DSCC Children's Habilitation ClinicThe Children's Habilitation Clinic, founded as the Center for Handicapped Children in 1956, is a multidisciplinary clinic which provides care for children with developmental disabilities and education for health professionals in the care of children with disabilities. Who can be referred to CHC? Children from birth through twenty-one years of age with known or suspected impairments involving movement, self-care, communication, and learning are appropriate for care. This includes children with acquired disabilities and degenerative problems, as well as children with congenital problems. Most of our patients have multiple impairments but a specific diagnosis does not make a child eligible or ineligible for care at CHC. We do not take new referrals of children who do not have physical disabilities or chronic medical conditions; we do not accept new referrals for children with known or suspected autism, learning disabilities, isolated language/speech problems or behavioral difficulties unless they also have physical or health impairments. Children can be seen with any type of financial support, including public aid. What services are provided? CHC evaluates and provides ongoing care to children with developmental disabilities. Our goal is to accurately diagnose the child, understand the child's current level of function, and help the child and family improve functionally and maintain the highest level of health possible. We provide disability related medical care including equipment evaluation, medical management, resource counseling, family and patient education, community referrals and limited amounts of therapy to children with disabilities to age 21. Helping the child and his/her family understand their problems, learn how to find appropriate community services, and learn how to cope are very important aspects of care. These issues are explored in every visit and at times in special family conferences. How can a child be referred?A family, physician, health care provider, school, community agency, or other interested person can call the clinic to discuss the referral but only the child's parent or guardian will be able to make the appointment. There will be a short intake interview over the phone. If there are questions about whether this clinic is the best one for the child, we will try to find the most appropriate resource for the family. Who are the clinic staff?The core team consists of a neuro-developmental disabilities pediatrician, social worker, and pediatric clinical nurse specialist. Other on-site staff include a speech-language pathologist, psychologist and physical therapist; other services are available on a consultation basis within the UIC clinics. UIC has a number of outstanding services for children with special health care needs within the Children's Center and in other areas including the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, multiple pediatric subspecialists, primary care for children with chronic health conditions and a medicine-pediatrics training program in which youth and adults with disabilities can receive primary care. How Do You Find Out More? Contact us at the Children's Habilitation Clinic for referral or for more information: Children's Habilitation Clinic (CHC) CHC Administrative Offices: -top of page-
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