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Pediatric Therapy

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How We Help

Turnstone’s pediatric therapy services include physical, occupational, speech, and aquatic therapy. Therapy is provided onsite or virtual (if approved), by appointment in a one-on-one format.

Turnstone’s therapists specialize in working with children with disabilities, including but not limited to spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, developmental delay, Down syndrome, genetic disorders, autism, and other neurological and orthopedic diagnoses.

Therapy services may be private pay or billed to private insurance, Medicaid, or Children's Special Healthcare Services (CSHCS). An income-based sliding-fee scale may be available for those who qualify.

To begin enrolling your child for therapy services, please contact Social Services to schedule your therapy intake by completing the online contact form.

To leave us feedback on this program, take our Client Satisfaction Survey.

Offerings

The Madge Rothschild Pediatric Therapy Wing offers state-of-the-art equipment and services:

  • One of the region’s only comprehensive augmentative and alternative communication evaluation program and lab.
  • A multi-sensory room for sensory exploration and integration that includes visual, tactile, and auditory sensory experiences for your child.
  • Large gross motor gym with vestibular swings, mats, treadmills, and child-size fitness and balance equipment, plus space to walk, run, and ride bikes
  • Treehouse with full-size stairs, monkey bars, and slide
  • A rock wall for children with regular and adaptive hand and footholds
  • Specially-designed outdoor play area for children of all abilities
  • Warm water pool equipped with a chair lift, handrails, and an underwater bench with a whirlpool jet
  • Evaluation and assessment for individualized wheelchairs, seating systems, mobility equipment, and adaptive aids for daily living and communication.
  • Collaboration with orthotic and prosthetic professionals

Turnstone’s physical therapists focus on assisting clients to achieve their greatest level of functional independence using a child-driven, evidence-based approach. Specific goals are designed to help each child achieve his or her maximum potential at home and in the community. Physical therapy at Turnstone includes traditional treatment methods as well as connecting with community resources such as orthotics, wheelchairs, and other durable medical equipment evaluations. Following physical therapy, clients may transition into other Turnstone programs such as fitness & aquatics, and/or sports and recreation programs.

Physical therapists at Turnstone offer assessment and treatment services for a wide range of deficits, including:

  • Orthopedic concerns
  • Pediatric bowel and bladder dysfunction
  • Lower extremity dysfunction including strength and range of motion
  • Gait abnormalities
  • Coordination concerns
  • Pain management

Treatment methods & protocols include:

  • Warm Water Pool

Turnstone's pediatric occupational therapists use purposeful activities and play to maximize the independence of children. Children who are diagnosed with a physical disability, developmental disorder, neurological or cognitive impairment, or sensory integration dysfunction are often limited in their ability to participate in activities that typically developing children enjoy. Occupational therapists identify a child’s strengths and build on these to develop fine motor skills, increase independence in self-care skills, as well as improve sensory integration and visual perceptual skills. Turnstone’s occupational therapists develop personalized care plans to help each child reach his or her potential. We work closely with families to address their needs and rely on caregivers to implement strategies, exercises, and adaptations at home.

Occupational therapists at Turnstone offer assessment and treatment services for a wide range of deficits, including:

  • Sensory processing difficulties
  • Autistic spectrum disorder
  • Limited fine motor skills (dexterity, manipulation, cutting, playing with toys)
  • Motor-planning & coordination issues
  • Handwriting difficulties
  • Self-regulation issues
  • Feeding concerns
  • Upper extremity dysfunction including strength and range of motion
  • Deficits in self-care skills such as dressing, and grooming
  • Visual perceptual deficits

Treatment methods & protocols include:

  • Play-based Sensory Integration Therapy
  • Kawar Vestibular-Ocular Protocol (Astronaut Training)
  • Therapressure Protocol (Wilbarger Brushing Protocol)
  • Handwriting Without Tears
  • Beckman Oral Motor Protocols
  • SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) for feeding dysfunction
    • The SOS Approach focuses on increasing a child’s comfort level with foods by exploring and learning about different properties including texture, smell, taste, and consistency in a non-invasive way through play.

Turnstone's pediatric speech-language pathologists (SLPs) use play and functional activities to expand children's ability to communicate with others. The therapists believe a collaborative approach with parents, caregivers, and other providers is essential for growth in language development, sound production skills, and fluent speech. Parents are encouraged to participate in treatment sessions, working alongside clinicians to help their children's skills grow. Individualized home programming recommendations are made for the carryover of strategies into functional environments and activities within a child's day.


Training methods:

  • Milieu approach
  • Cycles approach
  • Complexity model for articulation
  • Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC)
  • Shaker Seminars Pediatric Dysphagia training
  • Social Thinking
  • LAMP Approach
  • Training with alternate access for AAC

AAC refers to the use of symbols, aids, devices, or tools that may supplement or replace verbal speech. AAC is typically utilized with individuals with severe speech and/or language disorders to make their messages clearer or provide them with a means of communication.

AAC can range from the use of sign language, gestures, pictures, drawings, or a letter board to complex voice output systems. These various AAC systems provide individuals with a way to generate spontaneous and novel messages to others.

Children and adults with communication impairments secondary to cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, apraxia, traumatic brain injury, stroke, ALS, and other neurological disorders can benefit from AAC.

Turnstone’s speech-language pathologists can use equipment from the AAC Lab to perform assessments and treat children and adults with disabilities in a setting that accommodates their skills, abilities, and unique needs. Turnstone’s AAC Lab offers an accessible environment necessary to determine the optimal positioning, lighting, and access method(s) for a recommended AAC device.

Turnstone’s award-winning Therapy team is now offering Infant Massage classes that teach parents and caregivers how to properly calm and nurture their babies through touch.

What to expect: In class, you will receive guided instructions on how to massage your baby, a step-by-step instruction booklet with pictures, and a bottle of oil.

Instructor: Mary Hitzemann, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, CIMI® trained through the International Loving Touch® Foundation, Inc.

Is infant massage right for my baby and my family?

Classes are specifically designed for parents, grandparents, and primary caregivers. The class is appropriate for parents with babies one month to one year old. Mothers-to-be who would like to learn infant massage prior to the baby’s birth are also welcome to attend.

To determine if Infant Massage Therapy might be a good fit for your baby and your family, or with questions about available times and class schedules, contact Mary at [email protected].

Cost:

  • Group Classes- $100, three-week class at about 1-1.5 hours/week
  • Individual Classes- $150, two-week class tailored to your baby's needs.

Benefits for the baby:

  • Babies who are lovingly touched, cry less and become ill less often
  • Studies indicate that babies who are massaged on a regular basis, have less stress hormone (lower cortisol levels)
  • Massage improves weight gain
  • Eases colic, gas, and constipation
  • Promotes relaxation and sleep by regulation of behavioral states
  • Promotes, social, emotional, and cognitive development
  • Stimulates the respiratory system, circulatory system, immune system, and digestive system

Benefits for the parents:

  • Promotes bonding and attachment between parent and baby
  • Mothers who massage their babies have increased confidence in their parenting skills
  • Reduces stress levels and decreases postpartum depression
  • Promotes better understanding of infant cues

Benefits for premature babies:

  • Facilitates weight gain
  • Reduces stress hormones
  • Counterbalances pain responses
  • Promotes mature motor behavior
  • Improves immune function/gastric motility
  • Improves, clinical and developmental scores
  • Helps reduce hospital stay time.

Contact Mary at [email protected] or call 260-483-2100 to learn more about this program and upcoming class dates.

Our Therapists

Emily
Emily White, OTR
Director of Therapy

Emily White has worked at Turnstone since April 2017 and is a Registered Occupational Therapist with certifications in SOS approach, Pediatric Pelvic Floor Therapy, and the Get Permission Feeding Approach. Emily loves making connections with the clients and seeing them progress and meet their goals. One of her favorite memories was attending Turnstone’s annual Gala event and seeing how supportive the Fort Wayne community was in helping us achieve our mission. Emily LOVES Mario. In fact, she loves it so much that she had a Nintendo 64 set up to play Mario and a Mario-themed cake at her wedding.

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Tim McCullough PT, DPT, AIT
Lead Physical Therapist

Tim McCullough has been with Turnstone since June 2021. He works with adults and children and is also a certified Adaptive and Inclusive trainer. In his position as a Physical Therapist, he enjoys connecting with people and forming meaningful relationships with the clients he helps. His favorite memory at Turnstone so far was the Paralympic Celebrations.

Tim is a big Cincinnati Bearcats and Bengals fan. He also loves board games!

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Kelly Grant, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist

Kelly Piepenbrink is an Occupational Therapist at Turnstone who works with adults and children. So far, Kelly’s favorite memory at Turnstone was watching Santa Clause visit the Kimbrough Early Learning Center (KELC) kids. “Their reactions were priceless.”

Helping clients become the best version of themselves that they can be is Kelly’s favorite part of her role at Turnstone. She strives to help them reach and surpass goals as much as possible.

Kelly’s favorite dessert is fruit pizza and has actually walked on the Great Wall of China!

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Cecilia Daily, M.S CCC-SLP (ASHA Certified)
Speech-Language Pathologist

Cecilia Daily, also known as Miss Cili by her clients, has been with Turnstone as a Speech-Language Pathologist for 1.5 years as of June 2022. She works with pediatric clients.

Her favorite Turnstone memory was the day she got accepted into graduate school. She was working as a teaching assistant in the Groovy Buttons classroom in Turnstone’s Kimbrough Early Learning Center (KELC) when she received a call from Eastern Illinois University offering her a spot in their master in communication sciences and disorders program.

Cili loves learning about her clients’ interests and incorporating them into therapy to help build motivation and reach goals. For her, it feels very rewarding to hear parents come to therapy and talk about their child’s success communicating at home or carrying over their progress into daily life.

Cili’s favorite food is ice cream and she loves her two basset hounds, Fielder and Flash.

Emma
Emma Spahr, MA CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist

Emma Spahr has worked at Turnstone since August 8, 2022, and she is a Speech-Language Pathologist. Emma is passionate about her job because she loved helping clients find their “voice” and empowering them to reach their own individual potential.

Outside of Turnstone, Emma loves to play volleyball of all kinds (beach, court, pickup or competitive).

When she was younger, she was the first kid to get to dig in the fossil exhibit at the Indianapolis Children's Museum.

Kati
Kati Isbell, M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist

Kati Reyes has worked at Turnstone since August 8, 2022, and is a Speech-Language Pathologist. Kati works with pediatric clients. Speech therapy is close to Kati's heart because she has had members of her family receive speech therapy in the past. She understands the value of having support. She loves the opportunity to help individuals develop their skills and to enable them to express themselves fully!

Kati has studied Spanish for seven years and, though she is not fluent, she loves to practice! Her favorite band is The Band CAMINO.

Mary Hitzemann
Mary Hitzemann, OTR
Lead Occupational Therapist

Mary Hitzemann has been with Turnstone for 25 years as of June 2022. With lots of experience and knowledge, Mary has several credentials and certifications including Debra Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, Kinesiotaping for pediatrics, SOS feeding program, Baby massage, Myofascial release for Pediatrics, Kelly Mahler interoception program, Get Permission (feeding specialty training), Continued training with vision rehabilitation, and NDT handling techniques. Mary works with pediatric clients.

Mary loves working with children and their families and feels blessed to have a career helping children gain new skills that allow them to have more independence. She loves having the opportunity to watch children of all different skill levels learn and interact with their peers.

A fun fact about Mary is that she lives on a farm and has cows at her house. She loves her family (which includes her dogs)—this is her favorite thing.

Megan Russ
Megan Russ, M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist

Megan Russ has worked at Turnstone since February 2013 and is a Speech-Language Pathologist. Megan loves witnessing the moment when a child realizes a speech device can be used for communicating with others. Her favorite part of her role is empowering clients and giving them a voice! Megan’s favorite memory is handing out candy at Turnstone’s annual inclusive Trick-or-Treat event because she enjoys seeing everyone being included. Outside of work, Megan loves to travel and see new places. She especially enjoyed her trip to Rutigliano, Italy, which is where her grandfather grew up. When she’s not traveling, Megan spends her time reading and walking her dog, Minnie.

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Zoe Martin, OTR/L, CTRS
Occupational Therapist

Zoe Martin has worked at Turnstone since January 29, 2018, and is an Occupational Therapist. She works with pediatric clients. Her favorite memory at Turnstone was attending the Gala and Casino Night with her dog, Milo (who is also a part of the Turnstone Team!). With the help of her therapy dog, Milo, Zoe helps lots of clients reach their goals and discover possibilities. Her favorite part about her role is seeing clients progress in their skills. Her favorite season is summer.

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Milo Martin
Therapy Dog

Milo is Zoe's therapy dog.

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Tia Simon, COTA/L
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Tia is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA/L) and has trained in SOS Approach to Feeding. Celebrating her clients every step of their journey is her favorite part of her role. She loves seeing her clients get excited about what they can do and achieve.

Outside of Turnstone, you can find Tia spending time with her own kids and dogs. She loves painting, playing games, and playing her cello.

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Miranda Coombs, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Turnstone

Miranda Coombs, PT, DPT has been with Turnstone since June 5, 2023. In her role, Miranda enjoys creating bonds with the kids and families she serves. She also loves how much fun she gets to have playing games or building puzzles with clients during their treatments. Before working at Turnstone, Miranda had spent some time volunteering at Turnstone's facility.

In her spare time, Miranda loves to run with friends and she is training to run in her first half marathon in October 2023. She also enjoys horses and used to work at a summer horse camp where she learned to ride and care for horses. Her favorite horse from the camp was a Mustang named Spanky.

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Nicole Chatterson, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Turnstone

Nicole Chatterson, PT, DPT, has been with Turnstone since May 2023. As a pediatric physical therapist, Nicole loves having the opportunity to help kids become more independent in their mobility and achieve their goals-- big and small. She aspires to make a positive impact in her clients' everyday lives.

Outside of Turnstone, Nicole enjoys Purdue Football and Basketball, ice cream, and playing with her dog, Beau. One fun fact about Nicole is that she studied abroad in Australia for three weeks during her undergraduate career at Purdue.

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Julia McFann, MSPT
Physical Therapist
Turnstone

Julia McFann, MSPT, has been with Turnstone since June 2023. She is a physical therapist who enjoys working one-on-one with clients and their parents to improve their lives.

Julia's favorite sports team is the Chicago Cubs. A fun fact about her is that she spent a month on an island in the Keys counting snails in tide pools.

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Taylor Jenkins, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Turnstone

Taylor Jenkins, PT, DPT, has been with Turnstone since May 2023. In her role, she loves helping kids achieve their goals and improve their ability to navigate their daily lives. Taylor has a dog named Shadow that she loves to spend time with.

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Audrey Hartwell, M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Turnstone

Audrey Hartwell, M.S. CCC-SLP has worked at Turnstone since June 2023. In her position, she enjoys assisting individuals with the most sacred of skills to all humans; eating, thinking, and communicating. Outside of Turnstone, Audrey enjoys spending time on inland lakes and reading a good mystery novel.

Haley Juber
Haley Juber, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Mallory 12

“Mallory wouldn’t be where she’s at if she hadn’t come to Turnstone. She put in so much time and the therapists invested so much into her. It’s a hard experience and journey as it is, but without Turnstone, we would not have been able to make the best of it.”

Parent

“I think I felt a little nervous—like what am I going to do with my new teacher [physical therapist]? Once I got to know her a little better, it was good. I was really excited to swim.”

Kadence Client
Carol
Questions? Contact Carol
Contact Turnstone
Carol Atha, LBSW
Pediatric Social Worker

Thank You to our Pediatric Therapy Program Sponsors:

Interested in becoming a Therapy Program Sponsor?

Of the thousands of individuals and families who benefit from our comprehensive therapeutic services, the vast majority receive them at a reduced rate based on financial need. Your programmatical support ensures that Turnstone's therapy services can remain on a sliding fee scale.