The Cause
The Hospitals:
The goal of these programs is to not only help the kids strengthen their muscles and develop necessary motor skills, but to also give them the opportunity to spend time with other kids and gain confidence within themselves. These programs are provided by a diverse team of highly experienced, full-time pediatric specialists at Royal Oak Beaumont and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. The money UMDM raises is used to underwrite the costs of programs put on by these professionals such as dance therapy, martial arts, therapeutic massage, horseback riding, and yoga.
The money allocated to C.S. Mott also funds the Child Life Department. The goal of the Child Life Department is to provide support services aimed at reducing the stress and trauma of hospitalization for patients and their families. The department utilizes a diverse staff of specialists, activity therapists, teachers, and an art therapist to meet the social, emotional, and educational needs of its patients. Some of the programs that directly benefit from UMDM include transplant and discharge parties, cooking and craft projects, Dreams and Wings, which is an opportunity for children to take short plane rides over Ann Arbor, and school re-entry programs.
Funds generated through UMDM help children grow and allow them to interact with caring and compassionate people. Thanks to the University of Michigan Dance Marathon and those who support its cause, as these children have opportunities they would have never had before. (Link to another page that lists our programs? I think this has value if someone really wants to dive into our cause because we can’t relay on another resource (i.e. American Cancer Society) to explain our cause.)
Our Families:Currently, there are over 60 families who participate with our organization as UMDM families. UMDM families have children who have used or currently use pediatric rehabilitation programs. These families directly interact with the students and community members who get involved with the organization. Over the course of the year, lasting relationships develop and grow between the dancers, who raise funds and awareness for the therapy programs, and the families, who work so hard each day to provide the best for their children. Bonds created in UMDM uniquely impact both the families and the students. The children and families experience the support and enthusiasm of students and volunteers who are eager to make a difference. At the same time, dancers witness the tremendous strength and determination displayed by the children, and truly get a sense of how they are making a difference.
Becoming a UMDM Family: UMDM families volunteer to participate in our events and activities, but they are not the only families who benefit from the programs sponsored by the organization. Since the funds raised directly underwrite the costs of the therapy programs, many families have access to and participate in our programs without getting directly involved with the students in the organization. UMDM families make a decision to get more involved, and open themselves up to those who want to support them. If you're interested in becoming a UMDM family, your family will be invited to attend various events held throughout the year. Most importantly, your child will be given the opportunity to interact with our dancers. UMDM does much more than fund rehabilitation programs – it has even been said that it is a type of rehabilitation in itself. To find out more about how to get your family involved, please contact our Family and Hospital Relations Chairs at umdm.fhr@umich.edu
The Programs:
Note: Some of these programs are no longer receiving UMDM funds, but have at some point in our history (see *)
Top Soccer: This program is run by the Ann Arbor Youth Soccer Association for children ranging in ages from 8 to 18 with a variety of disabilities including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, Head Injury, etc.
C.H.A.M.P. Program: Comprehensive Hand and Arm Movement Program: Children and adolescents with upper extremity motor dysfunction due to a range of neurological conditions receive this intensive two week therapy program designed to facilitate increased hand and arm function and increase independence with activities of daily living.
Child and Family Life Services: Programs supported through this effort include supportive play and normalization of medical events through therapeutic play techniques, diversional play, medical procedure preparation for the pediatric inpatient and outpatient population.
Martial Arts Therapy: This program utilizes classical martial arts protocols with a rehabilitative focus rather than a combative goal. The child has the opportunity to either 'spar' with a volunteer or with a parent, so this is a fun activity for the family to participate in together. The therapy specifically aids with a child's balance and muscle control.
PEAC Cycling Program: The overall purpose of learning to cycle for these kids is to be included in an activity that represents an everyday opportunity for many children. Bikes can be adapted to fit the child's strength, such as hand-bikes for children who lack control of their legs or tandem bikes for children who have not yet developed the balance or the confidence to ride alone.
Music Therapy: Music can be an intervention; it takes the child's mind off the stress and pain that can be part of their daily lives. Children create their own music here, which is an experience that can be extremely relaxing and calming.
Drummers Unite*: This is another type of musical therapy that serves to increase a child's social interaction. Drummers Unite pairs med school students and patients for a fun session of drumming. The drums are adapted to fit the child's need, some fitted with Velcro armbands.
School Reentry Program*: This program is designed to aid a child in the difficult transition back to school after a long absence or a traumatic illness or procedure. The Child Life staff at Mott will go with the child to school and perform an age appropriate presentation to the child's classmates that educates them about what their friend went through. These presentations include the use of props such as coloring books and medical play dolls as well as question and answer sessions in which the classmate's fears are addressed.
Interpretive Dancing*: The dancing allows the children to work on their balance and their muscle control but it also lets them be creative and express themselves how they want to. Children with many skill levels are included because it focuses on their abilities rather than their disabilities.
Yoga*: In many cases of physical disabilities the muscles of the child may become very tight and limit a child's ability to move about, as they may like. This program attempts to stretch out the child in a very calming fashion. The child's parents had the option of participating with their child, allowing a very relaxing interaction between the families.
Big Crunchers (offered at Beaumont Health Center): Many children with mental disabilities have sensory adaptation problems where their bodies cannot handle foreign textures. This can be extremely harmful when I child cannot eat because of the texture of foods. This program is designed to get the kids used to different foods in a very social atmosphere that is fun.
Dreams and Wings: This is a one-day event in which families are invited to take a ride in an airplane around the Ann Arbor area. For some of these families it will be the only time they can fly, so it is very memorable. Some of the pilots are also disabled, and children learn from this example that they can achieve anything. Commemorative flights are also organized for families that wish to commemorate a lost child.
P.L.A.Y. Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters)* (began at Mott, is continued now by Dr. Solomon): This is a program that teaches parents how to interact with their autistic child in a helpful and constructive fashion. It is based on the idea that playing can be educational and it stresses that the parent should follow the child's lead. The goal is to play the game how the child wants to play it and while doing that engage them in communication.
Swimming (offered at Beaumont Health Center): Swimming is very important for children with a variety of disabilities because in the water they are able to move around more freely. Swim therapy uses the fun setting of the water to work on flexibility, muscle control, and body movement. There are programs that also allow parents and children to swim together to promote the family bond.
Wheelchair Basketball*: Basketball is a typical sport to play if you are a kid but if you are paralyzed it is more difficult. The Sterling Heights Wheelchair Basketball Team has received monetary support from Dance Marathon to help purchase equipment that enables the team to play and compete all over the country.
Handwriting Class*: What may seem really easy to most is not so easy to a child that has difficulties controlling his/her hands. This class works with the kids in a fun setting in order to teach them how to write, sometimes even using adaptive equipment to suite their needs. Writing also works on hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Horseback Riding Therapy*: While this program is extremely fun for the children it has a very clear therapy-oriented purpose. Because of the gentle rhythm of the horse's movement a child, that may be unable to walk alone, can experience motion similar to if he were walking and this improves flexibility, balance and muscle strength. It also increases self-esteem because they are so tall on the top of the horse and they have control to be able to lead the horse.
Medical Play (offered at Mott Children’s Hospital): A fun way to ease children into hospitalization and reduce some of their fears about an upcoming procedure is to let them do medical play. The kids dress up like doctors and use stethoscopes and other tools to examine dolls. It allows them to feel in control and lightens the stress by answering any questions they may have in a way they can understand.
Art Therapy*: Making their own artwork is a wonderful stress relief for children and it is a time when they can talk about their fears. Also, they are in control and they get to choose their project which is very important at a time when they feel like the have no control over anything. The process is the goal and it helps increase self-esteem by creating pride in their development.
