Countywide : ‘Totmobile’ Will Deliver Special Care

A custom-built “classroom on wheels” for infant victims of cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and other medical problems is scheduled to begin touring the county next week.

The purpose of the new “Totmobile” is to bring help and educational services to families who live considerable distances from the Santa Ana base of the United Cerebral Palsy Assn. of Orange County.

“A lot of parents live too far from our center,” said Wendy Briles, the association’s director of infant services.

But with the $100,000 portable classroom, which is pulled by a truck, teachers from the association can go to schools, parks, health centers and other locations.

“We’ll travel all over the county--wherever our services are needed,” Briles said.

The vehicle is staffed by physical, occupational and speech therapists and nurses who work with children from birth through age 3.

The free services are provided for developmentally disabled children.

A key component of the program is parental involvement, according to Briles. Parents are shown how to play their part in teaching the children how to see themselves, improve their motor skills and develop cognitive and socio-emotional abilities.

Services are provided in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and sign language.

Briles demonstrated a computer program that helps children understand cause-and-effect relationships.

By touching various parts of a computer screen, children can electronically explore a house and attempt to awaken a sleepy mother.

The vehicle also contains colorful toys, a flannel board for storytelling, adaptive chairs and a diaper-changing table, which Briles described as “one of our most important features.”

Ana Reyes, the association’s infant-center coordinator, said it’s “a good idea to start them at a very early age” in the program if optimal results are to be achieved.

The association works with 220 infants. Reyes said that number will increase when the Totmobile is in operation.

“With the Totmobile, it’s really going to help us a lot, especially with South County families,” Reyes said.

She said that one mother had to ride three buses to take her child to the center in Santa Ana.

Reyes said the association encourages parents to provide emotional support to one another.

“They need to talk, to cry, to show any emotions they are going through that day,” Reyes said. She said each child is different, which makes it challenging to address all their needs.

But when the children show marked improvement in their ability to walk, talk and do all the other things children do, it becomes clear that the effort was worth it, Reyes said.

“When you see the progress, it’s such a big event for us,” Reyes said. “And for the parents too.”