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Meet Emma and Jacob
Jason and Jessica Barron of Harvest were concerned when their infant twins, Emma and Jacob, weren’t meeting certain developmental milestones. Subsequently, Emma was diagnosed with Torticolis. That’s when Jason’s sister Jennifer Barron, a social worker, and the Barron family’s pediatrician recommended that the Barrons see if the twins might qualify for Early Intervention (EI).
“The twins were not anywhere where they should be developmentally,” Jessica recalled. “I remember answering questions during the intake process and thinking, ‘Oh man, they are really behind!’”
“It was alarming for us as parents,” Jason added. “They were months behind in multiple developmental areas.”
Emma and Jacob began receiving EI services at UCP on March 13, 2008. Now almost 23-months-old, the twins are active in weekly playgroups and continue to receive EI services, as well as physical therapy and occupational therapy at the UCP Therapy Center. The Barrons said that their children have since made remarkable developmental strides.
“I cannot tell you how much of a difference we see in them today verses when we began our journey with UCP!” Jessica explained. “Miss Janet worked with the kids in the area of occupational therapy. They quickly began wanting to do puzzles, hand over hand activities, putting blocks in cups, and, most importantly, she helped us work with eating issues and texture.”
Jessica said that Jacob and Emma have had sensory aversion issues regarding the texture of things they touch and eat. However, UCP Occupational Therapist Janet Taylor recognized this problem quickly and gave Jessica and Jason tips to put into daily practice at home.
“Emma would not eat table food as quickly as Jacob and Miss Janet gave me these cool tips on how to get Emma’s mouth desensitized,” Jessica recalled. “For example, Emma hated having anything in her mouth except baby food or the bottle. Miss Janet advised us to get a baby toothbrush and brush her gums daily if not more.”
“Emma loves to eat most everything now and even loves to have her teeth brushed,” Jason explained. “Both Jacob and Emma still have problems with certain textures on their hands, like finger paint or Play-Doh, but we are working on all of that.”
“Miss Janet also helped us wean the twins off the bottle,” Jessica added with excitement. “I am so proud to say we are now drinking out of straws and sippy cups! This is a big deal for us.”
Jessica and Jason said that they are also thrilled with the physical therapy services Emma and Jacob have received with UCP Physical Therapists Andrea Batt and Bridget Jedlovec. The weekly sessions helped the twins to strengthen their muscles and enabled them to crawl and walk.
“Miss Andrea and Miss Bridget have worked diligently with the twins. That work helped to advance each twin to pass the big milestone of crawling for the first time. Emma and Jacob are now walking without assistance and are working on handling stairs and climbing onto furniture."
Emma and Jacob also recently reached another developmental milestone when they completed speech therapy with UCP Speech/Language Therapist Julie Yockel.
“Miss Julie helped us learn how to talk,” Jessica said. “Jacob is a talking little man. He says everything! Emma is saying more words each day.”
While the Barrons are grateful for each of Emma and Jacob’s UCP therapists, Jessica said that their children have formed a special bond with UCP Special Instructor Desiree Sivley.
“Miss Desiree has been a blessing! She comes to our home weekly for special instruction and works one-on-one with the twins for fine motor skills, texture issues and communication skills,” Jessica explained. “The twins absolutely love her—especially Jacob.”
According to their parents, Emma and Jacob both enjoy watching BabyFirstTV, singing songs, playing, reading, talking on the telephone, attending Friday playgroup at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and playing with their dog, Sasha, and cat, Allie. Individually, Emma loves singing and watching American Idol, while Jacob loves playing the piano and the drums.
“They also love attending playgroup at UCP and getting home visits from Miss Janet and Miss Desiree,” Jessica said. “When we began the EI program, we also signed the twins up for UCP playgroup on Mondays for them to get social interaction as well. At first, Jacob cried every time I took him. It was hard, but as time went on he loved going.”
“We learned from the therapists that he needs to be prompted before activities change and if we are going to go somewhere, so we talked to him about going to UCP's weekly playgroup every Sunday evening, in the morning when he woke up, and while eating breakfast,” Jason recalled.
“He had no problems going in after that,” Jessica added. “It made leaving him an easier transition.”
Both Jessica and Jason agree that Emma and Jacob have greatly benefited socially and developmentally by attending UCP’s weekly playgroups.
“There is a computer at playgroup that Jacob just loves,” Jessica explained. “Emma loves the sandbox. For different seasons they fill it with different things. She was playing in the corn for Halloween. It was great!
“One day, Emma starting singing and doing hand motions,” Jason said. “I watched her and realized that she was doing the hand motions for ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider.’ I was impressed she knew it so well. She was so proud to show us something new she had learned. As parents, you don’t realize how much your kids learn. I know they have benefited from going to playgroup and from home visits.”
The Barrons said that they would highly recommend UCP programs and services to other families.
“The therapists make therapy fun for our kids, therefore they learn more. It’s like they are little sponges. Everyday Jason and I are more amazed at the progress the twins continue to make,” Jessica said. “The twins have really bonded with the therapists and cry when they leave our home to go to another appointment.”
“I know for sure that we would not be where we are today if it had not been for everyone at United Cerebral Palsy and the great work and resources they provide children and parents,” Jason added. “The home therapy visits through the EI program have been wonderful.”
To learn more about the Early Intervention program, visit EI at UCP online, email therapy@ucphuntsville.org, or call 852-5600.
To learn more about all UCP programs and services, please call 852-5600. To make a donation, please use the Google Checkout Donate Now button on this page. All donations are tax-deductible.
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