Have you ever known of something, but never known about it? I knew that children with special needs sometimes need a little extra help, but I didn’t know where they went to get it. I knew that Jacob’s Ladder existed to help these children, but I didn’t know the great and growing impact they had and continue to have on our community. I now know. And I want you to know, too.
Jacob’s Ladder Pediatric Rehab Center, a nonprofit organization, has been helping the children of our region since 1998 when founder Mariann Frigo, an occupational therapist, saw that there was a need in Porter County that wasn't being met. A mother of a son, Jacob, with Down syndrome, Frigo knew how crucial it was to get proper quality therapy to children during their early stages of childhood. Jacob needed therapy for the first six years of his life in order to learn to basic skills like talking and walking, and Frigo dutifully drove her son to and from therapy sessions.
Frigo was an owner of a therapy company called First Care Inc. She decided that she wanted to help other families in similar situations as her own so she founded Jacob's Ladder. The first week the organization was in operation six children were seen. Now in 2015, over 600 children come through the doors at Jacob's Ladder for therapy and other services.
“We treat kids from infants to 18 years old,” Candace Arvin, Director of Development for Jacob’s Ladder said. “We do physical, speech, and occupational therapy for children with special needs and who are in recovery from an illness or injury."
Occupational therapy helps with fine motor skills. Buttoning up shirts or holding a pencil can be difficult for children with special needs and the occupational therapists at Jacob's Ladder work with kids to learn and hone these skills. The organization also helps children who are recovering from injuries or illnesses like cancer and physical therapy helps them to strengthen their larger muscles so they can move properly. Physical therapy deals with gross motor skills, strengthening large muscles. Speech therapy helps kids learn those hard letters like “L” and “R” and to overall communicate better with family and friends. Speech therapy offered at Jacob’s Ladder includes: receptive language, expressive language, speech intelligibility, oral-motor and feeding skills, play skills, and social and interactive skills.
Jacob’s Ladder has a bevy of important programs to help children flourish.
The Aquatics Therapy program helps children to learn skills that may be just a bit tough on dry land. Hobart YMCA opens up their warm water therapy pool to Jacob's Ladder every week so that the kids can get the therapy they need in a safe environment.
"Water therapy provides low impact exercises for children, less stress on joints and it's easier for them to move in the water," Arvin said. "The warm water is relaxing and can help calm a child if they become overly stimulated."
The First Steps program is a state-wide initiative to help children up to age three with special needs. There are only a handful of organizations in Northwest Indiana who are part of the program, and the mission of said program is to provide early intervention services to babies and toddlers who had developmental delays or are diagnosed with a condition that is likely to cause a developmental delay.
As kids get older and approach school age, they can take part in the JL Academy, a program that focuses on preparing children for kindergarten while building academic and social skills in a nurturing environment. The child-to-teacher ratio is small so kids can get the attention that they need.
“We are able to teach them and they think that we’re just playing,” Arvin said of the kids. “We focus on fine motor skills, social skills, language, and academic skills so that the kids can be ready for the classroom and for socialization with other children."
Lights Up Sound Down is a monthly outing planned by Jacob’s Ladder with the help of the Portage 16 IMAX. On the third Saturday of every month, children with special needs or sensory issues are able to go to the movies. Specially created showings of current movies are shown for kids who have trouble dealing with loud noises or bright lights. After the movie, lunch is provided as well as crafts and other activities. Parents can come with their kids and meet other families or take this time and to have a little break.
Lights Up Sound Down is part of the Jacob’s Ladder Respite Program. This program takes place on the third Saturday of each month and parents can take part in classes and meet other parents with kids who have special needs, as well as get time to themselves.
“Moms can go on a date with their husbands, run errands, take a nap, get their nails done, whatever they need to unwind and refresh,” Arvin said. “We support parents and do our best to help them learn how to help their child and themselves.”
Like all nonprofits, they rely on the donations and generosity of outside sources. They are always looking for volunteers and monetary donations are accepted. Since opening, Jacob’s Ladder has grown from just serving Porter County to serving Lake, Porter, and La Porte Counties. They even have families who will come from as far away as South Bend to utilize their services.
“We’ve grown quite a bit in the last few years because more children are being diagnosed with disabilities due to changing laws and regulations,” Arvin said. “The more people know about what we do, the more children we can help.”