The Shorkey Center exists to provide services for the individual with special needs.
These services include effective physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation;
direct education services including therapy for children with autism and other related
disorders; and parent assistance support.

• Individual assessment of strength, movement, ambulation, range of motion, balance and gross motor skills
• Treatment and home programming to promote appropriate motor functioning
• Orthotic evaluation and monitoring
• Aquatic therapy

Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy (PT) is a health profession concerned with the evaluation and treatment of people with physical impairments, functional limitations, and/or disabilities. The primary focus of physical therapy is to prevent, identify, assess, correct or alleviate movement dysfunction through the use of various techniques. Physical Therapy is for everyone…It may be for a construction worker who injured his back, a gymnast who twisted his/her ankle, an infant who was born with a birth defect, a child with a disability, an elderly person who suffered a stroke, or an Olympic athlete. PT provides a direct and personal approach to obtaining an individual's specific wants and needs no matter what their problem or background is.

Physical Therapist
Physical therapists, or PTs, are health care professionals who evaluate and treat people with various injuries or diseases. They design programs to meet the specific needs of each individual. PTs assess strength, movement patterns, walking, joint mobility, balance and gross motor skills. They provide direct treatment to the patient, whether it is in a clinical setting, home, or school. He or she may also assess the need for specialized bracing and/or equipment to meet the needs of his or her patients. Along with other health care professionals, physical therapists share in the hard work and determination to meet the individual goals of their patients. They are respected members of the health care team and must work directly with the other health care providers so that each patient receives the best care possible. Physical therapists may work with physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, dentists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, recreational therapists, and audiologists.

Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical Therapist Assistants, or PTAs, are health care professionals who work under the supervision of PTs. Their responsibilities include assisting PTs with implementation of treatment programs, training patients in exercise and activities of daily living, training in the use of specialized equipment, and reporting the patient's response to treatment.
EDUCATION

PTs
Physical therapists are required to obtain extensive academic and clinical education. Preparation for entrance into a physical therapist education program includes courses in biology, physics, statistics, anatomy, chemistry, English, humanities, professional writing, and psychology. Once a student has successfully completed these pre-requisite courses, he or she may apply for acceptance into a PT school. Professional program studies include basic and clinical medical science courses where an emphasis is placed on theory and practice of physical therapy. The minimal educational requirement for a physical therapist is a 4-year college degree in physical therapy from an accredited educational program. After graduation, the PT student must pass a state administered national examination in order to be licensed. Once licensed in Texas, PTs are required to complete 3 CEU's (30 hours) of continuing education courses every two years in order to maintain his/her license. Note: Currently, the majority of programs are in the process of changing from a bachelor's degree to a postbaccalaureate degree in PT.

PTAs
Physical therapist assistants are required to complete a two-year educational program in physical therapy, usually at a junior college. Students receive an associate's degree upon graduation. Educational courses usually include one year of general education and one year of technical courses on physical therapy procedures including clinical training. Texas law requires that the PTA student pass a state administered licensing exam. Once licensed, the PTA must complete 2 CEU's (20 hours) of continuing education courses every two years in order to maintain his/her license.

PRACTICE SETTINGS
Practice settings for the PT and PTA include the following: acute and sub-acute hospitals, private practice physical therapy offices, sports facilities, industrial health facilities, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, schools or pediatric settings, research institutions, and colleges and/or universities.

School Setting: In the school setting, the physical therapist works closely with the parents, teachers, classroom aides and the child to overcome obstacles that directly impact the child's education. The goals for physical therapy are approved at least annually by the Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) committee. The ARD committee may include parents, teachers, the child (if appropriate), administrator or principal, diagnostician, any therapists working with the child, physician, social worker and whomever the parents would like to invite.
The physical therapist works with the child at school, either in the classroom or in another area to improve balance, coordination, muscle strength, joint mobility and gross motor skills. The physical and occupational therapists work together to assess the need for special equipment in classroom and at home.

HEALTH CARE TEAM

The following is a list of the health care team members that may work with the patient. Each member of the team provides a specific and crucial portion of the patient's rehabilitation needs. The roles of the team members are:

• Doctor - performs a medical evaluation, and recommends
  management: i.e., therapy, braces, traction, decreased physical activity, surgery, or medications, and follows the overall general health of the child
• Occupational Therapist - assesses self-help skills including dressing and grooming, provides direct treatment and home/school programming, assesses the need for special equipment at home or in the classroom. May work on communication skills
• Speech Therapist - assesses language and articulation skills; provides direct treatment and home/school programming. May work on communication skills
• Orthotic - responsible for creating braces for the back, legs, ankles, wrists, hands, etc.; responsible, along with the PT and OT, for maintaining the braces in good working order
• Equipment vendor - supplies, fixes, and orders all adaptive
  equipment for the child such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, standing frames, tub chairs, etc.
• Parents/Patients - the most important part of the team, advocates for the patient's needs, coordinates care and provides stable support system

COMMONLY USED ASSISTIVE DEVICES

• Wheelchair
• Crutches and Canes
• Walkers

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND RESOURCE INFORMATION

• Shorkey Center
  855 South 8th Street
  Beaumont, Texas 77701
  409-838-6568
  Email:  lgillespie@shorkey.org
  
  Provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, aquatics classes, wheelchair clinic and equipment loan program for children birth-21 years old, preschool daycare program, full day summer program, community training for parents, schools, and daycare personnel. Non-profit, United Way agency.

• Beaumont State Center
  655 South 8th Street
  Beaumont, Texas 77701
  409-833-1485 or 1-800-317-5809
  TDD 409-784-5627
  
  Provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, therapists/trainers can go to the child's house. Programs include: First Steps (ages 0 to 3), Community Living Skills, Living Environment Adapted for People (L.E.A.P), Senior Services, Transition Services, Vocational Training, Job Quest, Home Services, In-Home & Family Support, Community Residential Services, and Respite Care

• Texas Department of Health
  Martin Blum and Judy Melling
  3420 Fannin, Suite 100
  Beaumont, Texas 77701
  409-833-0072
  
  Case management services, will advise family on how to apply for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Chronically Ill and Disabled Children's Services (CIDC), CIDC spend-down program, etc.
   
• Early Childhood Intervention
  Beaumont State Center
  655 South 8th Street
  Beaumont, Texas 77701
  409-833-1485 or 1-800-317-5809
  TDD 409-784-5627
  
  Federally and State funded program for children, birth to age 3, with disabilities or delays. ECI supports families to help their children reach their potential through developmental services. Beaumont State
  Center is the local site in Jefferson County, but it is also located in every county in Texas.
   
• Texas Rehabilitation Commission
  5550 Eastex Freeway, Suite D
  Beaumont, Texas 77708
  409-898-3988
  
  For special needs people age 16-adults. Wide range of services provided to help people become
  independent and employable

• Catholic Charities (CCMS)
  P.O. Box 829
  Beaumont, Texas 77704
  409-835-1411
  
  Helps provide daycare funding for children of low-income parents. Can provide extra funding to the daycare center if the child is disabled. This extra funding can help pay for equipment, training for staff, etc.
   
• Partners Resource Network, Inc.
  1090 Longfellow Drive
  Beaumont, Texas 77706
  
  A non-profit agency that provides training, information, referral, resources, consultation, and emotional support to parents of children with all types of disabilities
   
• Shrine's Hospital for Children
  6977 Main Street
  Houston, Texas 77030-9817
  713-797-1616
  
  Free orthopedic care, braces, etc. for children that qualify
   
• Beaumont Independent School District
  Special Education Department
  3395 Harrison
  Beaumont, Texas 77706
  409-899-9972
  
  Special ed dept can provide services for hearing and visually impaired children from 0-21 years old,
  physically, mentally, or speech impaired children from 3-21 years old. Child can be tested on or after
  the 3rd birthday. The following areas are assessed: gross motor, fine motor, cognitive, speech, and
  self-help skills. Head Start program for 4 year olds from low-income families.
   
• Region V Education Service Center
  3545 Highway 96 Bypass
  Silsbee, Texas 77656
  409-386-1111
  
  Provides services to school districts in Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Orange, Newton, and Tyler counties. Includes administrative services and training, computer services, and special education services, assistive/adaptive device evaluations.
   
• Dr. Charles Dyer, DDS
  1120 Longfellow Drive
  Beaumont, Texas 77706
  409-898-8923
  
  Dentist specializing in services for special needs children.
   
• Canine Companions for Independence
  P.O. Box 4568
  Oceanside, CA 92052
  1-800-572-2275 National organization that provides dogs to help people achieve independent living.
  Takes 1 ½ to 2 years from time of application to receiving the dog.
  
  REFERENCES

1. Pagliarulo M. Introduction to Physical Therapy. Mosby Publishing Co., 1996; pg. 2 - 4.

2. American Physical Therapy Association.
http://www.apta.org