What Brainwave Do
Brainwave is a charity that exists to help children with disabilities achieve greater independence by aiming to improve their mobility, communication skills and learning potential through a range of specialist therapies.
The Brainwave Therapy Programme aims to develop the maximum potential of each child by taking an integrated approach to their physical and cognitive development and by aiming to enhance a child’s social skills and emotional wellbeing. We provide a full day with two therapists for an initial assessment, followed by one-day reassessments every four to six months.
The first time our therapists meet you and your child we encourage you to discuss your child’s development. We will get to know and understand your child, their current abilities and the goals they will be aiming to achieve. We welcome close liaison with all professionals involved with your child’s development.
A key success of Brainwave is our ability to recognise the impact a child with additional needs has on their family and empowering them to deliver therapy to their child at home, as we believe the family home is where children respond best, with the people whose love and care is unparalleled. To that end, we work with you to design Therapy Programmes that can be followed at home and which meets the needs of each individual child and the family as a whole. Our therapists teach parents/carers how to carry out each exercise, in what order, for how long and why.
The exercises we recommend for your child fit around the structure of your child’s day and are intended to facilitate developmental progress and improve function. You will be provided with a written Therapy Programme and a DVD of the exercises.
Essential equipment required for the Therapy Programme is provided free of charge. Only when you and the therapy team are 100% confident the Therapy Programme can be delivered successfully does each visit end.
How Brainwave Can Help
As the therapists at our Brainwave Centres see children from all over the country, they have the knowledge and experience to help you and your child.
Our therapists, who are drawn from the mainstream fields of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and learning development, work with the family to devise a unique Therapy Programme, specifically designed to suit their child’s needs, which will help and encourage them to unlock their child’s potential. This may be anything from helping them walk or ride a bike, to recognising colours or writing their name. Our therapists have a wide range of experience and will use these skills to assess the needs of your child.
- Our qualified therapists have the time to explain your child’s condition and their presenting difficulties.
- We have the time to fully assess your child through play, and work around your daily routine.
- Your child’s assessment and Therapy Programme will be tailored to their individual needs and your daily family routine.
- We are your advocate and are always here for support and ongoing care.
- We provide in-depth therapy reports that can be sent to your NHS or private medical professionals, as we believe that working together maximises your child’s outcomes and quality of care.
Why Choose Brainwave
- We have a qualified multidisciplinary therapy team who work together to help your child using the principles of neuroplasticity and sensory integration.
- We have the time to listen, assess, teach and empower you to deliver the therapy your child needs.
- We design programmes that are tailored to your child’s needs and work on shared goals with exercises that that fit into your lives.
- We loan equipment free of charge for you to carry out your child’s exercises.
- We provide therapy reports for professionals involved with your child to maximise your child’s outcomes and quality of care.
- We can provide early intervention for your child. We will see a child for an initial assessment from birth and up to 12 years of age, however, once a child follows a Brainwave Programme they only leave when the family or therapists feels the time is right.
- Whilst on programme our team of therapists and family facilitators give can give you ongoing support via phone, email and our private ‘Families of Brainwave’ Facebook group.
To enquire for an assessment please click here
The Children We Work With
There is no such thing as a typical child; children can have a range of disabilities and/or developmental delay. This includes cerebral palsy, autism and genetic disorders such as Down syndrome. It is not unusual for a child to have difficulties in several areas and we have some families where children do not have a diagnosis.
The Therapy Programme offers the most benefit to younger children, and we will see a child for an initial assessment from birth and up to 12 years of age, however, once a child follows a Brainwave Programme they only leave when the family feels the time is right.
Assessments
We offer a full day assessment with two therapists with follow-up assessments every six to twelve months. See where we offer assessments here. Below is an example timetable of the assessment day, although it is flexible and we often change it to suit your child:
10.00 am Talking– We find out about your child, their main difficulties, your goals and the time you have available to do exercises through a detailed discussion.
10.45 am Snack and Drinks Break
11.00 am Practical Assessment– We carry out activities to assess your child abilities and develop a programme of exercises
12.30 pm Lunch Break
2.00 pm Explanation, Teaching and Filming– We talk through the programme we have designed and why activities are included before teaching you how to carry them out. We also try to film us carrying out the activities for you to look at when you go home.
4.30 pm End of the Day – We provide you with laminated copies of your programme, transfer videos to you when relevant and loan you the equipment you might need free of charge.
Ongoing Support
Once you return home, our therapy team is available to you via phone calls and email. Our Family Facilitators are also available to provide a listening ear, assist in sourcing volunteer help and continually research up-to-date local and national information for families.