Rainbows United is 100% local, serving more than 3,500 children birth – 21 with special needs in both Butler and Sedgwick Counties in Kansas. Rainbows’ Butler County team of ten covers the geographically largest county in the state.
Services in Butler County include Targeted Case Management (TCM) and early intervention for infants and toddlers through Rainbows’ Bright Beginnings program. TCM provides assistance in finding and securing the programs, services, and financial aid that children with special needs and their families need. Bright Beginnings’ talented Infant/Toddler Services staff provides hands on therapies that help children with developmental delays learn how to play, share, learn, and grow.
Kara Knight, a Butler County Occupational Therapist, has been Greyson’s therapist since he began services. “We have been focusing on playing with toys appropriately and functionally, joint attention, sensory play, and language development,” Kara said. Kara has also taught Greyson’s parents how to effectively redirect his actions. For example, now when he wants to shake a toy, he will only go shake the leash on his stuffed puppy instead. Additionally, if he experiences sensory overload, he will now go to his room and cuddle with his soft blankets and make a nest.
The Rutherford family is thankful for Kara and the support she has provided their family. “Grey looks forward to the visits! She has been able to really connect with him,” his mother, Katie, said. “I’ve also been able to connect with Kara, on a personal and professional level.” Being in education, Katie’s work often refers families to Rainbows, but this was her first personal experience with the organization. “We’ve really felt at ease,” she said. “When I haven’t been able to be there for a visit I’ve still been able to call Kara and discuss Grey’s progress.
Rainbows offers 17 of these early intervention services, depending on specific needs, at no cost to families.
These include:
- Assistive technology
- Speech/language therapy
- Audiology
- Physical therapy
- Family training
- Psychological services
- Health services
- Family service coordination
- Medical services
- Social work
- Nursing services
- Special instruction
- Nutrition services
- Transportation
- Occupational therapy
- Vision services
- Sign language and cued speech
To learn more about Rainbows’ services, visit RainbowsUnited.org or call our Butler County team at 316.320.1342. You can read amazing stories about the impact that Rainbows’ Butler County professionals have on the families they serve here.
Rainbows’ 6th Annual GLOW Run | Walk on Saturday, May 20 benefits these children and families served in Butler County. The event will be held in Augusta, KS at Lincoln Elementary School. It is a family-friendly affair, including: food trucks, Touch-a-Truck display, kids’ activities, princesses, music, GLOW photo booth, a live broadcast from B98, the Fireshark Gaming’s mobile gaming trailer, a timed 5K, 1-mile family-fun walk, contests and more!
You better get GLOWing! Register or start a team today!
