From Richard Couch
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
On Monday, Feb. 10, members of New Home Assembly of God in Wetumpka and Lake Hill Baptist Church in Deatsville visited the Children’s Rehabilitation Service state office to deliver a donation of sensory squares, clothing protectors, and stuffed animals. The items will be distributed to children who attend CRS clinics. CRS Program Specialist for Speech-Language Pathology Sonia Cleckler said each item will serve an important purpose for the children and CRS staff members.
“A lot of our kids have sensory needs,” she said. “The sensory squares are important to help our children self-regulate, giving them a chance at a more accurate evaluation. The squares can crumble, they have a soft side, and they make noise, so it gives different tactile and auditory feedback.”
Sonia explained how the clothing protectors address dignity issues for older children. “When children grow more than five feet tall, it is difficult to find clothing protectors that fit. These clothing protectors have prints for boys and girls that are more fitting for the child’s age than a bib.”
The stuffed animals are weighted on the bottom, so they remain upright, making them better options for playtime. They also won’t fall over on a child with limited ability to move them. “If you have a small child on the floor or maybe a larger child who does not have strong motor skills, they can play with a stuffed animal without having it fall over,” she said. “It gives them a little more control over that.” Troy University Professor Teresa Johnson, who is the program coordinator for the school’s Bachelor of Science in Nutrition program, facilitated the donation.
A registered dietitian, Teresa worked with CRS for many years as a vendor nutritionist and understands the needs of CRS clients and the professionals who serve them. She was eager to help when she learned these items were in demand.
“Sonia reached out to me and said they had a need for certain items,” she said. “Our church (New Home Assembly of God) has a women’s sewing team as part of their ministry, and when Sonia told me about it, we reached out to the ladies at Lake Hill Baptist Church for help. The two churches came together and provided all the things that were needed. Sonia gave us a wonderful fabric donation, and a lot of people were able to contribute.”
This was the second time Teresa organized a donation after previously working with students to contribute.
“A couple of years back, our Troy Nutrition Club wanted to do a service project, so I reached out to Sonia about doing something for feeding clinics,” she said. “Our nutrition and occupational therapy students, along with students in the art department, provided needed items for feeding clinics across the state.”
Teresa said it is always rewarding to help children with special healthcare needs, and she knows CRS is a worthy cause. “My heart is with those kids,” she said. “I love CRS and we want to do anything we can for them. CRS is a great resource for us because we send students there to do observation hours and rely on CRS dietitians to be guest lecturers for our classes. The university has many connections to CRS, so it is a natural fit.”
The donated items will be distributed to CRS offices statewide.
