One of the great things about being a pediatric physical therapist is being able to help families find community resources and services in our area to allow maximum participation for the whole family. Below is a list of resources that might be helpful to families with children with special needs:

  • Kids in Action Physical Therapy Facebook Page is updated with activities, new research, news articles and more. All relevant to families with children with special needs and children in general!
  • The City of Fort Collins has many adaptive programs for individuals with special needs. Including those with visual impairments, adaptive yoga and adaptive ski programs. 
  • Easter Seals Discovery Club is open to children 6-18 with special needs and their siblings. From 10-4 one Saturday per month parents can get a break while the kids participate in games, singing, sports and more. Available in Fort Collins:  Feb. 27, Mar. 12, Apr. 23
  • Sensory Friendly Films  at AMC theaters, including the one in Fort Collins, offer screenings designed for children with Autism and other special needs.  They keep the lights on, and show the film at a lower volume. Talking, dancing and singing are welcome during the show. Offered the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7pm and Saturdays at 10am of each month. 
  • Mehaffey Park, which opened in spring of 2015 has an amazing playground. While not designed for children with special needs, it does offer equipment for suitable for varying ages and abilities. I love to work with children on playground equipment, when appropriate, and have become a playground connoisseur of sorts.  This playground offers a climbing wall, waterfall, stream with bridges, a tree house, various spinning apparatuses for those sensory seekers. 
  • Dance Express Fort Collins is a dance troupe for people with and without disabilities. Adaptive dance programs are a great way for children with special needs to practice motor skills and coordination in a fun and accepting environment. 
  • Athletes in Tandem is an amazing group of volunteer that pull and push people with special needs through running races and triathlons. I have so much respect for this organization. Not only do they provide a great service to athletes with disabilities, they are amazing athletes. I even saw them in Ironman Boulder, which I barely finished without pushing/pulling another athlete with me.