Bringing Pediatric Physical Therapy to Every Corner of the World

When Laura Capp visited Europe for two weeks, she went through culture shock. After living in Uganda for eight months, she was surprised she hadn’t felt the same confusion when she had first arrived in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“I think what got to me was the brightness of stores and lights in Europe. It was like the U.S., where I'd grown up, but yet, it was different. I remember daylight savings was so confusing to me after living on the equator for almost a year. The bright light wasn’t exactly what I thought would bother me, but honestly, I was overwhelmed.”

Working in pediatric physical therapy in Uganda, Laura spent a year abroad, aside from her brief travel to Europe. During that time, she didn’t feel out-of-place, working with people in small rural villages and towns. Laura jumped in and got to work, figuring out what would best benefit the population she was working with. It's this same flexibility and open-mindedness Laura brings to her work as a pediatric physical therapist at M Street.

Copy of M STREET TEXTURE 3.png — “Because of my experience in other countries, I’ve seen how critical early intervention is to children, especially without regular access to care. The right intervention is critical to their long term outcomes.”It’s truly a privilege to take part in this work.”

Laura lived and worked in Uganda for a year, where she had the opportunity to support children and families who did not otherwise have access to physical therapy.

Laura’s Story

Laura grew up in the States, where she enjoyed athletics and sports. She thought she would go into athletic training and physical therapy.

"I started working in high schools as an athletic trainer, and I quickly learned I loved working with kids. Working on the sidelines was intense. I was always worrying about what injury was going to happen next and how to address it. I found what I really enjoyed was the rehabilitation side of physical therapy."

Laura took her passion for working with kids and applied for a pediatric grant when she was attending school at UIC. This grant allowed her to do a pediatric internship, working with children with special needs.

“I immediately loved the pace and working with the population. You get to build relationships with the kids and see them through the process. Because of my experience in other countries, I’ve seen how critical early intervention is to children, especially without regular access to care. The right intervention is critical to their long term outcomes.”

When Laura finished college, she made a mission trip to Uganda for a year. During her time in Africa, she worked with many children who had very little access to any therapy at all.

"We worked with an organization that helped kids get wheelchairs. Some of these children had never been able to move on their own. Once they had these basic chairs, we would work with parents to help them figure out how to implement basic physical therapy techniques into their routines. This one interaction may be the only opportunity they had to receive therapy services, so we’d try to get in as much information as we could, using a translator and communicating as clearly as possible.”

When Laura returned to the States, she had a renewed appreciation for the access to services and early intervention programs available here.

"I really saw what a huge difference P.T. and early intervention make during critical development. I came home really invested in bringing care to everyone who needed it.”

Laura is currently a foster mom to a 9-month-old. She is her second foster child, and she's loving the challenge and joy of caring for this little one. In her (now very limited) spare time, Laura enjoys standup paddleboarding, reading, and spending time at the great festivals here on the banks of Lake Michigan.

“M Street’s great at working around parents’ schedules and helping them find ways to implement physical therapy using what they have at home.”

Working with Laura and M Street

One of the aspects of working at M Street Laura loves is working near her home on Chicago’s South side. Because M Street works with clients in their homes, as opposed to a clinical setting, Laura can reach many families who may not have the transportation access or means to bring their child to a clinic every week.

“M Street’s great at working around parents’ schedules and helping them find ways to implement physical therapy using what they have at home. For example, we may use couch cushions, boxes, or certain toys within our therapy. Because we're right in the family's home, we see what fits with their routine and lifestyle."

"I worked with a family who co-sleeps with their child. When they had brought their child into a clinic for P.T., the therapist suggested practicing balancing exercises on the bed. Ordinarily, the bed is a great suggestion, but for this family, teaching their child to stand up in the bed didn't fit with their lifestyle. The little guy was receiving mixed messages, and it was inconsistent. Simply by using a blowup mattress instead of the family bed, we were able to do the same exercises in a way that worked better for this particular family."

Laura knows success is all about figuring out what works for each unique situation.

“No two children are ever alike. Even if they face a similar diagnosis, they will progress at their own pace and find new ways to move and grow. I love watching each of the kids I work with figure out their path. It’s always different and so fascinating to see.”

Access to early intervention services is critically important to families. Implementing the right interventions at the right developmental stages is huge in terms of gains and progress.

“In clinical settings, families might struggle to get to the clinic. They might do the techniques at the center, but when they get home, it’s hard to replicate. That’s why M Street is so amazing. We work right in the home, so we see exactly how it works with the kids' routines. It's great if your child can climb a ladder at the clinic, but if they can't do it at the park, then it doesn't really enhance their lives. It's what happens at the park, or in their home, I care about. Translating the P.T. skills into a real-world setting is the key."

These real-world settings are so crucial to therapy, especially when working with kids who might not be in the right mood or frame of mind to do the activity with their therapist. Physical therapy is often tough work, and for small children, it's essential to adapt and stay flexible.

"We educate the parents well and set them up to do the activities throughout their week in between sessions. This helps because some days, the kids aren't in the mood for P.T. There are days when what we're working on just isn't working. Maybe the kid is tired, or cranky. Some days their little bodies don't want to fight against gravity. So instead, we might do clapping, or we might work on stacking items. We find other ways to develop those gross motor skills, and the parents might have success later in the week when their child is in the mood."

M STREET TEXTURE 4.png — “At M Street we work as a team, even though we aren’t all in the same building. It is flexible, but I’m constantly learning. I get pushed in new directions and get new insights from my fellow therapist.”

Consistency is the Key to Successful Pediatric Physical Therapy

“I was so excited to work with under-served communities, especially on the South side of Chicago, where I live. When I got back to the States a few years ago, I worked in a clinic. I saw kids waiting for months to get into therapy in a clinic setting. It killed me because there are plenty of therapists out there, but they weren’t in the right areas."

“M Street is a gamechanger because of offering home-based care. Parents can carry over the information and lessons we provide. They use the resources in their homes. While we visit, we see exactly what their routine looks like and what areas the child struggles with. Then, we work with the parent to come up with the best plan and set of activities for their child.”

In addition to working with children in their home, Laura might take them in the yard or to a nearby park. Within the city, any green space offers an opportunity for kids to implement therapy-based play. Laura helps families to find a spot near their home to work within their living area as well.

“People rule out city communities because of the name or the zip code, but there are challenges in any area. A child shouldn’t lack health care because of their zip code, in any circumstances. Especially not here in the U.S. when there are clinicians available.”

"I love going into homes and working with families. I feel like we see gains so much faster. At M Street, we really work as a team, even though we aren't all in the same building. It's flexible, but I'm constantly learning. I get pushed in new directions and get new insights from my fellow therapists."

Laura’s unique perspective helps her bring new insights into each situation. She works with each family to gain an understanding of their child, background, and comfort levels. Like all M Street therapists, Laura becomes a partner with the families in her care.

“The fun part of our job is that we're constantly seeing kids with a variety of needs, and it changes all the time. I love working with kids who are facing different challenges and working outside the box to support them. Ultimately, their success becomes my success as a therapist too. I’m always so proud of the outcomes when I can empower families to help their child. We often see exciting breakthroughs in physical therapy, especially with these little ones. It makes my job so fun and rewarding."