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Tuesday, 02 February 2010 |
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By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
2-2-2010 For parents of young children with developmental disabilities, finding help for themselves and their child can be difficult. Not only is the child in need of help, and soon, but parents need assistance with finding ways to cope. Sometimes, a parent may not even know their child has early developmental challenges.
There is a new resource in Bishop offering a helping hand and guidance through this difficult time in their lives. The Heart-to-Hand Family Resource Center has opened a new library to assist parents and their toddlers and infants, ages 0-36 months, with disabilities. The library is located in the Kern Regional Center office at 459 W. Line St. in Bishop.
The Center is also a welcome place for adults to have their children evaluated. And, just as important, it is a place to seek counseling and support groups.
Heart-to-Hand Director Jennifer Patterson explained that parents of developmentally delayed children need to know “they are not alone – we’re here to help.”
The new library has a variety of books on specific conditions a child may be suffering from, and books for the kids, too. There are also state laws posted regarding children’s and parents’ rights.
Heart-to-Hand also has parent support groups, gatherings and family time for children and adults that include an occasional pizza or swim party.
Knowing if a child needs help is not easy either, Patterson explained. She said while children develop at different rates, it may be hard for a parent to tell if their son or daughter is developing at a healthy rate.
Some of these developmental delays may include difficulties sitting up, or babbling and not trying to form words, and anger issues. These can all been seen as signs for a parent to have their child evaluated, and at an early age.
“Early intervention is very important,” Patterson said Friday. “If we can get them therapy at an early age, hopefully they won’t need as much as they get older.”
Heart-to-Hand is sponsored by the Inyo County Superintendent of Schools Early Start Program, but it also part of the “entire community and team,” as Patterson put it, that helps in raising a child. Other groups involved in the process of early intervention include Inyo County Health and Human Services, Inyo Child Care Services, Kern Regional Center, Great Steps Ahead, the Family Health Centre and many local doctors and pediatricians, including the Toiyabe Indian Health Project.
Heart-to-Hand can help in evaluating a child and in making referrals to local professionals.
For more information, call Patterson at (760) 873-3262 ext. 229 or Denise Sprague at (760) 873-3262 ext. 409. The resource library is located on West Line Street, next door to the Department of Fish and Game, downstairs from the Robert Beach Insurance Agency, and is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 February 2010 )
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