Amazing Kids. Amazing Place. Amazing Future.
Sometimes seeing is believing.
Throughout our 100 year history, The Children’s Institute has affected many lives. Healing wounds, rebuilding lives and keeping families together. No one knows this better than the children and families that have come to us for services.
You can watch first-hand accounts from children, families and staff who believe that this is an amazing place. The video segments featured on this page originally appeared together during a marketing event entitled “Amazing Kids. Amazing Place. Amazing Future.” That aired on WPMY My Pittsburgh TV in September, 2008.
Who We Are
Learn about the history and amazing future of The Children’s Institute in this overview.
Functional Feeding
Meet Arianna, a child who came to The Hospital at The Children's Institute as an inpatient in our Functional Feeding Program following a multivisceral transplant. Learn about the amazing progress she saw during her stay, and what that meant to her family.
Rehabilitation
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Even cerebral palsy can't dampen the spirits of Maya Torres. In this telethon segment titled "Rehabilitation", patients Logan McMaster and Maya Torres come to The Hospital at The Children’s Institute and make amazing strides toward independence.
Find out more about inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services at The Children’s Institute. |
Respite Care
For many families of children with special needs, the demands are seemingly endless. No appointment, project or undertaking can be carried out without planning for the medically specialized care of their child. Respite – an interval of rest – is essential for families to care for their children with special needs, their siblings and themselves.
RND
When a child is suffering from chronic pain that seems to last longer than expected, the problem may be a condition known as reflex neurovascular dystrophy (RND). Zane Barnett and his mother didn’t know where to turn when his pain started to affect his life. Watch how the RND program at The Hospital at The Children’s Institute helped Zane to cope with the pain that kept him from normal activities.
GYMBOP®
When a child works hard, without realizing he’s working, it’s an amazing thing. Learn about GymBop®, an innovative program that teachers in The Day School at The Children’s Institute developed to help children who are naturally resistant to physical therapy. Combining music, adapted physical education and interactive experiences, students and staff at The Day School have a blast while they work hard every day.
Noah's Story
The Hewitt family wasn't sure where to turn when Noah was diagnosed with autism. Thanks to The Day School, Noah has found a place where he can thrive. Watch Noah's story.
Patrick's Story
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Meet Patrick Morrison, a gregarious teenage student in The Day School at The Children’s Institute. Patrick, like many students in The Day School, has cerebral palsy. When children’s complex needs cannot be met by their own school district, The Day School is there to provide the highest quality education. Find out more about The Day School at The Children's Institute. |
Satchel's Story
Satchel Heidelberg is a young student whose smile and bubbly personality make her teachers and classmates smile every day. Learn about her experience with The Day School at The Children’s Institute.
Last Days of School
The final days of any school are a flurry of activity. Proms. Graduations. Saying goodbye to friends and teachers for the summer. Students at The Day School at The Children’s Institute are no different. See how special events make the last days of school a time to remember.
Sutton Family
The Suttons are one of the amazing families who have found room in their hearts for children with special needs. They began their relationship with daughter Jocesha by providing foster care and then ultimately adopted her. Watch their amazing family in action.
Family Preservation
In addition to offering adoption services, Project STAR offers family preservation services. The goal is to ensure that each child safely remains with, or will be returned to, his birth family. They assist families in identifying their strengths and provide them with the tools and information necessary to care for the children in their home. One of the parents Project STAR works with is Amy Sickelsmith who has 5 boys. Her son Brady, has hydrocephalus and other disorders. For Amy, Project STAR has been an amazing source of support.
Jaskola Family
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Meet the Jaskola family. Noelle and Michael have adopted 3 amazing kids through Project STAR at The Children's Institute. Watch their story as they talk about how they've built their amazing family. Find out more about Project STAR at The Children's Institute. |
Reunification
One of the goals of Project STAR at The Children’s Institute is keeping families together. If children have been removed from the home due to neglect or abuse, Project STAR works with local agencies to see if that family can be reunited. View the story to learn more about what role Project STAR plays in this process.
The Center For Autism
What do you do when you learn the devastating news that your child has autism? Where do you turn? How do you move on? Professionals at The Center for Autism at The Children’s Institute have dedicated their lives to providing answers to these tough questions, giving families like the Ritchies, who have two young girls with autism, a chance to rebuild their lives.
Family Support
Lee Hepler was in a very bad accident before he was brought to The Hospital at The Children’s Institute. There was little hope that he would regain use of his limbs or speech, but throughout a nine-month stay, he improved day by day. For families like Lee’s, a stay of this length requires a lot of support. The Children’s Institute provides services to families who have children like Lee, with a long road of therapy ahead of them. Stays in nearby Heasley House, home evaluations and innovative therapies are just a few of the ways The Children’s Institute lends a hand to children with special needs and their families.
