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International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute

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Raising a child with a spinal cord injury requires that parents and caregivers learn about how to promote a child’s physical health and wellness, as well as their emotional and social well being.

Explore this section to discover resources that explain how a child’s growth and development is impacted by a spinal cord injury, and the developmental milestones to be reached at various ages. Adaptations and accommodations will be required to support learning at school. Resources are available to support a child’s social and emotional development and help foster self-confidence, friendships, and ongoing development of independence.

Promoting a child’s recovery from a spinal cord injury often requires a new approach to communication. Discover resources with advice on how to talk with children and teens about their spinal cord injuries, and how to find therapists who can help children develop positive self-esteem, manage traumatic stress, and PTSD. Resources are included with helpful information on interacting and communicating with extended family, friends, and teachers about spinal cord injury.

Learn how to collaborate with healthcare professionals and educators to develop an Individualize Education Plan (IEP) to ensure learning needs are addressed at all stages of education – preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that students with disabilities be educated along with their non-disabled peers to the greatest extent possible. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) also applies to children.

International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute

The International Center for Spinal Cord Injury (ICSCI) at Kennedy Krieger Institute was founded on the philosophy that individuals with paralysis can always hope for recovery of sensation, function, mobility, and independence, months and even years after injury. The program offers a coordinated continuum of care with services for individuals at all phases of recovery, including an in-patient hospital unit, home- and community-based services, and outpatient specialty programs. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, ICSI is one of the first facilities in the world to combine innovative research with a unique focus on restoration and rehabilitation for children and adults with chronic paralysis. The School Programs at Kennedy Krieger Institute has received awards in leadership and special education. Explore the Special Education section to learn more about programs and events at schools in Baltimore, Washington, DC, and other partnership programs across Maryland.

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