Circle of Care Concept

Leg Up Farm (LUF) believes that every child is special and that human relationships are critical to a child’s development and overall well-being. For therapy to be maximally effective, everyone involved in a child’s life must work together . . . from family and friends, to doctors and therapists, to teachers, volunteers, and community members. LUF has coined the phrase “Circle of Care” to describe its family-centered, community-based, interdisciplinary team approach to children’s therapy.

At LUF, each child will be at the center of an individually tailored therapy program. Our strategy for success includes a mix of highly effective programs and services delivered in fun, safe, child-friendly environments – both indoors and out. Caregivers, including parents and siblings, are considered important members of the therapy team and will be included in the ongoing development and implementation of each child’s program.

Who We Serve

LUF is designed for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults up to the age of 21 with special needs. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau defines children with special health care needs as “those children who have, or are at an increased risk for having, a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.” It is estimated that more than 18 million children in the United States have special needs.

Broad medical conditions that may be treated at LUF include, but are not limited to:

LUF will also address the temporary therapeutic needs of children following an accident, injury, or surgery.

Referral and Assessment Process

Children may be referred to LUF for services from any number of sources, including: physicians and other healthcare professionals; hospitals and clinics; teachers and educational systems; state, county and local agencies; or from family, friends, and relatives.

Upon referral, LUF will prepare a detailed profile followed by a comprehensive, four-phase assessment process conducted by our team of trained therapists to determine each child’s unique challenges and strengths. Once the goals and objectives of the recommended Intervention Plan have been discussed and approved by all members of the child’s circle of caregivers, individual and group therapy sessions will be scheduled.

Therapy Services

Physical Therapy

Our physical therapists analyze the neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems of our clients within a developmental framework. Therapy will focus on gross motor skill acquisition, joint range of motion, and muscle strength in a fun environment full of adventure! Assistive devices and mobility will also be assessed as part of the child’s ability to engage their physical environment.

Occupational Therapy

The chief occupation of the child is PLAY! We utilize this philosophy to provide child-directed treatment to address a wide range of developmental needs to include sensory processing, fine motor function and handwriting skills, ocular-motor performance, visual-perceptual function, self help and feeding skills, and cognitive development. Occupational therapy will also assess a client’s needs for adaptive technology to fully integrate into their community setting.

Speech-Language Therapy

Communication is key! Our speech-language pathologists offer a unique approach to speech and language development. Our focus is not only production of speech and language, but more importantly, pre-linguistic skills such as affect gesturing, reciprocity and engagement, and communication that serve as the foundation for human interaction. The speech and language center is designed to provide our clients with endless opportunities for communication, language, and speech production through play. Our therapists can also address myofunctional and swallow difficulties, phonological/articulation deficits, auditory processing deficits and assistive technology needs for communication.

Equine Assisted Activities

The bond between an animal and child is very special – providing a unique motivation for children to overcome their most difficult challenges. LUF will offer a variety of equine assisted activities to meet the range of needs of all our clients. Hippotherapy and Equine Assisted Therapy consist of individual treatment with a therapist as part of their specific treatment plan. Therapeutic Riding classes will be offered in a group setting to allow our clients to advance their horsemanship skills as the child strives to achieve the goals of their therapeutic program.

Therapeutic Recreation

Therapeutic Recreation offers children many opportunities to gain confidence in group activities as they continue to grow and develop interpersonal relationships with their peers. LUF will offer adaptive sports, leisure, and recreation programs under the direction of a certified TR specialist who can address the needs of our clients having difficulties accessing and participating in these types of activities.

Creative Arts Therapy

Creative arts such as dance, music, art, and drama are well-documented forms of self-expression. Creative arts therapy will explore each of these forms of expression to enhance the child’s well-being and achieve a better sense of self. Each of these programs will integrate the child’s individual therapeutic goals through fun, sensory-rich activities to allow each child to explore their creative side!

Educational Programs

We are pleased to offer the most unique educational opportunities to our clients, their families, and members of the community. Our Paws . . . for Reading© program is specifically designed to enable children with reading difficulties to become confident and proficient readers through companionship of therapeutic animals. Our Special Needs Classroom will be the first of its kind in the region to offer innovative programming to meet the individual educational needs of the child. The classroom is designed to provide a relaxing yet stimulating environment that will motivate the child to achieve their fullest potential!

LUF’s goal is to provide the most advanced and effective treatments, as well as the most up-to-date information to our families. As a result, we will offer a wide variety of workshops, training classes, and conferences for our staff, volunteers, caregivers, and the community. We will also be available to share our knowledge and experience with community organizations and schools through our Speaker’s Bureau.

As the facility continues to grow and expand, so will our Lending Library that families will be able to visit and gain access to resources such as books, reference material, and educational tools regarding diagnoses, medical information, nutrition, treatment techniques, and more!

Social Networking

We are family! The goal for all of our clients is to fully integrate within their environment and engage their peers. Our classes are designed to provide real life challenges where children utilize their knowledge and skills learned in individual treatment. All of our classes have different levels to meet our clients changing needs. Our classes include developmental playgroups, sensory-motor groups, team challenge groups, handwriting groups, fitness groups, and much more!

Summer camps will also be offered to give our clients the opportunity to attend a safe, fun, and challenging summer camp with their peers with highly trained staff to oversee the program. Families will be able to connect and share their stories through our website blog for both kids and parents. We will also offer special events such as movie night at Matthew’s Town so clients and their families can go out together for a fun night on the town.

Caregiver Support

We know that raising a child with special needs is challenging . . . full of ups and downs, with frequent doubts about what the future holds. We also know that life is a balancing act for our families – balancing the demands of work, time, and financial resources among ALL members of the family, including those of other siblings.

Everyone at Leg Up Farm will support our client’s whole family from the moment they walk through the door. Our caregiver support includes such services as temporary respite care, advocacy and support programs, therapy equipment lending and swap programs, facilitating family connections, or simply being there to listen with a sympathetic ear!

Community Collaboration

Come one, come all! LUF will open its door to the community through intergenerational programming. Activities and events such as senior programming, including fitness classes and volunteer programs, youth programs such as Boy/Girl Scouts of America and 4-H, and unique events such as the Special Olympics will be invited to use our facilities. Both our clients and the community will benefit from this symbiotic relationship.

Through collaboration with other medical providers, community service organizations, and educational facilities, LUF seeks to improve the quality of life for all of our children and their families – York Countians in particular. Although our goal is to supplement – not supplant - effective, quality programs and services already in place, we believe LUF fills the niche for a flexible, year-round program in one centralized location designed exclusively for children.

Farming Adventures

Each of us seeks the peace and serenity of nature to give us a sense of enrichment and well-being. Life is not bound by four walls. At LUF, we intend to use the great outdoors as an integral part of our programming model for the purpose of achieving improved outcomes for all of our clients. As Anita Olds, noted authority in child care design, points out . . .

“There’s no way that we can help children to learn to love and preserve this land, if we don’t give them direct experiences with the miracles and blessings of nature.”

In addition to horticultural therapy, LUF will also develop programs and services related to growing and harvesting organic fruits and vegetables for better nutrition and healthier diets. Serenity gardens and their healing properties will also be a natural part of the landscape for all of our families and the community to enjoy. Nature trails, hiking paths, and other outdoor adventures will all be incorporated into the design of our 18-acre playground atop the scenic Starview Plateau.

The possibilities for our children and their families are limitless when exposed to life on the Farm! For more information, please email us at info@legupfarm.org or call (717) 843-8341.