Family and community are important factors in any child’s life, and that’s why the Provincial Outreach Therapy for Children (POTC) program makes it possible for preschool-age children with disabilities to receive a variety of services at their homes or in childcare programs via a family-centred model.

“They really helped us. Mik really has a lot of improvement!”

The Pasaraba family was first connected with Manitoba Possible in 2018, after their daughter Mikelle, lovingly nicknamed Mik, transferred from the Specialized Services for Children and Youth (SSCY) Centre.

Through occupational and physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and connecting the family with specialized equipment the Provincial Outreach Therapy for Children’s program (POTC) - and team members Heather, Rebecca, and Kelsey - have had a massive impact on the lives of Mikelle and her family in removing obstacles for the busy girl who loves to explore.

“The barriers we faced were lessened,” mom Melanie shared, adding the equipment the family could access via the program has led to a fun activity for the whole family – biking around the neighbourhood. 

The family-centred model brings together parents, siblings, child care providers, therapists and a range of other service providers who all play an important role in supporting children to reach their full potential and be active participants in their community. With everyone working together, services can be better coordinated to best meet the needs of children and families.

Now in kindergarten, Mikelle has outgrown POTC services with new abilities – like being able to scoot, use a walker and so much more. 

“There’s a lot of programs that can be accessed,” shared Melanie, speaking to families who have children with disabilities, “if we do face some barriers in our lives, let’s not lose hope.”

For the Pasaraba family, community was a big help along their journey. The family is now friends with the Dela Peret’s, who were also put in touch with Manitoba Possible around the same time regarding service coordination and therapies for their son, Marcus. 

Despite the uncertainty of the novel coronavirus, the POTC team continued to work towards removing barriers for Marcus and his family – sometimes connecting via phone or Zoom, and even making in-person visits before code red restrictions came into place. 

“He’s actually walking now – there’s a lot of progress with the OT’s and PT’s (occupational therapists and physio-therapists). He’s starting to stand on his own, and they suggested what equipment may be good for Marcus,” shared mom, Melanie Dela Peret.

“It helps our family, especially our son, the support and equipment… Manitoba Possible is a great centre – they do a lot! 

Making mobility possible is just one of the ways the POTC program changes the lives of children and families with disabilities.