Understanding and navigating the impact of having a developmental delay or disability is often an immense challenge for both the child and his or her family. Finding the right care can prove even more difficult when bilingual services are required. Fortunately, The Warren Center is amply prepared to help children and families through such challenges.
At eight months old, Elizabeth could not move around much, hold up her head, or focus when looking at faces and toys. Elizabeth’s mother felt very worried and reached out to The Warren Center for help.
The Warren Center acted immediately. Liz, a bilingual occupational therapist, began working with Elizabeth and her mother (who does not speak English). Liz helped Elizabeth through her physical delays and coached her mother on therapeutic techniques to practice at home every day. Liz also helped Elizabeth’s mother navigate numerous other medical issues that surfaced and
suggested treatment plans.
Liz referred the family to multiple medical specialists to properly address Elizabeth’s ongoing visual, developmental, and feeding concerns.
Throughout the past two years – filled with many questions, doctors, and numerous medical appointments – Elizabeth’s mother says she relies on Liz as a sounding board. She trusts Liz to calm her fears and help her understand the treatment program.
After two years of services with The Warren Center, Elizabeth can now hold her head up, sit up by herself, and even take some steps with the help of a gait trainer that Liz helped the family access. Elizabeth can now make vocalizations and sounds, and is eating soft foods. Through coaching via tele-therapy (due to COVID-19), Elizabeth has discovered a new talent: connecting and separating Lego blocks – a demonstration of how far she has come in her fine motor skills.
While the family still does not have an official diagnosis, the medical team is working on it and ruling things out. Elizabeth’s mother is keenly focused on her daughter’s success; learning how she can help her daughter, following through with the therapeutic suggestions given to her, and now using The Warren Center’s teletherapy program to navigate through medical concerns.
Founded in 2006 by Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones, The Rees-Jones Foundation is a private foundation that works with nonprofit organizations, primarily in North Texas, to serve and improve the quality of life of others in tangible ways.