Why Do Some Children With Autism Toe Walk—and What Can Parents Do?

A Collaborative, Child-Centered Approach

At MetroEHS, therapists from various disciplines—speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA)—collaborate to address the diverse needs of each child. This team-based approach ensures that therapy is cohesive and comprehensive, promoting optimal outcomes.

Dr. Vira Francis, a speech-language pathologist at the West Bloomfield location, emphasizes the importance of this collaboration:

“When we’re using a collaborative and holistic approach with children, it’s like each team member is a puzzle piece. We really make that impact when we all come together to make the big picture, and it really helps to prioritize the child’s needs.”

Services Offered

MetroEHS provides a wide array of pediatric therapy services, including:

• Speech Therapy: Addressing communication challenges, articulation, language development, and literacy skills.
• Occupational Therapy: Focusing on daily living skills such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, feeding, play, social participation, and school readiness.
• Physical Therapy: Enhancing gross motor skills, balance, coordination, and strength to support functional movement and participation in activities.
• ABA Therapy: Utilizing evidence-based strategies to improve socially significant behaviors in children with autism and other developmental disorders.

Each therapy session is designed to be engaging and child-led, incorporating play-based methods to make therapy enjoyable and effective.

Creating a Stimulating Environment

The West Bloomfield center is intentionally designed to be colorful and kid-friendly, providing a stimulating environment that encourages active participation. Therapists tailor activities to each child’s interests and sensory needs, ensuring that therapy sessions are both fun and beneficial.

Empowering Families

MetroEHS is committed to not only supporting children but also empowering parents and caregivers. By providing education and resources, they enable families to reinforce therapy goals at home and advocate effectively for their children’s needs.

Starting your Clinical Fellowship year is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming. Before you jump in, take a little time to reflect. Asking yourself the right questions now can help you find the best fit and start your career with confidence.

1. Who will my clients be?

Do you see yourself in pediatrics (schools, outpatient, hospital?) or working with adult patients (in the hospital, SNF, outpatient, or specializing?),? What areas draw you in? Articulation, AAC, literacy, language, or feeding? You don’t have to have it all figured out—but having a general direction helps.

2. What work environment fits me best?

Think about where you thrive! Do you prefer a fast-paced clinic , scheduling yourself in a school environment, or in home with your patients? Do you want to work closely with other professionals everyday or have more independence?

3. What kind of support do I need?

Your CF supervisor plays a huge role in your experience. Ask yourself: Do I want hands-on guidance? Frequent feedback? A team I can easily turn to with questions? An experienced mentor?

4. What do I want to learn this year?

Your CF isn’t just about completing hours—it’s about growing your skills. What do you want to feel confident in by the end of the year?

5. What are my non-negotiables?

Consider what matters most to you. Ask about caseload size (both appointments and number of patients/students whose cases you must manage), work-life balance, mentorship, or pay structure (W2 vs 1099). Knowing your priorities will help you make the right decision.

You can also ask about benefits! Some benefits make a big difference today like PTO, paid holidays (are they taken out of your PTO?), medical coverage, and more. Other will shape your future in a big way, like the retirement plan options.

6. How will I take care of myself?

This year can be demanding. Think about how you’ll manage stress, stay organized, and maintain balance so you can show up as your best self.

Your CF year is just the beginning. Taking time to reflect now can set you up for a more meaningful, supported, and successful start in the field. And if you can, find a mentor who will guide you through these sometimes-challenging questions.

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History of TheraSuit

Richard and Izabela Koscielny are physical therapists, who have a daughter diagnosed with cerebral palsy and tried out suit therapy with her. After significant improvements with the suit, they modified and created their own suit specialized for therapeutic benefits, called TheraSuit™.

How Does TheraSuit Work?

• TheraSuit worn over a prolonged time will correct proprioception and accelerate progress with functional strengthening
• Skills practiced become more fluent when TheraSuit is worn
• TheraSuit facilitates the development of new gross and fine motor skills faster than typical therapy approaches

Benefits Seen with TheraSuit

• Retraining the central nervous system
• Restores ontogenetic development
• Provides external stabilization
• Normalizes muscle tone
• Aligns the body to as close to “normal” as possible
• Provides dynamic correction
• Normalizes gait patterns
• Provides tactile stimulation
• Influences the vestibular system
• Improves balance
• Improves coordination
• Supports weak muscles
• Decreases uncontrolled movements in ataxia and athetosis
• Improves body and spatial awareness
• Provides resistance to muscles to further enhance strengthening
• Improves speech production and fluency through head control and trunk support
• Promotes gross and fine motor development
• Helps decrease contractures
• Helps improve hip alignment through vertical loading

Patient Populations

• Most major neurological diseases/diagnoses:
  
  • Autism
  • Down Syndrome
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Cerebral Vascular Acciden
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Spinal Cord Injury

• Posture/alignment asymmetries

Intensive Physical Therapy Schedule

• Intensive physical therapy is meant to be done 3 hours/day, for 5 days/week for 3-5 weeks
• Recommended to complete 3-4 intensive bouts of therapy throughout the year
• Breaks between the bouts have been shown to be more beneficial for the patient vs continuously pushing for months on end
• Recommended to complete HEP 1-hour/day to compliment exercises done in intensive, allowing the patient to not only maintain, but improve their functional abilities
• The schedule of 4  weeks was created specifically in order to change the neuro-pathways, and allow for increased improvements

In General

• Week 1 works on correct muscle activation and beginning to complete basic concentric exercises
• Week 2 works on solidifying concentric movements and working into eccentric movements
• Week 3 solidifies the eccentric movements and introduces isometric holds
• Week 4 focuses all on isometric holds, working into more complex exercises, as well as creating POC and HEP for time off between bouts of intensive

Work to decrease primitive reflexes and general movements that are present → goal-directed movements → selective effective strategies → refining skills → maintaining through practice