SELF HELP SKILLS

Physiotherapy at the Holy Angels

Children attending Holy Angels with physical disability i.e. Cerebal palsy, Spina bifida and Neuromuscular disease receive physiotherapy treatment. Physiotherapy takes place on an individual basis and each child has his/her own management and treatment program. The neurodevelopment and sensory integration approach is used. The children are assessed regularly and changes are made to their treatment program accordingly. The physiotherapist works in liaison with staff members of the centre, the occupational therapist and the speech therapist.

-Has regular meetings with the parents to discuss individual treatment regimes.

-Refers children to specialist consultants in the Central Remedial Clinic, Crumlin Hospital, Seating Clinics and Orthotic Clinics.

-Orders various appliances and equipment for the children.

-Monitors progress or change in child's condition.

-Provides advice and instructions to the families.

Speech and Language Therapist

In a special pre-school or school setting the Speech and Language Therapist works as part of a team. The team comprises of some/all of the following - parents, family, teachers, care staff, nurses, aides, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, physchologists, etc are all an integral part of that team.

The overall aim is to improve communications skills for each child to better enable him/her make sense of his/her environment and to establish and maintain relationships with others.

The role of the Speech and language therapist is to assess, diagnose and manage communication and swallowing difficulties. My role is to identify the communication strengths and weaknesses of each child and establish an individually tailored program that best meets that child's needs and helps him/her to reach his/her communication potential. This encompasses both verbal and non-verbal means, i.e. Speech, language, body language, eye-contact etc. and maybe augmentative forms of communication, for example signs, communication boards (pictures) - functional communication is our ultimate goal.

We aim to create a facilitative environment where these children's attempts to communicate by whatever means with us are acknowledged and accepted, whether it be a gesture, pointing, vocalisation, verbalisation or even an aggressive outburst.

· Staff training is ongoing

· Parent courses are run annually

· A team approach is fostered