Once a week for 60 minutes, kids come and work on their motor and social skills. They are easily motivated to participate because there are other kids to follow.
"We like to have them starting to walk, also to be able to follow some simple commands, and those are probably the big things, and the goals for their therapy are climbing and socializing, improving their running and you know their kind of higher motor skills," said Joanne Pygon.
Pygon is a physical therapist.
"We have physical therapists in the group, occupational therapists, and then we have a physical therapy aid who has been trained on how to help us, and then we have a few volunteers, because I like to make sure that the kids are safe," Pygon said.
This one-of-its-kind program is in its third year.
"We had added a third group this fall, so I think there has been a great response by therapists in seeing how well children do within their setting," said Pygon.
Melissa Knight's 3-year-old daughter Ivy Joy has cerebral palsy.
"Mighty Movers has been so much fun," said Knight. "This is her second session, and she loves coming ,and she loves the social aspect, the PT and OT are individual, and there may be other kids in the room, but in Mighty Movers, there's all the kids, and they're all playing, and singing and it has made her so social."
"I think, to see how happy the kids are when they are here, but yet knowing how much they're working on achieving their goals, is fabulous," said Pygon.
Now is the time to sign up for winter sessions. There is a fee for this program that can be worked out with individual families.
For more information go to www.eastersealsdfvr.org.
