Pediatrics
	Megan Schaefer (left) - Associate Director of the Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic Cole Galloway (left) - Academic Director for the Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic

Pediatrics is the last didactic class with hands-on experience that UDPT students experience before going out on their final full-time affiliations. This will change starting for the Class of 2006, who will do their Peds work in the winter or spring of their second year. For the integrated clinical experience aspect of the Peds course, students work hands on with children for one full day per week for 5 weeks in conjunction with their Peds class. The class is held at the Early Leaning Center, a collaborative child care center that was developed at the University of Delaware through the Center for Disabilities, the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy. This state of the art building allows PT students to observe actual classroom interactions through observation decks or to have interactive labs with both typically developing children as well as those children with special needs.

Seven students will participate in integrated clinical experiences at the Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic (PRC) within the ELC, the rest of the class will participate in clinical experiences at off-site pediatric PT sites. This is the first year that UD students can fulfill their requirement at the PRC. Over time, the PRC hopes to accommodate more UDPT students.

The clinic evaluated their first PT patient in Dec 2004. Pediatric rehabilitation, especially with younger age groups, is a team approach. Currently, the PRC offers physical and speech/language therapy (SLP), and is actively recruiting an Occupational Therapist (OT). This is the first time UD has employed both SLPs and OTs. Having all three therapies enables the clinic to provide comprehensive care as well as a holistic approach to working with children and their families.

The Early Learning Center enrolls children aged 0-12. The classrooms are divided into 4 groups: infants (~6weeks-12months), toddlers (~12months-3years), preschool (~3-5years), kindergarten (~5-6years), and before/after school program for children (~5-12years). Of the children who attend the ELC, 20% have special needs, and 40% are from low income/at risk families. Providing therapy services for these populations in particular should hopefully show benefits for the ELC students in the near and distant future. In addition to therapy services to children attending the ELC, outpatient services are also available for children in the community who do not attend.

Therapists work with children enrolled in the ELC in the classroom, playground, and the gym. Treatment rooms, equipped with swings, parallel bars, and stairs, are also available. Both classrooms and treatment rooms include 2-way mirrors, microphones, and cameras, which allow therapists and families to observe assessments or treatments without disrupting the children. The PRC is also beginning playgroups in which PT can be provided. Additional activities within the ELC include but are not limited to a Nurse Practitioner 3 days per week, early education students, Dietary services, and Psychology research.

The pediatric integrated clinical experience provides PT students with a range of clinical experiences in the screening, assessment and intervention of infants and children within a state of the art childcare center.