Condell Medical Center's Pediatric Alternatives in Creative Therapy (PACT) Receives Grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities
Addition of Snoezelen Sensory Room Offers Children and Teens Unique Therapy

Libertyville, IL ... Condell Medical Center's Pediatric Alternatives in Creative Therapy (PACT), a physical rehabilitation program for children and teens, recently received a grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities. The funds will be used to purchase equipment for a Snoezelen Sensory Room.

Produced by a variety of light projectors and wheels, shimmering fiber optic light curtain and calming cassettes, the interactive sound and light walls of the Snoezelen Sensory Room provides stimulating opportunities that enhance children's awareness of their environment through the senses of sight and hearing, while helping motivate their motor movements. This multi-sensory experience is also effective in helping children block out distractions, focus, and achieve calmness, which is optimal to the progress of therapy.

PACT is a unique medical support service in Lake County for children and teens with neuromuscular disorders, such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, head trauma, and spinal cord injuries, as well as those with developmental delay and speech-language disorders. PACT also treats children with genetic and congenital anomalies, structural abnormalities, such as cleft palate, and hearing/vision problems, sensory integration dysfunction and those receiving radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

Staffed with an interdisciplinary team of professionals, including physical therapists (PT), occupational therapists (OT), speech-language pathologists and a social worker, PACT partners with the family, school, physician and community to provide comprehensive intervention, as well as an individualized treatment program for each child.

Monica Cioffi, MS, PT, director of PACT, is grateful for the grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities. "We know that children with unique needs and their families sometimes require special support and attention. The addition of the Snoezelen Sensory Room will help us reach our goal of assessing children and families dealing with these challenges, offering support through every stage of a child's development," said Cioffi. "This grant will strongly enhance our ability to provide the most comprehensive and highest quality intervention, treatment and therapy program for each child that enters our doors."

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana supports three Ronald McDonald Houses in Chicago, and makes grants to local not-for-profit organizations that serve children. Since 1987, RMHC of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana has contributed over $9.1 million to over 450 local organizations.