Providing compassionate therapeutic support to adolescents and adults with diverse abilities living with an array of cognitive or physical impairments.
Innovative therapies, compassionate care
At Sheltering Arms Institute, our physical, occupational, and speech-language therapists work with individuals living with a range of developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, muscular dystrophy and mitochondrial disease, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, and spina bifida.
We are committed to providing compassionate, goal-oriented care that improves quality of life and community participation.
Individualized, goal-oriented care
At Sheltering Arms Institute, our physical, occupational, and speech-language therapists develop unique care plans designed around each individual’s capabilities and goals.
Therapy services for adolescents and adults with diverse abilities are offered at several of Sheltering Arms Institute’s outpatient centers conveniently located throughout Richmond and Central Virginia.
Developmental disabilities therapy services
A variety of therapies are available to support the unique needs of each individual.
Sheltering Arms Institute physical therapists work with individuals with developmental disabilities to improve strength and functional mobility, determine wheelchair and/or equipment needs, manage pain, and improve overall health and fitness.
Through occupational therapy, Sheltering Arms Institute clinicians help those with developmental disabilities optimize independence and activities of daily living, facilitate engagement in desired occupations, assess the use of assistive technology, and recommend environmental adaptations.
Speech-language pathologists at Sheltering Arms Institute support individuals with developmental disabilities by conducting evaluations for communication disorders, providing communication strategies, and recommending safe approaches to swallowing, eating, and drinking.
Through our continuum of care at Sheltering Arms, the Club Rec day recreation program provides activities to support the development of social skills and emotional well-being among individuals with diverse abilities.
My daughter’s physical therapist continuously gathers information and makes adjustments to meet Emily where she is, all while encouraging her to do her best, gain muscle memory, and stimulate new areas of her brain. I can’t say enough about Sheltering Arms Institute and all the amazing people who work there—they have made an enormous difference in my daughter’s life.
Committed to quality of life
At Sheltering Arms Institute, we work to support the therapeutic needs of adolescents and adults living with a broad range of developmental disabilities and help individuals achieve positive outcomes through innovative, personalized care plans.
Individuals receiving care for a neurological condition at Sheltering Arms Institute, on average, achieve a 30% improvement in their gait speed and an 18% increase in distance walked during the six-minute walk test throughout the course of their therapy.
At Sheltering Arms Institute, expert clinicians collaborate to build treatment plans that cater to each individual’s abilities, interests, and goals.
Sheltering Arms Institute clinicians utilize a wide range of techniques and therapies and are continually adding new, innovative strategies backed by scientific research and testing.
97% of patients would recommend Sheltering Arms Institute to their friends and loved ones.
It’s common for individuals with diverse abilities to face challenges after leaving pediatric therapies, such as finding a community or clinicians who specialize in unique needs related to a specific developmental condition. At Sheltering Arms Institute, we provide tailored interventions to adolescents and adults with diverse abilities that factor in the whole person, evidence-based treatments, and advanced technology to care for each person.
Understanding developmental disabilities therapy
Clinicians at Sheltering Arms Institute work with individuals living with a range of developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, muscular dystrophy and mitochondrial disease, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, and spina bifida.
While many developmental disabilities have no cure, physical, occupational, speech-language, and recreational therapies can help individuals manage their condition.
Typically, an episode of therapy lasts between 4 and 12 weeks. Afterwards, check-in sessions usually occur a few times per year, which allows your therapist to use episodic care to help monitor functional changes and manage injuries or new concerns as needed.
There are many technologies available at Sheltering Arms Institute for individuals with diverse abilities. Your therapist will first perform an evaluation to determine what technology may help your specific needs and check that each device is safe for you to use. Technologies often used include electrical stimulation, vibration plate or wand, bodyweight support systems, safety systems or harnesses, robotics, and balance equipment such as computers or force plates to add balance challenges.
Sheltering Arms Institute provides outpatient therapy services for adolescents and adults with diverse abilities at our centers that provide care for neurological conditions, including Bon Air, Hanover, Laburnum, Midtown, and Reynolds. Explore all of our conveniently located locations at www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/locations.
Start your Journey
Contact a specialist at Sheltering Arms Institute to learn more about how you can gain more freedom in your everyday life.
