What do they do?
Whatever the cause of a child's learning difficulties the effects are still profound. Working with parents and carers, BIBIC offers a valuable support system which offers time to talk, expert advice and practical help.
Following an inter-disciplinary assessment, we produce tailored programmes to improve the quality of life for the child and family. Parents are then taught how to take an active role in their child's development by implementing these programmes at home.
Progress is carefully monitored and programmes are adjusted as and when necessary.
How do they do it?
BIBIC offers an inter-disciplinary assessment service, which means that they have professionals with lots of different experience and backgrounds who are able to offer their skills to help your child. Whatever the cause of a child's learning difficulties they understand the impact that can have on the child and the family. Their experience is very broad and they understand the stresses and strains that you will all be going through. So their answer is to give you practical support and advice that you will be able to achieve.
Following the inter-disciplinary assessment, which plots where your child sits in their development against the 'norm', they produce a practical tailored programme to address areas that may be delayed or disordered. Parents and carers are taught how to take an active role in their child's development by implementing these programmes at home. You will be surprised at how simple these programmes can be - and they try and make them fun!
They spend a lot of time explaining to families why these programmes will help and exactly what they are aiming to achieve. They will usually be based on what families have told them about their concerns. Progress is carefully monitored and programmes are adjusted as and when necessary.
Within 4-6 months the family is usually ready to go back again for a reassessment. It is at this point that they can see where the child has improved and what may be impeding improvement in some areas. The programme will be adjusted and the family will be taught new techniques where appropriate.
They see children for varying lengths of time. Assessments can be one, two or three days long depending on the severity of the condition and the requirements family. On occasion they also carry out one-day assessments for other professionals such as solicitors and youth offending teams. They can also offer specialist consultations which are elements of the assessment if that is all that is required. Typically these consultations may cover particular areas such as occupational therapy, nutrition, behaviour etc or offer special therapy sessions such as Brain Gym or sound therapy.
BIBIC is a partnership of therapists with parents. They could not have the direct influence on a child's progress that they do without that partnership. They are here to support you and help you help your child move towards a brighter future...
Why are they needed?
Every week children and young people with neurological problems visit one of BIBIC's national children's clinics. They travel with their families from every part of the UK and overseas.
Ask the families, "Why" and they will tell you they can't get enough support for themselves and their children - they would like more information about how to help their child in the everyday situations that affect family life.
Without frequent, all-round expert help their children struggle to do the things other children take for granted. Things like crawling and walking, kicking a ball, holding a pencil and playing chase with their friends. Many can't learn as quickly as other children. Some struggle to talk and show emotions - they can't bear to be touched, don't know how to play and get angry or cry because they can't express themselves. Things like school, family outings and shopping can be traumatic for everyone concerned.
This can be caused by a complex brain injury, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, autism and disorders that doctors often fail to reach a specific diagnosis. Others have a more specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and attention deficit disorder. All can effect a child's ability to develop and learn.
Thousands of babies and older children are diagnosed with neurological problems every year. This is a highly specialised field and requires sophisticated 'joined up' services. In many cases it's essential to provide daily therapy backed-up by expert help. Not just from medical experts but from specialists in education and communication too - all working together as a team.
What makes BIBIC unique is that they train parents and carers to use a therapeutic approach at home. They also support them while they are doing it, spending a lot of time answering their questions and improving their awareness about neurological problems. This means parents no longer feel powerless to help. BIBIC has pioneered assessments and therapeutic interventions for over 30 years. They use proven best practice from medical, educational and social fields to design a tailor-made therapy programme for each child. Therapies combine sensory stimulation, physiotherapy, communication and behaviour strategies, learning exercises, and nutrition. They do not promise miracles but thousands of children continue to achieved remarkable progress from the therapies we recommend and teach.
BIBIC has experts together under one roof to provide assessment and a holistic therapy programme. They give children and their families all the time and attention they need to improve their understanding of why certainthngs are difficult for them, and how to reduce the impact of those difficulties.
|
