Heartspring in the Community

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The history of Heartspring is marked by our continuing drive to make a difference in the lives of children with special needs. In celebration of our 75th anniversary, we invite the community to join us in reaching out to families and individuals through support of our Heartspring in the Community Campaign. Heartspring in the Community projects celebrate our long history in Wichita and provide opportunities for children with disabilities to participate more fully in community life.

From our first years as the Department of Speech Sciences at the University of Wichita, children with cerebral palsy and communicative disorders from across the state of Kansas and surrounding areas sought our help. Out of one classroom on the fourth floor of Jardine Hall grew an organization that would see tens of thousands of children with disabilities achieve things most people thought impossible.

Heartspring founder Dr. Martin Palmer established 25 field centers across Kansas and as far away as New York and Maryland at the invitation of medical schools and universities, increasing the work done by Heartspring. Collaborations expanded in the 1950s and 60s with international programs including the World Health Organization and Heartspring assisted in opening similar programs in India and Japan for children with communicative disorders.

Today Heartspring seeks to give back to the community that has shown incredible generosity over the years, as well as reach out to communities around the world who seek assistance to make life better for children with special needs.

Heartspring in the Community encompasses a variety of initiatives that represent Heartspring’s core service areas. Through free hearing screenings, early literacy screenings in preschools, the Heartspring KidCheck developmental screening, special programs for children with autism, teacher exchange programs and more, we provide a variety of services to a global community.

The generous support of our community allows us to provide many of these services for minimal or no charge to participants. For fee-based services, community support allows us to offer financial assistance to those who otherwise could not afford to participate.

Dr. Palmer once said, “Mankind is our business. This is what we do, and the rest is unimportant.” As it was for Dr. Palmer so it is currently for our professional staff of therapists, teachers, paraeducators and specialists dedicated to providing services to children with special needs on a daily basis, creating a path to independence for every child.

Our goal is to raise $7,500 to support Heartspring in the Community initiatives by December 31. Will you help by making a gift today?

Heartspring Pediatric Services In the Community

Heartspring KidCheck Click for more info

KidCheck is a free developmental screening process provided by Heartspring Pediatric Services to any family with a child between the ages of birth to five years who may be concerned about their child’s development. Through the KidCheck process, children are evaluated in areas of development such as hearing, communication, fine motor, gross motor, problem solving, personal-social and behavioral skills. Learn more →

Target Early Literacy Screenings Click for more info

Eight to twelve percent of all preschool children have some form of speech or language impairment. Many more have undiagnosed hearing loss. If left untreated, these problems can seriously impact a child’s ability to be successful in a school setting. Heartspring professionals travel to local daycare centers and preschools to screen children ages three to six in areas of speech, hearing, language, and literacy. Screenings are offered annually in the spring and fall and are partially funded by a grant from Target. The Heartspring Target Early Literacy Screening Project has screened over 800 children since May 2006. Learn more →

Autism Waiver Click for more info

In partnership with the state and other human service agencies throughout Kansas, Heartspring is a service provider under the Autism Waiver Program. Our professional staff currently serves children who qualify to receive autism intervention services under the Autism Waiver program in a four county area across central Kansas. Heartspring staff travel across the state to provide an autism specialist, intensive in home support services, family education and training and family adjustment counseling where needed. Partially funded by the state, the Autism Waiver Program currently provides no funding for travel costs, client supplies or assessment tools. This is a vital program that is struggling to meet the needs of children with autism across our state, despite a critical shortage of providers. Learn more →

Physician Education Click for more info

The most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control report that one in every 150 children is affected by autism spectrum disorders. Early identification and treatment are crucial, yet there are limited specialists available in the Wichita area to diagnose the disorder. Outreach and education for family practitioners and pediatricians alert these professionals to the warning signs of autism and other developmental delays and disabilities, making it more likely that children will be referred for the services they need. Heartspring Pediatric Services staff visit area medical offices on a monthly basis to share resources and information on what to watch for in children under their care and services that are available to families.  Audiology staff from the Heartspring Hearing Center also partner with medical practitioners on hearing health issues, the donor hearing aid program and client referral.

Creative Movement for Children with Autism Workshops Click for more info

In partnership with the Wichita Contemporary Dance Theatre, a touring dance company at Wichita State University, Heartspring offers monthly Creative Movement for Children with Autism workshops. The workshops were inspired by collaboration with New York City dance company dre.dance. Artistic director Andrew Palermo spent time on the Heartspring campus observing and learning about autism while choreographing beyond.words, a full length exploration of autism through dance, during an artist in residency program at WSU. He conducted a workshop for Heartspring school students in April 2008 and then returned with members of the company to offer a community workshop for children ages three to six in September 2008. Due to interest from parents and the community in continuing the program, the Creative Movement for Children with Autism program began in April 2009. Open to children ages three to six, the workshops use the children’s interest in moving, running, jumping, climbing and tumbling to encourage skill development through imitation. The workshops also give children the chance to practice social skills and participate in a group activity. Learn more →

Social/sensory groups Click for more info

A new initiative of Heartspring Pediatric Services, social/sensory groups work on motor skills, interaction with others, eye to eye and eye to hand coordination, language expression, planning and problem solving, visual and spatial reasoning through child centered group activities.  The social/sensory groups began in spring of 2009, with regular six to eight week cycles scheduled to begin in fall of 2009. The groups are open to the community, with a nominal fee for attendance.

Heartspring Hearing Center In the Community

The Donor Hearing Aid Program Click for more info

The Donor Hearing Aid Program provides hearing aids to individuals suffering from hearing loss who cannot afford to purchase them. Heartspring also provides testing, fitting, aural rehabilitation, adjustments and follow-up visits at no charge to the client. This unique program is the only one of its kind in Kansas, and serves clients from across the state and border counties in Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado. Clients pay an average of $100, compared to an average cost of $1,500 to purchase new hearing aids outside of the Donor Hearing Aid program. Learn more →

Hearing Center Open Houses Click for more info

Twice a year the Hearing Center hosts an open house and offers free hearing aid checks, cleanings, free video otoscopy, free screenings and demonstrations on assistive listening devices.

Community Partnerships Click for more info

In addition to the hearing screenings offered through the Target Early Literacy Screenings, Hearing Center staff provides free hearing screenings to over 150 children at the TOP Learning Centers and are scheduled to perform monthly hearing screenings at Catholic Charities Anthony Family Shelter.  Future screenings are being discussed with the Lord’s Diner and Mercy Medical. The Heartspring Hearing center conducts additional free hearing screenings to businesses, social and community groups several times each year, and has a contract with Via Christi Hope to assist with their hearing aids and hearing screenings. The Hearing Center also provides education to the community by giving talks to local groups.

Heartspring CARE Program in the Community

Camp SSTAR (Social Skills Technology Asperger Recreation Camp) Click for more info

The inaugural Camp SSTAR took place July 21-25, 2008. Over 55 campers arrived on campus for the first technology camp at Heartspring. Camp SSTAR was created to provide children with Asperger syndrome opportunities to learn and grow in many areas including social skills groups, communication, teamwork, leadership and creating friendships. In 2009, the camp agenda has expanded to include three weeks instead of one, allowing children to be divided into smaller groups based on age and function levels. An early intervention camp for children recently diagnosed with autism has also been added. 60 campers are participating in social skill groups, creating their own newscast, building birdhouses and creating mosaics, hiking, fishing, horseback riding and field trips, while learning to manage social situations and relationships. Learn more →

SSTAR Scouts Click for more info

SSTAR Scouts is a new program scheduled to begin in Fall 2009. The program will provide scout activities to children on the autism spectrum. Many children with autism have very intense and limited areas of interests; the goal of SSTAR Scouts will be to expand those areas of interest while increasing social opportunities and success throughout their daily lives. Participants will have the opportunity to earn SSTAR Scout badges by accomplishing goals targeting specific deficits in the areas of social/emotional skills, higher executive functioning skills, and organizational skills. Badges are earned for accomplishments in goal areas while participating in day to day activities at school, home, or in the community. The vision of SSTAR Scouts is to provide a structured, fun and safe learning environment with opportunities for the Scouts to acquire and learn new skills. These core skills will facilitate positive and productive management of real life situations.

Heartspring World Reach in the Community

Teacher Exchange Program Click for more info

It is currently estimated that there are more than 150 million children with disabilities in developing countries and that only two percent of them will ever receive any education. The support that we can offer to developing programs worldwide can have a tremendous impact on their ability to meet this growing need. Heartspring has sister school relationships with the first programs for children with autism in China (Stars and Rain Education Institute for Autism in Beijing) and in India (Action for Autism – The Open Door School). Through our Teacher Exchange Program, Heartspring partners with programs around the world to provide training and resources. The need is urgent – we are currently corresponding with programs in 25 countries who have requested training and consultation from Heartspring. Learn more →

Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education Click for more info

The Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education (HAICSE) is awarded each summer to up to 10 professionals who use new and creative ideas to make a difference in the lives of children with special needs. During the intensive three-day Heartspring Summer Session, the award winners have the opportunity to discuss, explore and learn from each other. The 2009 award recipients represent programs in seven states and three countries, including Nepal, India and Ghana. Learn more →

Heartspring School in the Community

Special Olympics Click for more info

Special Olympics is a worldwide program providing year-round sports training, education and athletic competition in a variety of sports for children and adults with disabilities. The Heartspring Hawks, our school team, are active in many Special Olympics competitions. The athletes participate in a variety of events throughout the year locally and statewide that include skiing, track and field, aquatics (swimming), power lifting and bowling. Coached by our adapted physical education teacher, the Heartspring Hawks are supported by teammates, parents, staff and community members. Learn more →

Recreation and Leisure Program Click for more info

The Recreation and Leisure Program is instrumental in helping students develop the skills to participate in community activities. Students enjoy seasonal dances in the Heartspring Recreation Center and other volunteer supported leisure activities. Thanks to the support of our community, students also have the opportunity to attend semi-professional baseball and hockey games, enjoy horseback riding at a local ranch, swim and exercise at the YMCA, and cycle on the city bike paths. Students also attend annual events such as the Kansas State Fair, Midian Shrine Circus and a roller-skating party. By using both campus and community facilities, students learn to generalize the skills they learn at Heartspring by engaging in community activities and gain a tremendous knowledge of recreation and leisure activities and facilities available to them as they transition from Heartspring into adulthood. Learn more →

Heartspring School Special Projects Click for more info

Additional Heartspring in the Community Programs

Heartspring Conference Series and Practical Application Seminars Click for more info

The Conference Series brings in specialists from across the country to present professional development topics for school districts, parents and professionals serving children with special needs. Live streaming and video on demand access is available, expanding the reach of the Conference Series across the state, nationally and internationally. In 2009, Heartspring will launch a series of Practical Application Seminars in connection with the Conference Series. The seminars will give participants the opportunity to take part in hands-on sessions in which they learn to create individual supports for children in the classroom or home setting. Learn more → Click for more info

Barnes and Noble storytime Click for more info

In partnership with Barnes and Noble bookstore, specialists from Heartspring lead a storytime experience for children on the second Saturday of each month. Utilizing picture symbols and sensory items such as movement, sounds and textures relating to the story, all children, including those with a diagnosis of autism or developmental delay, can participate in an enriching and visually stimulating storytime experience. Parents are also encouraged to participate, model appropriate storytime behavior and skills, and have fun interacting with their child and the story. Recommended parent resource books and easily adapted children's books are on display in the store. Learn more →

Special Needs Resource Fair Click for more info