Early Interventions

Like her brother Benji, we recognized that Giulietta had low muscle tone at birth. By three months of age, she was already behind in milestones, she had difficulty simply holding up her head. We had learned through trial and error of many different physical therapy, that MEDEK physical therapy was the most effective approach for advancing motor skills. So we enrolled Giulietta in MEDEK at just three months old. The exercises looked unusual to the untrained eye, like hanging h

In 2011 we heard about the STEPs program summer camp. It was a special needs camp and I wanted to explore it to find out if it would be a good fit for the kids. I suggested that I would shadow for a day and then decide. However, I was informed that the staff at the program were well versed in navigating the teaching of disabled children. Given that my kids were medically fragile, I wasn't comfortable sending them to a camp without ensuring that the setting would be suited for

Following the nursery school experience and after researching other programs in the city, I realized that Benji would not fit into a traditional schooling model. What he needed was a small school with customized learning that would help him build foundational skills: basic things that others took for granted, like walking, pointing, holding a utensil, simple communication. At that time, we still believed there were off-the-shelf approaches that could benefit him if only we co

Finding the Perfect Inclusive Nursery for Benji When we left Philadelphia in 2006, Benji was 18 months old. Upon our arrival in Toronto, I sought a nursery school that could accommodate and stimulate him so he could have social interactions and gain skills like any other child. We specifically moved into a neighborhood where a reverse integration nursery school supported children with diverse skills and needs. It was within walking distance from our home, and I could drop Ben

Benji had low muscle tone. This affected his ability to hold his head up, sit up independently, crawl, stand, or walk. From Day One: Supporting Benji Through Hypotonia Benji's low muscle tone (hypotonia) was present since birth, and we attempted every form of early intervention to help him meet motor milestones. We worked closely with numerous occupational and physical therapists. In the early days, we tried to encourage "tummy time" to increase his tolerance to being prone a

Exploring Therapies: Giulietta’s Journey Giulietta's low muscle tone was present at birth. By 3 months of age, an OT was consulted, and craniosacral therapy began. Craniosacral therapy is a hands-on technique that uses light touch on the skull, spine, and sacrum to release tension and support the nervous system, potentially helping babies with developmental delays improve comfort, mobility, and overall function. Giulietta did not benefit from this approach. OT was also sought

Giulietta developed gross motor skills while building strength, confidence, and enjoyment of sports and exercise. By 6 months of age, it was clear that Giulietta, like Benji, also had gross developmental delays with evident low muscle tone. Given Benji's poor experience with traditional PT modalities until he started MEDEK®, Giulietta began MEDEK® at 6 months of age, helping her learn to sit, stand, and eventually walk by the time she was 3 years old. Like Benji, Giulietta ha

Discovering MEDEK: Benji’s Path to Motor Development Benji started receiving intensive traditional physical therapy around one year old. The goals were motor milestones like sitting, crawling, and standing. Traditional physical therapy with daily practice did not achieve any milestones. At approximately 18 months, we discovered Método Dinámico de Estimulación Kinésica (MEDEK), a dynamic method of kinetic stimulation. MEDEK is a physical therapy approach that uses gravity and

Benji using his PECS binder at one of his favourite spots, Starbucks, a place he’s loved visiting since he was young. Understanding ABA: A Common Approach for Children with Autism Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) was recommended by SLPs as a learning technique commonly employed for children with autism spectrum disorder. It’s a therapeutic approach based on the science of learning and behavior, often used to help autistic children develop skills and reduce challenging behavior

This is what Benji’s current Proloquo layout looks like as he practices communication with support. Early Speech and Feeding Challenges: Benji’s Journey Speech therapy for Benji began at 9 months due to swallowing and feeding issues. He had an abnormal swallow reflex, and we worked with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) to determine feeding strategies and reduce risk of choking. Benji also exhibited a strong oral aversion, refusing anything near his mouth and making adequa

Benji began occupational therapy at 6 months old to address severe low muscle tone that prevented him from holding his head up independently. He required external head support and physical assistance to maintain upright posture in his stroller. He had no fine motor control and could not grasp objects or tolerate being in a prone position while keeping his head up. Early Therapy Goals: Benji’s First Steps in Motor Development Initial therapy goals focused on maintaining postur