Connect Cullman County brings local therapeutic resources together

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TheraPlay staff members Sara Freeman, Abby Jones, Elizabeth Romine, Tara Weaver, Janelle Britt and Hannah Fabian pose for a photo at Connect Cullman County on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. (Sara Gladney for the Cullman Tribune)

CULLMAN, Ala. – TheraPlay Pediatric Sensory Gym of Cullman on Saturday hosted Connect Cullman County, which brought therapeutic service providers together for informational sessions with caregivers of children with mental or physical disabilities. The event was held at The Little House at Art Park.

TheraPlay Owner Janelle Britt said she created the event so families could learn about local therapeutic services. There were numerous families in attendance who were previously unaware of many of the services and were afforded the opportunity to ask questions of each provider.

The providers included Flourish of Cullman, Tiny Day Creative Play, Dynea Boyd of Legacy Salon, Hope Horses, Imagine ABA and the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).

Flourish of Cullman assists individuals with disabilities in becoming more independent by offering job coaching, life coaching and social integration opportunities with a circle of support.

Tiny Day Creative Play provides sensory bins and creative play items for early childhood learning. The sensory bins, with small pieces such as rice, crinkle paper or pebbles, are designed to promote fine motor skills, engage the senses and encourage imaginative play.

Dynea Boyd of Legacy Salon offers special needs haircuts at Legacy Salon every six weeks on Sundays. Boyd said, “There’s no blow dryers, no radio, no other people. It’s just me and the person and their parents or whoever wants to come.” Appointments are private, but walk-ins are welcome. For more details, call 256-531-2055.

Hope Horses is dedicated to providing safe horsemanship programs to individuals with special physical, social and emotional needs. The therapeutic riding program promotes strength, well-being, coordination and balance while building self-esteem.

Imagine ABA is a Cullman-based behavior and developmental therapy practice dedicated to making a difference by providing quality ABA therapy services to those affected by autism spectrum disorder and related disorders. It is the only ABA practice located in Cullman.

The CCSO promoted Project Lifesaver, a national program that helps locate and reduce injury to those who wander due to cognitive conditions. Said Lt. Ryan Fortenberry, “Project Lifesaver is a tracking system that we can use for people – either children with Down Syndrome or autism, or dementia or Alzheimer’s for older people.” The system is designed to locate people who are missing who have wandered away on foot. The program is sponsored by the Pilot Club of Cullman and is free to the residents of Cullman County. The CCSO maintains the devices and will come out to change the batteries every 60 days and test the trackers. The trackers can be worn like a watch or around one’s ankle.

For more information about each service, visit www.flourishofcullman.com, www.facebook.com/tinydaycreativeplay, www.hopehorsesinc.com, www.imagineaba.com and www.cullmansheriff.org/project-lifesaver.

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