Specialized Pediatric Equipment Soon to Be Available For Free at NorthLakes Clinic
$10,000 Community Health Grant from Eau Claire Community Foundation supports no-cost lending closet
Area families will soon have access to therapeutic equipment for home-based treatment – for free – thanks to NorthLakes Community Clinic’s new Pediatric Therapies Lending Closet.
The soon-to-open lending resource, offering specialized equipment available for checkout, was made possible with a $10,000 grant from the Eau Claire Community Foundation.
The Lending Closet is expected to open by Dec. 31 at the Oak Ridge clinic location (2119 Heights Dr., Eau Claire), providing equipment to support kids (birth to age 18) with sensory processing disorders, autism spectrum disorders, speech disorders, and development and learning challenges, according to the media release.
Specific items to be available include sensory tools like weighted blankets and compression vests, balance equipment, oral motor development tools, specialized listening systems, and iPads with therapeutic apps.
“The program operates much like a library, allowing families to check out items temporarily while working toward their child’s therapeutic goals,” Sarah Stroshane, allied health service manager for NorthLakes, stated in a recent media release.
An internal survey at NorthLakes identified significant barriers to pediatric therapy services in Eau Claire County, the media release stated, noting many providers were not accepting new patients or Medicaid coverage.
“According to the National Institutes of Health, one in 14 children ages 3-17 has had a disorder related to voice, speech or language, in the past 12 months,” the release continued.
“This lending closet removes financial barriers for pediatric patients and their families by providing access to equipment that can be cost-prohibitive to purchase,” NorthLakes Community Clinic CEO Ana Tochterman said.
For more information about NorthLakes Community Clinic’s pediatric therapy services, reach out at (715) 861-7901 or visit nlccwi.org.
NorthLakes Community Clinic has two Eau Claire locations (1002 W. Clairemont Ave., 2119 Heights Dr.) and a total 19 Wisconsin locations.
