Vision

It is planned that the LADDERS Program in association with the Massachusetts General Hospital, Pediatric Services will be extended to serve adolescents and adults diagnosed with a variety of handicapping conditions. We call this future program the LADDERS “campus.” Existing services that can be provided immediately include: medical/neurological evaluations and case management, pyschopharmacology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech/language therapy, and behavioral services (through collaboration with Behavioral Pediatrics & Family Development, Inc.). Additional personnel across all disciplines will be added as the number of individuals referred to the program increases.

The next phase of program development will be the expansion of an adult program involving the establishment of a referral network for additional services. Referral networks will include primary care physicians and other relevant medical services, dental services, augmentative communication/computer-aided designs, vocational training, continuing education, leisure time programming and home care coordination and placement.

Being part of the Partners HealthCare System will facilitate this network development. Over the long term, several of those services would be incorporated directly into the LADDERS/MGH Program.

The long term goal of LADDERS is to provide extensive services to handicapped children, adolescents and adults. These resources will include but will not be limited to:

• Early diagnosis in infants and toddlers.
• Medical, educational and therapeutic consultation to early intervention programs, schools, community residences and workshops.
• Parent training and support for children of all ages and adult.
• Multidisciplinary team evaluations for children and adult.
• Evaluations by individual disciplines (i.e. speech and language, occupational therapy, educational planning).
• Evaluations and planning for adolescents turning 22 years of age.
• Social skills training.
• Individual and group counseling.
• Interdisciplinary gross motor groups.
• Augmentative communication/alternative means of communication program.
• Neuro-orthopedic clinic.
• Training for graduate students in health and education professions as well as medical students, interns and residents.
• Provision of primary care throughout the life span.
• Provision of dental, neurological, psychiatric and psychopharmacological services.
• Provide recreational and social opportunities for children, adolescents and adults.
• Provide a library and resource center for parents and professionals.
• Provide advocacy for handicapped individuals and their families.
• Provide educational assistance and planning to students and institutions for handicapped individuals who are college bound.