor learning theory has long associated increased frequency and repetition of movement and skills with improved outcomes. A new study now appears to bolster this view in the context of school-based intervention. The study comes out of Norway, where almost all children with cerebral palsy are registered in CP-specific follow...
News The Meadowood Program: A MOVE™ Model Site November 12, 2018 by Lori Potts, PT
A girl in a pink dress smiles at her caregiver, while walking in her Rifton Pacer gait trainer.
You’ve heard us talk about MOVE™ for years, and there’s no question we’re unabashed boosters for this wonderful program. We first ran into Linda Bidabe, MOVE’s founder, in 1988 when her program was in its infancy and we’ve loved it ever since. If you’re not convinced, or if you just want to understand it better, set aside 20 minutes today, pour a cup of coffee, and...
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