Jacob’s Ladder Pediatric Rehab Center

Presented by: Candace Arvin

About Jacob’s LadderWe are a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit outpatient rehabilitation facility for children with special needs. We have over 40

therapists specializing in pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapy for children with developmental

disabilities.Our team provides the most current treatment approaches

in a family friendly environment to help children reach their full potential. We believe that family and community

play an integral role in a child’s therapy, and we encourage everyone to get involved.

Grand Opening 1998

We saw 8 children in the first week of operation at Jacob’s Ladder

Our goal was to serve 40-50 special needs children from Porter County every week.

Jacob’s Story• Jacob was born with Down Syndrome. Like

other children with developmental disabilities, Jacob needed regular therapy sessions for the first six years of his life so that he could learn to walk, run, talk, and play like other kids his age. But services were hard to find and required traveling to another county several times a week to get specialized pediatric therapy.

• Because of Jacob, Jacob’s Ladder opened 1998 in Porter County, Indiana. Mariann Frigo, an occupational therapist, is Jacob’s mom, and she knew firsthand the importance of obtaining quality therapy services during the early development of special needs children.

Jacob’s LadderMission:

To give hope to families with special children

Vision:For all special children in

Northwest Indiana to receive comprehensive therapy and

supplemental care so they can reach their full potential, and for their families to feel fully supported and empowered.

Jacob’s Ladder provides Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy services to children with:

• Autism• Down Syndrome• Cerebral Palsy• Spinal Bifida• Juvenile Arthritis• Pervasive Developmental

Disorder

• Cancer• Sensory Processing

Disorders• Muscular Dystrophy• Failure to Thrive• Symbolic Dysfunction• Gait Abnormality

**The CDC estimates that 1 in 6 (15%) of children ages 3-17 have one or more developmental disabilities.**

Physical Therapy: Child is working on core

strength and coordination

Occupational Therapy: Jacob is working on his fine

motor skills that are needed for everyday life.

Early Intervention• Early childhood intervention programs have been shown to

yield benefits in academic achievement, behavior, educational progression, delinquency and crime, and labor market success, among other areas.

• Interventions with better-trained caregivers and smaller child-to-staff ratios appear to offer more favorable results.

• Well-designed early childhood interventions have been found to generate a return to society ranging from $1.80 to $17.07 for each dollar spent on the program.

(Rand, 2015)

Watch us Grow!

Additional Programs Offered at Jacob’s Ladder:• Gina Isroff, a Nutritionist, gives free consults

and follow-ups to JL families.• Barnabas is a therapy dog who comes to the

center once a month to meet kids who might be interested in having a therapy dog at home.

• Lights Up Sound Down Family Day takes place on the 3rd Saturday each month. Movie, Lunch, Activities and Crafts at the Portage Imax!

• Aquatics therapy gives children the opportunity for gravity free movement.

• The Respite Program offers a break to parents.• JL Academy is a developmental playgroup for

kids with sensory issues/behavioral concerns focusing on kindergarten preparedness.

Nutrition Barnabas, Comfort Dog

Lights Up, Sound Down

Aquatics Therapy

Respite Care Program JL Academy

Barnabas the Comfort Dog!He makes hard work fun by wrapping exercise into a

fun activity.

Aquatics Therapy:Held at the Hobart YMCA in a warm water therapy

pool every Wednesday from 3-4:30pm

Lights Up Sound Down:A special movie showing for kids with sensory issues where

the lights are dimmed and the sound is turned down.

Jacob’s Ladder 2015Currently, we see about 600

special needs children per week. • 400 are ages 0-3 and seen in

their homes through Indiana’s First Steps Program

• 200 children are school age and receive their services at our outpatient center in South Haven

VolunteersJacob’s Ladder depends

on a small village of volunteers to help reduce our costs allowing us to provide therapy to more children. Every 2 hours volunteered subsidizes

one precious child’s therapy session.

Meet Ruth!

CommunityOur regular fundraising programs help to generate the necessary funds to provide much needed services to challenged children. It is only because of community support that we are able to help such a large number of families.**90¢ of each $1.00 donated goes directly

back to program services for Jacob’s Ladder children**

Your gift can make a difference!!!

$25 covers one therapy session $100 covers a child’s therapy for one month $1,200 sponsors a child’s therapy for one year

Donations can be made online through our website: www.JacobsKids.org or by mail to: PO Box 2385 Portage, IN 46368