This training for parents, day-care providers, preschool and kindergarten teachers, will explore how to help kids from birth to age seven develop the sensory motor foundation needed to make learning easy.  Topics include activities to facilitate child development, activities to avoid, the “Learning Pyramid”, developed by Margaret White, OT, concepts from the book “Building Better”, by Roxanne Small, PT, and environmental adaptations.  The format will be presentation, open discussion, and hands-on application.   

Presented by Trish Barnes, OTR/L

 When: Thursday, October 7, 2010: 7:00-8:30pm

Where:  St. Luke’s Meridian, Lower Level Conference Rooms

To sign up, please call 208.706.5548

Date: Thursday, Aug 5th

Time: 7-8:30pm

Location: St. Luke’s Meridian, lower level conference rooms

Cost: Free

Brought to you by St. Luke’s-Elks Children’s Rehab

During this in-service, parents/caregivers will learn how to identify the motivation behind their child’s behavior, how to use themselves as an effective intervention tool to help their child and about anger in children.  They will have the opportunity to learn about and practice anger and stress management skills they can teach their child.

Call 706-5548 to sign up! 

Presenter: Wendy Rouse, DPT

Date: Thursday, June 3rd

Time: 7-8:30pm

Location: St. Luke’s Hospital in Meridian, lower level conference rooms

To register please call 706-5775

*Childcare is no longer available, sorry for the inconvenience

When: Thursday, February 4th

Where: St. Luke’s Meridian, lower level conference rooms

Registration Deadline: Friday, January 29th

*limited childcare is provided

Call Jasmynn @ 489-5880 to Sign-up!

Date: Thursday, April 2nd

Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

Location: St. Luke’s Meridian, lower level conference rooms

Registration Deadline: Friday, March 27th

During this in-service we will discuss what Sensory Integration is, how and why it is used, and how it can be functionally used in the home and school environments.  We will learn through lecture, open discussion, and hands on application. 

Childcare is provided, spots are limited

To sign up, please call Jasmynn at 489-5880

·        Involuntary tremor

·        Muscle stiffness

·        Shuffling steps when walking

·        Decreased arm swing   

·        Impaired balance and coordination

·        Impaired voice quality

Daily exercise is one of the most important things that you can to do to help counteract the effects of Parkinsons disease.  Physical activity has been shown to increase blood flow to parts of the brain as well as to the muscles in your body.  It is now thought that exercise may help slow down the loss of nerve cells in the body making movement easier.

The focus of “Think Big to Move Big” exercise class is to improve mobility in individuals with Parkinsons disease.  When you have been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, it is very important to stay moving and keep active in order to maintain optimal function.   This exercise class will help you:

·        Improve Strength

·        Decrease stiffness

·        Improve balance and walking

·        Decrease fall risk and improve safety

·        Bring together members of the community for discussion, fun activities, and education

“Think Big to Move Big” exercise class meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11am at 3875 E. Overland Rd, Meridian.  Please call 489-5060 for further information or if you are interested in attending this exercise class. Try your first class free of charge.  Cost is $35 per month.

“I grabbed the snake and threw it far away, and I’m still here today,” he said.

The audience laughed. Austin smiled. And his mother, peering through the lens of a video camera, beamed. Austin, who has cerebral palsy, is one of 14 children and teens who attended the Advancing Adventures in Communicating Camp at Idaho State University-Boise June 18-22. Austin delivered his dialogue using an alternative augmentative communication (AAC) device or “talker”- a small computer capable of storing hundreds of words and phrases. An infrared light activates his desired response.   

The camp (the only one of its kind in the Northwest) is for children who have severe communication challenges caused by disease, injury, autism or other delays in development. The main requirement to attend camp is that they must already own an electronic communication device or “speech generating device”. The primary goal of camp is for these campers to become more proficient in using their “talkers” to communicate with peers and adults. They can practice using the “talkers” with their peers and adults who will take the time to truly listen. The camp also trains future speech-language pathologists about assistive technology and how to better interact with people who use augmentative devices. The campers spend the week, working one-on-one with speech pathologists and graduate students from ISU-Boise’s speech-language pathology program. Activities included swimming, rock climbing, writing, crafts, drama and culminated with a series of plays written and performed by the campers while using their AAC devices.

“The best part for me is seeing the campers interact — being around children like themselves,” said counselor/clinician Deirdre Morgan, a 2007 graduate of ISU-Boise’s speech pathology and audiology program.

This year camp will be held from June 9th-13th on the ISU Boise Campus. Our theme for camp is “Super Heroes” and we have numerous activites planned around our theme. If you are interested in more information or would like to register for camp, please contact Anne Kuhlmeier at akuhlmeier@ierh.org or call 208-706-5575.

Anne M. Kuhlmeier, M.A., CCC
Speech Language Pathologist