Meet Rainee, our 2018 Ambassador
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Rainee is an adorable, smart, funny, loveable little girl. She enjoys dance and dolls like every little girl does, and she just happens to struggle with Sensory Processing Disorder.
Sensory Processing Disorder or SPD, is when the brain has trouble organizing information from the senses. Sensory processing issues can impact a child’s social skills. It can also cause difficulties in the classroom. Although every person is unique, people with SPD usually fall into one of two categories, hypersensitive or hyposensitive. Rainee has hyposensitive Sensory Processing Disorder. Hyposensitive (or undersensitive) children lack sensitivity to their surroundings. They might have a high tolerance for or indifference to pain. They may be “sensory seeking,” meaning they have a constant need to touch people or things—even when it’s not appropriate. They may also have trouble with personal space or be clumsy and uncoordinated. They might be constantly on the move and take risks on the playground, accidentally harming other kids when playing. Rainee’s parents, Shane and Jackie saw signs from infancy. Like many children with SPD, Rainee needed to be held much of the time. By the time Rainee was 18 months, her symptoms became severe enough to affect normal functioning and disrupt everyday life. “When Rainee was 18 months we were concerned because she was constantly fidgeting, didn’t have an interest in playing, was not speaking much at all and rarely made eye contact, said Jackie. She would constantly run into the couch or other things and spent hours lining up and organizing toys.” Her parents expressed their concerns to their pediatrician who referred the family to SRRC. Rainee began Developmental and Speech Therapy and eventually attended Toddler Class in Ottawa. She also received Occupational Therapy services. Therapy depends on a child's individual needs. But in general, it involves helping children do better at activities they're normally not good at and helping them get used to things they can't tolerate. “Rainee will lead a normal life", said Kelly Bault, Developmental Therapist at SRRC. "She will just have to work a little harder than a typical child. Kids don’t grow out of Sensory Processing Disorder; they grow into it, unless we spot it and treat it — the sooner, the better.". "Rainee still has many problems daily, but they are a lot more manageable. She is now playing with dolls, socializing with other kids and even participating in a dance class. Without SRRC, none of this would be possible", said Shane. |
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Meet Our Past Ambassadors
Meet the many faces of Starved Rock Regional Center. Each child is chosen to represent the center for the year and showcase their unique needs and ways that SRRC has helped them reach their maximum potential.
