Pediatric, Adolescent Rehabilitation Information Center
About Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation
Pediatric rehabilitation is as different from general rehabilitation as children are from adults. The differences in development of children and teens mean that their ability to adapt to rehabilitation will also vary. As people reach adulthood, their personalities, tastes and characters become well formed, but in childhood, many of these traits are just forming. This time period in life is fluid.
Additionally, each child is different and unique. Each child has his or her own strengths, weaknesses and attributes, and each child will be going home after rehabilitation to a unique environment and family situation. In order for rehabilitation to be successful, each child's unique history must be taken into account in order to develop a plan that will work well with the efforts of family members and other support systems to ensure rehabilitation is geared toward life after rehabilitation.
How We Help Children and Teens with Injuries or Disabilities
The Pediatric and Adolescent Program of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) provides rehabilitation for children from birth through the age of 18 who have learning and/or physical disabilities resulting from illness, injury or congenital causes. At RIC, a child or adolescent with a disability is, first and foremost, a child or adolescent. RIC provides the most effective rehabilitation services available to the whole child, taking into account age, disability, preferences and family. The philosophy of our professional staff is always to focus on the whole picture to ensure that the treatment program meets the unique needs of each child.
RIC treats a wide range of conditions, including cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and burns.
Read Our Complete Listing of Pediatric Rehabilitation Services
Other Highlights from RIC's Pediatrics Program
Early Intervention Program
Children between birth and age three who demonstrate a developmental delay, a disabling condition or who may be at risk for a delay in gross motor, fine motor, speech/language, psychosocial and/or cognitive development can benefit from the Early Intervention Program.
Learn More About Our Early Intervention Program
Feeding Support Services
RIC's Pediatric Feeding Support Services provide comprehensive, integrated assessments and recommendations for children with feeding difficulties. Because eating problems are often complex, Feeding Support Services helps families identify whether a child's difficulties are physical, behavioral or sensory in nature.
Learn More About Feeding Support Services
Our Pediatrics Experts
RIC provides a unique experience for child and adolescent patients because of its combination of physiatrists, physical therapists, nurses, school therapists and occupational therapists who work closely with patients and their families to develop an effective treatment plan. Members of our care team also work with siblings, teachers and other people in the child's environment so they are all updated on the child's progress.
Our specialist teams are led by our staff physiatrists, physical, occupational and speech therapists, nurses, care managers and social workers, developmental specialists, a full-time teacher from the Chicago Board of Education, as well as an early intervention team.
Meet Our Experts
Helping Your Child Live With a Disability
More Resources for Parents, Children and Adolescents