Center for Children's Rehabilitation

Children's physical therapy at Corewell Health

Highly trained Corewell Health Children's physical therapists help children throughout Southeast Michigan reclaim the ability to enjoy childhood through customized treatment techniques and exercises. They help children increase the functional skills they need to keep up with their peers, crawl, walk, and run.

Our pediatric physical therapists are part of the Corewell Health Center for Children's Rehabilitation, one of the largest, most comprehensive pediatric rehabilitation programs in Michigan. The center features more than 60 licensed and highly specialized physical therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers who help children with neurological conditions, orthopedic conditions, and developmental delay diagnoses.

For each child, we evaluate range of motion, strength, flexibility, reflexes, balance, and gross motor skills to develop a customized plan of care. The goal of these individualized physical therapy plans is to help your child become as mobile and independent as possible

Corewell Health Children's physical therapists are clinically certified and licensed specialists in treating children. Many hold specialty certifications, and all regularly participate in pediatric specialty training courses, ensuring our young patients have access to the most advanced evidence-based pediatric physical therapy approaches and techniques.

Conditions treated

Diagnoses and conditions commonly treated by pediatric physical therapists include:

Physical therapy parent involvement

Parents and caregivers are an important part of the Corewell Health Children's physical therapy program from the beginning of a child's treatment. Parental involvement starts with observation of the child's evaluation by a specialized Corewell Health Children's physical therapist. The therapist then discusses recommendations for exercises, equipment, home programs, and frequency of treatment with the family. A social worker on our staff is able to provide parents and families with resources to understand insurance needs, individualized education programs (IEP), and family education.

Treatment plans are highly specialized to meet the unique needs of your child. We offer individual physical therapy treatment sessions for a specific duration at an appropriate frequency based on each child's needs to help the child achieve his or her treatment goals.

We believe parent empowerment is crucial for success. Over the course of therapy, you can expect to receive several handouts, demonstrations, and hands-on education to help your child become as independent as possible.

Highly trained Corewell Health Children's occupational therapists help children throughout Southeast Michigan reclaim the ability to enjoy childhood through customized treatment techniques and exercises. We help children with neurological, orthopedic, sensory integration, learning, developmental delay, and autism spectrum diagnoses.

Through individualized care plans using the most advanced techniques available, our occupational therapists assist these children in gaining functional skills for play, school tasks, and other daily activities. Many of our patients have progressed from serious developmental challenges like feeding difficulties to become strong, thriving children.

Our pediatric occupational therapists are part of the Corewell Health Center for Children's Rehabilitation, one of the largest, most comprehensive pediatric rehabilitation programs in Michigan. The center features more than 60 licensed and highly specialized occupational therapists, physical therapists, and social workers who help children with neurological and orthopedic conditions and developmental delay diagnoses. For decades, our specialists have facilitated the development and independence of children from birth to the teenage years.

Corewell Health Children's occupational therapists are nationally accredited, clinically certified, and licensed. Many hold specialty certifications, and all participate in pediatric specialty training courses, ensuring our young patients have access to the most advanced evidence-based pediatric occupational therapy approaches and techniques.

Conditions commonly treated by occupational therapy:

Occupational therapy parent involvement

Parents and caregivers are an important part of the Corewell Health Children's occupational therapy program from the beginning of a child's treatment. Parental involvement starts with observation of the child's evaluation by a specialized Corewell Health Children's occupational therapist. The occupational therapist will assess range of motion, strength, fine motor skills, eating (oral/motor) skills, self-care skills (i.e., dressing), and sensory integration skills. Taking into account this evaluation, the occupational therapist then consults with the parents to develop a customized plan of care. The goal of occupational therapy is to help a child with functional limitations become as independent as possible.

We offer individual occupational therapy treatment sessions for a specific duration at an appropriate frequency based on each child's needs to help the child achieve his or her treatment goals. Parent observation and education continue throughout the treatment program. Home programs are designed to enhance the child's progress outside the clinic environment.

The Center for Children’s Rehabilitation social workers are master's level social workers licensed in the state of Michigan. Their experience includes individual, family, and group counseling, advocacy, and child welfare. They attend courses regularly to increase knowledge related to diagnoses. They are familiar with community resources and assisting families to navigate through various systems.

Social workers work with children and families to assist with referrals for community resources, insurance issues, and the psychological components of diagnosis/disability.

A children's social worker completes an evaluation upon the request of the family and/or therapist. A plan of care is developed with the family. Social work plans of care may include advocacy with school, caregiver education related to diagnosis, emotional support, and referrals to community resources. In addition, the social workers provide individual and family counseling.

Our counseling services include:

• Assistance with accepting and coping with diagnosis/illness
• Education related to diagnosis
• Parenting education
• Emotional support

Frequency and duration of social work service is determined based on the family's needs. The social workers arrange educational opportunities, which are available to families throughout the year.

The Corewell Health Children's Center for Children's Rehabilitation offers many diverse groups to our patients and their families year-round. Unlike other community groups, our groups offer a medically based program, facilitated by experienced therapists (occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, social workers) and trained volunteers. The number of therapists and volunteers in each group varies based on the specific group and the number of participants.

Our groups afford children an opportunity to participate in traditional activities that are modified to meet their special needs or activities that promote their therapy goals while having fun. Before acceptance into the group, your child may need to be evaluated by a therapist so we can place your child in the optimal group.

The groups are private-pay, but subsidized by a donation from the University of Michigan Dance Marathon, making them more affordable than most competitors. Prices vary based on the length of the program and the number of professionals running the group. Unless otherwise indicated, our groups are 10 weeks in the fall and winter, and 6 weeks in the summer.

Smile

Sensory Motor Integration Learning Experience. A 6-week program held once per week for children, ages 5 to 7, with a focus on sensory processing combined with fine motor and social skills. An OT runs the group.

Therapeutic massage

A 6-week program held once per week during which parents learn therapeutic massage techniques from a certified infant massage instructor.

Handwriting groups

A 10-week program held once per week during which an occupational therapist assists children to develop handwriting skills through fun activities, utilizing the Handwriting Without Tears concepts. There are three different levels available, including pre-writing, print, and cursive.

Little munchers and big crunchers

Feeding groups are designed to assist the picky eaters to eat with their peers. These programs are held once per week for 6 weeks with an OT.

Sequential sensory/motor approach to feeding (SOS)

This is a 10-week program facilitated by a speech-language pathologist and occupational therapist to promote oral motor strength and coordination, leading to successful transit of food through the oral cavity. Ages will vary based on interest and skills.

Summer siblings

This 6-week program is facilitated by a Social Worker once per week. The group is designed for special needs children and their siblings, and focuses on developing stronger bonds and mutual respect through conversation and arts and crafts.

Functional visual skills program

This is a 12-week course designed for two children per group with similar vision needs. The group is held once per week with an occupational therapist. The group is designed to improve visual motor skills and visual perceptual skills. Three levels are offered: beginning, intermediate, and advanced.

Handprint

This group is a therapy group for children aged 3 - 6 years old with Down Syndrome. Handprint is designed to develop and master skills for independent living. The group will focus on building strength and coordination for opening and closing items, picking up and releasing toys of various sizes, manipulating knobs and buttons and experimenting with crayons and utensils. This group will be led by an occupational therapist. The cost of the group is $143 for 8 weeks. It will take place at the Corewell Health Center. Please call 248.655.5660 for schedule information.

Corewell Health Tots

This group is a physical and occupational therapy group for children of all abilities and their siblings. This group is designed to facilitate development through gross motor and fine motor play, at your child's own individual pace. Join us as we build strength and coordination, explore our senses, interact with our peers, and have fun. Parent/caregiver involvement is required, and up to one sibling is encouraged. This group is led by a physical therapist and an occupational therapist. The cost of this group is $129 for 10 weeks. It will take place at the Corewell Health Center. Please call 248.655.5660 for schedule information.