Frequently asked questions

DMI supports children with a range of gross motor impairments, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, global developmental delay, hypotonia, chromosomal or genetic conditions, spinal cord involvement, acquired brain injury, and children born prematurely. See conditions we help with.

We do require a parent or caregiver to be present during the session, unless otherwise determined by the therapist. The last 2 days are very crucial for parent participation in order to learn the home exercise program.

If your child is at or over 45 lbs, a video consult will be required prior to booking to ensure they are appropriate for this intervention. If a child is 45 lbs but standing independently, then weight won't matter as much. If your child is 45 lbs but needs full support, there might be better options for your child. Your therapist will be able to guide you in the right direction during the Zoom call.

Please bring your AFO's and any other orthotics to the first session. For some children they are required to develop alignment; for others it may be more appropriate to have full joint mobility so the body can learn proper alignment without the orthotic, depending on where the child is developmentally.

Orthotics are a tool that can provide alignment to a child's feet. However, the body has natural tools too, known as proprioceptors. They work through movement and tell the spinal cord and brain where our body is in space. The brain responds to the information by adjusting positions at each joint to teach the child to balance. When a joint's motion is limited, as is the case with orthotics, the proprioceptors cannot fully work. Therefore, an orthotic provides alignment, but takes away the body's way of learning balance.