Current Staff
​Co-department Heads:
Jude Trautlein, RD and
Ellen Duperret, RD
Jil Feldhausen, MS, RD
Suggested Donations
​$20-500 for hand splints, adaptive equipment for self-care,
sensory and early teaching, as well as soft or hard helmets
$15 for tactile tiger bracelet for children who use tactile stimulation
as a calming or self-regulation method
$25-50 for chewing items to stimulate food sensation or provide a chewing alternative to chewing on shirts, pencils, etc.
$35 for Soft-crown synthetic leather helmet, size specific to child
$35 for Massage tube
$17 for Vibrating hair brush to provide tactile and somatosensory stimulation
$30 for specialized scissors for children with visual-motor impairments
$10-25 for specially adapted eating bowls and utensils
Nutrition
​The Nutrition Department supports growth and nutrition of children and families who come to The Clinic. Our three dietitians focus on teaching about balanced nutrition. For many of our underweight clients, they support issues of increasing calories. Constipation is a chronic issue that influences children with many disabilities and that is supported by The Clinic as well.
Haberman bottles and nipples are provided for cleft lip/cleft palate babies, and we teach mothers proper use of these bottles. We also teach families how to use feeding tubes for babies who have them.
All of our health care staff volunteer their time—many take a day off from their practice to volunteer at The Clinic. Others are retired and give up a day of retirement activities. Many have been volunteering for a number of years. All are dedicated to providing quality care to our patients despite our often limited resources. Most come every month, but a few specialties are staffed every 3-4 months. By following the links below, you can learn more about each health care department, the staff, and needs of the department.

Programs

Occupational Therapy
​Pediatric occupational therapists provide information to parents about how to work with children with developmental disabilities, including high activity level, autism, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, upper extremity weakness, poorly developing grasp and hand skills. Parents want to teach early educational preparation for school. Also addressed are sensory disorders; such as, perceptual problems, usual sensory needs, behavioral challenges, and poor ability to calm and sleep. Upper body strengthening tech niques are demonstrated. Suggestions to parents include teaching self-care skills; such as, eating, dressing, toilet training, and tooth brushing. Also included is information about how to address sensory needs; such as, excessive chewing, calming, protection. Hand splints, special eating and self-care items, sensory items, and educational items are distributed. Hard or soft helmets may also be needed.
Current Staff
​Christine Merrill, Department Head
Lorinda Fleming, OTR/L
Suggested Donations
​Benefiber, Fibersure or Uni-fiber (non-gelling)
Blenders
Peanut butter
Pediasure (generic okay)
Powdered milk
Prune juice—small cans only
Vitamins, children’s chewable with iron

$310 to buy Haberman bottles for 10 babies
$20 to buy six nipples for Haberman bottles
$36 to buy g-tube bolus extensions for use with blended food