We are pleased to announce that the first group of occupational therapists has been trained in Through The Looking Glass's Baby Care Assessment for Parent with Physical Limitations or Disabilities.

In January 2007, ten occupational therapists (OTs) from various sites associated with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago attended a two day training seminar in Chicago by TLG's Christi Tuleja, MS OTR, concerning administering TLG's Baby Care Assessment tool. This tool was developed under a grant from NIDRR, U.S. Department of Education, and was based on TLG's 14 years of clinical experiences as well as a series of previously funded NIDRR grants regarding adaptive baby care equipment. The Chicago group of OTs was the first to be trained since the tool was completed in January 2006.

The training provided participants with the necessary background information, administrative procedures and observational techniques to perform the assessment with a parent with a physical disability. Training topics included: appropriate assessment of parent-child interaction, screening for parental depression, and visual training of the many and diverse ways parents with physical disabilities can care for babies. The OTs were given opportunities to discuss their choices of adaptive baby care equipment and techniques for their current parent clients.

As a part of the final certificate process, the participants will need to conduct an evaluation with a parent in the home, provide videotape of the parent performing the baby care tasks, and complete a report with recommendations. TLG hopes this is the beginning of many trainings to OTs across the country in assessing a parent's baby care functioning for clinical and custody purposes.

For further information concerning trainings on the Baby Care Assessment or to discuss assessment services regarding a parent with a disability, please contact Christi Tuleja at Through the Looking Glass at (800) 644-2666 ext. 119.