Some days it seems that part of the job of being a parent is to worry. We parents worry from the beginning that the delivery of our baby will go well then we worry that our toddler might not sleep at grandma’s house on a first overnight. Later we worry that our fifth grader will brush his teeth at camp. But most parents know when something is truly wrong with their child’s development. Maybe you are worried that your child is not talking in complete sentences or your child’s play is marked by excessive swinging, spinning or rough play. It’s called parent’s intuition and often your hunch is right. It is better to be safe than sorry when you feel concerned about your child’s development. A thorough evaluation by a pediatric therapist can you give insight to what is happening with your child.
Many people don’t know there is a therapy clinic here in the North Valley that has one of the best teams of pediatric occupational therapists, physical therapists, feeding therapists, and speech and language therapists in the Valley. United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona’s (UCP) name does not tell the whole story about this agency. The UCP therapy clinic serves children with cerebral palsy, but the therapists also have expertise in helping children with all disabilities including autism, sensory processing disorder, genetic disorders, orthopedic disabilities, birth defects, effects of in-utero drug or alcohol exposure, traumatic brain injuries, developmental delays along with other diagnoses that affect the capability of a child. The therapy team not only can help families struggling with complex diagnoses, but families and children who may just need a little extra help. UCP’s physical therapist team can help an infant with a tight neck or a toddler who is a late walker. The feeding clinic can help picky eaters, and the speech team can help a school age child articulate his words correctly. The Handwriting Program has an occupational therapist, who can help a first grader form his letters correctly.
The UCP clinic is set on a beautiful campus with a rock climbing wall, out door play area covered by trees, state of the art equipment and therapy rooms that parents can choose to view their child from 2 -way windows. The Laura Dozer Center’s theme is the Enchanted Forest and it invites children to play and imagine so a child often don’t realize how hard she is working in therapy.
What really makes UCP therapy clinic special is that it provides all who come to the clinic with the best care because the agency believes in the dignity and value of each and every individual that it serves. UCP efforts are guided by the belief that each person has potential gifts and talents to be unlocked. The team also believes in a parent’s intuition, and can help you understand why you are concerned and how you can help your child.
UCP has many services in addition to therapy for a family including an inclusive Early Learning Center, respite and habilitation to name a few. More information about UCP can be found at https://ucpofcentralaz.org The UCP Therapy Clinic can be contacted by calling 602-682-1893 or email [email protected]
