Feel Good About Giving

Early Start Developmental Services

March 2015

Program Updates

In the Early Start Developmental Services program, we served a total of 399 clients for the

month of February with a total of 931 services provided. 286 clients received child develop-

ment, 34 received feeding services, 196 received speech services, 174 received occupational

therapy and 234 received physical therapy services with us as part of their infant pro-

gram. We received 24 new intakes in month of February.

Thank you very much Shirley Skadan-Smith,

WarmLine Family Resource Center

www.warmlinefrc.org

Equipment Loan Library

Early Start Services upcoming important dates and program closures:

Tuesday, 3/31/15, Caesar Chavez Birthday Alta Holiday

How to Cancel an Appointment

Of course we want you to keep every appointment you may have with our wonderful Early Start staff but we understand that this is the time of year when illness strikes with frequent cold and flu symptoms. We would like to remind you that we ask for 24 hours notice if you need to cancel an appointment and if you are unsure how to reach your therapist we have a 24 hour hotline for schedule changes and cancellations. 1-888-877-3257 ext. 290. Thank you.

Tips for Your Child's Developmental Assessment

By Barbara Popper

A developmental assessment is a process designed to deepen understanding of a child's strengths, skills, and

resources. Ideally, it will also provide some insight into the caregiving and learning environments that are most likely

to help a child make fullest use of his or her developmental potential (from New Visions).

Barbara Popper is a parent who has been through the developmental assessment process with her son and offers these

tips for parents preparing an assessment of their child:

Be the parent. Your expertise is being the parent and knowing your child better than anyone else.

Your gut feelings and personal observations count. Be the parent and make use of other team

members' expertise as it applies.

You don't need to learn all the technical terms. These can be defined for you. Explaining

in your terms what is going on with your child is fine and will be understood by everyone.

Don't be afraid to disagree. If professionals see your child differently than you, ask for more

discussion. Accepting an assessment that you feel does not accurately portray your child will be of no use to you.

Ask an ally to come to meetings. If it begins to feel overwhelming, bring a friend or family member with you for support. The support person can help take notes, keep track of informa-

tion, and review the discussion with you later.

Understand that your level of involvement may vary. How involved you will be in each

stage of the process may depend on your child's needs and other life circumstances. Your decision to become more or less involved should be accepted and you should make it clear that you are to be alerted if something changes.

Make sure your needs are met. Spending time on a process that doesn’t address what you are

concerned about will delay your ability to help your child. Make your needs clear, even if this means finding others with whom to work.

Find support for yourself. Take care of yourself and your family.

Share your knowledge with others. Parents who are in the process of trying to learn what you

have already discovered need your help. Share what you have learned with those who need it most.

Easter Seals Vision: People with disabilities will have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their community.

Children with disabilities will be fully included and have the same experience as their peers.

All adults with disabilities will experience the life style of their choice.

All seniors will live out their lives in comfort and with dignity.

Updates from Zerotothree.org

Are you in need of a piece of equipment to as-

sist with bathing, seating, standing or mobility

If so, please check with your therapist/

interventionist. Easter Seals has equipment to

try/loan on a temporary basis for families that

have this need.

March

Activity Day/Date City

Parents' Night Thursday, March 5 Rocklin

Let's Get Organized Saturday, March 7 Sacramento

Spring in Your Step! Wednesday, March 11 Roseville

Miniature Golf Tournament Saturday, March 14 Sacramento

Child Yoga Friday, March 20 Auburn

IHSS & Social Security Tuesday, March 24 Rocklin

Sensory-Friendly Family Movie Saturday, March 28 Sacramento

Potty Training Tuesday, March 31 Rocklin