A Chance for the Child


Mahdollisuus lapselle, a Chance for the Child, is a charity-organization, which primary objective is to help children and adolescents with special needs to reach their best potential and to give support to their families and to the persons working with them.




PoKe-rehabilitation is a Finnish family-centered multilevel method based on modern knowledge of the functions of the central nervous system.

The main ideology of PoKe is based on neural plasticity and the knowledge of importance of sensory processes and their contribution in building up functional representations of the body called body schemes. They are needed for movement control and for building up self-concept. It is well known that disorders in sensory processes disturb the development of functional body schemes (Haggard 2004).
In the PoKe-method the abnormalities of sensory processes are corrected by habituation and facilitation.

The PoKe-program includes sensory as well motor and cognitive exercises beginning with simple tasks and advancing to more demanding ones. PoKe-exercises last 1-5 minutes and are repeated 1-3 times a day allowing learning and memory to take place. Thus, persistent long-lasting changes in the strength of synaptic connections are induced as a form of neuroplasticity (Fields 2005).

At the PoKe-clinic a multiprofessional team represents child neurology, neurophysiology, psychology, special education, occupational-, speech- and physiotherapy. There are also parents of children with special needs to discuss and share experiences with.
 
The PoKe-clinic is open for all children with special needs, regardless of their diagnosis.

At the clinic each child gets an individual PoKe-program based upon a parent interview and the evaluation of the child. A PoKe-therapist teaches how to carry out the exercises at home. The excercises can aso take place in kindergarten and at school, which gives a possibility to choose the best time for the child and a chance to make a lot of short term repetitions.

At the PoKe-clinic there's also the opportunity to get advice about dietary supplements known to be beneficial for children with special needs (Radia 2005, Lahey 2003).

The primary objective of PoKe-rehabilitation, as well as the work of the Mahdollisuus lapselle - a Chance for the Child organization, is to improve the quality of life of children and adolescents with special needs and their families; to give them a chance.

The organization has a Fitness Center/Gym Kunnon Huone (poster pdf) especially planned for children with special needs. The space and the equipment are modified to suit the needs of severely disabled children.
 

Mahdollisuus lapselle carries out research and arranges lectures and schooling.

You are most welcome to the yearly charity Gala Hyvän Mielen Gaala, next time on November 17, 2007.