Frequent Questions
Who does the Perlman Center serve?
The Perlman Center is a specialty center that focuses on the needs of children, from birth to adulthood, who have physical disabilities.
What type of services do you provide?
A variety, from help for parents to therapy-based programs for children. It is best to contact Amy Spencer, the Perlman service coordinator, to discuss your individual needs. Call 513-636-4601.
How do I get help for my child?
Contact the Perlman Center! There are many resources available to families. The Perlman Center specializes in helping parents get what they need for their children. Even if the help you need can't be provided directly by the Perlman Center, we can help you find assistance at Children's Hospital or in the community.
My child does not have cerebral palsy. Can the Perlman Center still help?
Yes. Nearly 50 percent of the children helped by the Perlman Center do not have cerebral palsy. If your child has a significant physical delay or another diagnosed condition that requires either occupational, physical and/or speech therapy, contact us today.
My child currently receives outpatient therapy. How is the Perlman Center therapeutic program different?
The Perlman Center's day treatment integrates all needed therapies into a program that is stimulating and typical for the young child and focused on preparing the child for independent functioning in the community. Because all therapists are involved in developing each child's treatment plan, it is possible to take into consideration all of the child's needs as they relate to each other, over an extended period of time.
This is a very powerful model of treatment for the young child. In some cases, additional outpatient therapy may be prescribed. The Perlman Center therapists make every effort to communicate with other therapists involved in the child's care.
Do the Perlman Programs have a fee?
Yes. However, the Perlman Center works with families to ensure that programs are affordable. Most of the Perlman programs and services involve at least occupational, physical or speech therapy. These services are often supported through resources available to families, including private insurance, Medicaid, school district support and other special funding.
Other funding resources available through the Perlman Center also help pay the cost of the programs and services, including United Way/Community Chest, Hamilton County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and others. United Cerebral Palsy of Cincinnati also supports the Perlman Center through special fund-raising events and funding from private foundations. Each family's financial ability to pay is assessed individually.
Can I get a program like the Perlman Center's somewhere else?
Not likely. The Perlman Center services and programs are very unique in our community -- and beyond.
I have a child who cannot talk. Can the Perlman Center help?
Yes. The Perlman Center's Assistive Technology services are not just for children with physical disabilities. If a child has difficulty communicating and may benefit from an augmentative communication device, please contact us.
Do the day treatment programs at the Perlman Center include kids who do not have a physical condition?
Yes. The day treatment programs include some children who do not have disabilities or chronic conditions. This is an important aspect of the program, because it gives kids the benefits of developing and interacting with their peers.
