THE KONTON FAMILY FIRST CAME TO WASHINGTON HEALTH SYSTEM CHILDREN’S THERAPY CENTER (CTC) WHEN THEIR DAUGHTER ALLYSE WAS 2 YEARS OLD. SHE WAS NONVERBAL AND JUST STARTING TO WALK. TODAY, 7-YEAR-OLD ALLYSE IS “VERY VERBAL,” ACCORDING TO HER MOTHER KRISHA, AND EVEN RIDING A BIKE.
The Kontons had worked with the specialists at CTC for more than a year before Allyse was diagnosed with global developmental delay in January 2011. Allyse’s treatment plan included physical, occupational and speech therapy sessions twice a week. Six years later, Krisha thinks of the center as another home.
“The staff embraced us as soon as we came in,” she says. “They’re all wonderful and welcoming. They want to see the kids do the best they can do.”
ONE STEP AT A TIME
CTC offers physical, occupational, speech and language, and social and behavioral therapy. The outpatient center sees children from infancy to 18 years old with a range of development disorders (see “Reaching Their Full Potential”). The qualified therapists on staff have extensive training and experience treating children with a variety of needs.
Each child receives an individual treatment plan, and therapists involve parents so therapy can continue at home. The center also offers group classes for different ages, such as water therapy and sports classes, to provide the opportunity for peer interaction.
Allyse, who is in school, visits the center less often now. She can walk the stairs independently and rides her adaptive bike with her parents.
“If it weren’t for the Children’s Therapy Center,” Krisha says, “we wouldn’t be where we are now.”