Brainwave is a charity that exists to help children with disabilities and additional needs to achieve greater independence by aiming to improve mobility, communication skills and learning potential through a range of specialist therapies.
The Brainwave 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-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 Centre see children from all over the country, and overseas, 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.
How the Therapy Programme Works
The Therapy Programme is based on the principle of neuroplasticity. It aims to help the brain find new pathways in the ‘neural network’ by providing regular repetition of newly acquired skills. The Therapy Programme can cover physical, educational and social abilities.
We will also try to assist families to understand their child’s behaviour and explain why they may behave in a certain way, providing some strategies to help families in everyday living.
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.
Where We Are
We support families across the UK and beyond. Currently we are able to offer support in the following ways:
- Assessments at our Centre in Bridgwater, Somerset to access Speech and Language, Physio and Sensory Integration therapies
- A home assessment is available for children with complex needs and who cannot travel to the Centre in Bridgwater
- A virtual multidisciplinary reassessment through Brainwave Online (click here to watch a video demonstration and read a testimonial of a family who recently had an virtual reassessment.)
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.