Heartspring

Gabriel is the definition of a team player. He’s a paraprofessional in the Heartspring Therapeutic School, and he also helps out in the residential homes on the weekend and with CARE Clubs in the evenings! We’re so grateful to have him as an employee and proud to recognize him as the newest Heartspring Values Ambassador. Read his story at https://zurl.co/66r7.

Today is World Occupational Therapy Day! We have OT teams in our Therapeutic School and Outpatient Services to help the children we serve develop in areas like fine motor coordination, sensory processing, and activities of daily living. Think about skills we might take for granted like brushing our teeth, tying our shoelaces, and going to the bathroom by ourselves. These are all things occupational therapists help children learn at Heartspring, which helps families function more efficiently and children gain greater independence. Learn more about our occupational therapy services at https://zurl.co/oBC2.

For more than 75 years, Epsilon Sigma Alpha has been a dedicated partner in Heartspring’s success. Epsilon Sigma Alpha’s support helped complete our Treehouse — a state-of-the-art therapeutic, wheelchair-accessible playground on our campus. Each year, ESA also helps with the Family Weekend dance, which is a student, staff, and family favorite! We recently held a small celebration to congratulate ESA on their noteworthy accomplishment of succeeding in their pledge and thank members for their dedication to our mission and the children we serve. We couldn’t do what we do without wonderful donors and volunteers like Epsilon Sigma Alpha. Read more about why ESA chooses to support Heartspring at https://zurl.co/E4W0.

Learning Lab Wichita's EdCollab cohort toured our campus today! Their goal to deliver student-driven learning models, innovative education solutions, and community collaboration aligns with our mission at Heartspring, which made this a fun, engaging experience for both of our organizations. We had great conversations about our history, special education curriculum, and interdisciplinary therapies regarding treating children as a whole and focusing on their strengths to address their improvement needs. Thanks for visiting!

Halloween is nearly here! 🎃 From elaborate costumes to candy crashes and sensory overloads, Halloween could be overwhelming for any kid, so we’ve compiled a few tips for caregivers and community members to make the holiday less stressful and more accessible this year. Read the article at https://zurl.co/vYoh! Together, we can make sure all the little boos and ghouls have a safe and fun experience, so please share this resource with your family, friends, and neighbors.

Our Community Engagement team is hard at work connecting our students to the community, businesses to our organization, and children to our services. One of those services is our Community Awareness, Resources, and Education (CARE) program, which provides valuable social skill-building opportunities for neurodiverse children and teens. Our CARE Clubs are tailored to fit the needs of the participants, so they’re always evolving. This summer, we launched a pilot vocational training program where teens volunteered at local organizations, developed their resumes, completed computer training, and worked on their interview skills in a small group setting to build their confidence and grow as young professionals. We’re also developing our Music Therapy CARE Club! Grounded in evidence-based practices, our music therapy sessions promote holistic development, fostering confidence, emotional regulation, and a deeper appreciation for music. These programs allow kids to make meaningful connections with other kids and to grow independently within the community. Find out more about Heartspring CARE Clubs at https://zurl.co/OsBe!

October is National Physical Therapy Month! This recognition raises awareness about the benefits of physical therapy and celebrates the professionals who dedicate their careers to transforming lives through therapeutic interventions. At Heartspring, physical therapists help children target and improve their mobility, strength, range of motion, endurance, balance, coordination, and gross motor development. While we serve all children, we specialize in helping children with neurodevelopmental disabilities or delays. Do you know a child who could benefit from our physical therapy services? Contact our Outpatient Services at 316-634-8710 today!

Our students had a blast at AMC seeing The Wild Robot movie! This special experience included movie theater snacks and a sensory-friendly viewing experience where our kids were free to move around and watch the movie with the sound lowered and the lights on. If you're looking for your own sensory-friendly movie showing, AMC offers their Sensory Friendly Film Program featuring a family-friendly movie on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. These experiences wouldn't be possible without our wonderful staff who support our students, and we're so happy to have our kids out in the community!

Autism and neurodevelopmental delays or disability diagnoses are on the rise around the country. In Kansas alone, autism diagnoses rose 324% while developmental delays rose 177% from 2005-2022 according to data from the Kansas State Department of Education. Children develop rapidly in their first few years of life, and we know how vital early intervention is for children with neurodevelopmental delays or disorders. We’re committed to turning possibilities into realities for the families who walk through our doors and meet the demand for care in our region.

Ashly Elliott, the Interdisciplinary Therapies Clinical Manager in our Therapeutic School, and Nikki Bina, the Interdisciplinary Clinical Manager in our Outpatient Services, represented Heartspring at the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (KSHA) conference yesterday! KSHA provides innovative professional development opportunities, works to increase community awareness of the professions and the consumers they serve, and advocates for the professions and individuals with communication disorders.