Forms of therapy and support
There are many different types of therapies and supports available for children and young people with disabilities. Here are some of the most common types of therapies and supports and a brief description.
Body and movement therapy
Physiotherapy:
Physiotherapy focuses on improving the physical abilities of children and young people with disabilities. Physiotherapists work to improve the body's mobility, strength and flexibility.
more info
Galileo Training:
Galileo Training is a method of physiotherapy that is suitable for children and young people with disabilities. In this therapy, patients are trained on a special vibration platform to improve their muscle strength, balance and coordination. The Galileo platform generates mechanical vibrations that are passed through the body and stimulate muscles and nerves. This can lead to an increase in muscle strength and flexibility while improving stability and sense of balance.
more info
Petö therapy:
Peto is a therapy method for children and young people with movement disorders and motor impairments. Petö therapy includes a wide range of exercises that are tailored to the individual needs and abilities of the child.
more info
Manual therapy:
Manual therapy is a physiotherapy method that focuses on the examination and treatment of disorders in the joints, muscles and nerves. It can also be used for children and young people with disabilities to alleviate pain and restricted mobility and improve body awareness.
more info
Motopedics:
Motopaedics is a form of therapy for children and young people with motor impairments or developmental delays. The aim of motopaedics is to promote and improve the child's physical abilities, mobility and perception.
more info
Occupational therapy:
Occupational therapy focuses on improving the everyday skills of children and young people with disabilities. Occupational therapists work to improve fine motor skills and coordination in order to promote independence and autonomy in everyday life.
Hydrotherapy:
This is a type of physiotherapy that is carried out in water. The sensation of weight and the resistance of the water can help to strengthen muscles and improve mobility.
Rota therapy:
Rota therapy is a form of manual therapy that is used in particular for children and adolescents with motor impairments. It is a gentle method that aims to improve the mobility of joints, muscles and connective tissue and thus promote body awareness and control.
more info
Castillo Morales:
Castillo Morales is a form of therapy that focuses on the treatment of children and adolescents with motor disorders. The approach is based on the assumption that many motor disorders are caused by impaired perception, coordination and posture
more info
Feldenkrais Therapy:
Feldenkrais therapy is a movement therapy that aims to improve people's movement potential and reduce restrictions.
more info
Neuroactive reflex therapy (NRT):
Neuroactive reflex therapy (NRT) is a form of therapy that works on the basis of the child's reflex development. The assumption here is that the correct development of reflexes forms the basis for the development of motor, cognitive and emotional skills. NRT therapy focuses on correcting reflexes that are not sufficiently integrated in order to promote the child's further development. The reflexes are specifically stimulated and trained in order to achieve a positive effect on the nervous system.
more info
Neuropaediatric complex therapy:
Neuropaediatric complex therapy is a special form of therapy for children and adolescents with various neurological diseases and developmental disorders. An interdisciplinary team of doctors, therapists and educators is used to look at and treat the child's individual needs and problems holistically.
more info
DMI (Dynamic Movement Intervention) therapy:
DMI (Dynamic Movement Intervention) therapy is a method of movement therapy for children and young adults with disabilities. It was specially developed for children with motor development delays or coordination problems and uses targeted exercises to promote motor learning.
more info
Speech therapy
Speech therapy:
Speech therapy is a form of therapy that can be used for children and young people with disabilities to improve their language skills. The aim of speech therapy is to strengthen the child's communication skills and help them to speak, understand and read better.
more info
Support and weaning measures
Early intervention:
Early intervention for children with disabilities is an important part of supporting and integrating people with disabilities, and early intervention services vary from country to country and often depend on the type and severity of the disability.
more info
Early visual support:
Early vision support is a special form of early intervention that focuses on the development and promotion of vision in children and young people with visual impairments. The aim is to achieve the best possible visual ability and visual perception at an early stage in order to be able to cope better with everyday life.
more info
Early hearing support:
Early hearing support is an important measure to support the speech and communication development of children and young adults with disabilities, especially those with hearing impairments or deafness. The aim is to improve the ability to hear and perceive and to promote the development of language and communication.
more info
Basal stimulation:
Basal stimulation is a method that has been specially developed for people with severe and multiple disabilities. The aim of basal stimulation is to promote and improve the perceptual abilities, body awareness and communication of people with disabilities.
more info
Craniosacral bodywork:
Craniosacral bodywork is a gentle manual therapy method that aims to improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and thus support the nervous system. It can also be used on people with disabilities to release tension and blockages in the body and promote physical well-being.
more info
ABA therapy:
ABA therapy focuses on behavior and behavior modification and is particularly effective for children with autism spectrum disorders.
more info
Art therapy:
Art therapy uses creative activities such as painting, drawing or modeling to help children and adolescents express their emotions and improve their cognitive skills.
more info
Behavioral and psychotherapy
ABA Therapy:
ABA therapy focuses on behavior and behavior modification and is particularly effective for children with autism spectrum disorders.
more info
Art therapy:
Art therapy uses creative activities such as painting, drawing or modeling to help children and adolescents express their emotions and improve their cognitive skills.
more info
Behavioral therapy:
This therapy focuses on helping children recognize and change problematic behavior. Behavioral therapists often work with children with autism spectrum disorders or behavioral problems.
Aromatherapy:
Aromatherapy is an alternative treatment method based on essential oils. It is believed that certain essential oils can have a calming, relaxing or invigorating effect on the body and mind. For children and young people with disabilities, aromatherapy can be used to reduce stress, alleviate sleep disorders, improve mood and increase general well-being.
Animal-assisted therapy
Hippotherapy:
Hippotherapy is a form of physiotherapy that is carried out on a horse. Riding a horse can help to strengthen muscles and improve balance. An important aspect of hippotherapy is also the emotional and social support that riding a horse can provide.
more info
Animal-assisted therapy:
Animal-assisted therapy uses animals to help children and young people improve their social, emotional and cognitive skills. Animal-assisted therapists often work with children with autism spectrum disorders or behavioral problems.
more info
Alternative medicine
Padovan therapy:
Padovan therapy is a form of speech therapy aimed at children and young adults with speech, language and swallowing disorders. The method goes back to the Italian speech therapist Beatriz Padovan and is based on the idea that speech and language disorders can be caused by a disturbance in the body's coordinative movement sequences.
more info
Bowen Therapy:
Bowen therapy is a gentle manual therapy that was originally developed by the Australian Tom Bowen. The aim of the therapy is to restore the body's physical and energetic balance and thus relieve pain and blockages.
more info
Music therapy:
This therapy uses the power of music to improve children's social, emotional and cognitive skills. Music therapists can work with children with a variety of disabilities to help them regulate their mood and behavior and improve their creative abilities.
more info
Tomatis Therapy:
Tomatis therapy is a form of auditory stimulation therapy that is used for children and young people with disabilities. The method was developed by the French ENT specialist Dr. Alfred Tomatis and is based on the assumption that hearing and processing sound waves plays an important role in a child's sensory, emotional and cognitive development.
more info
Craniosacral bodywork:
Craniosacral bodywork is a gentle manual therapy method that aims to improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid to support the nervous system. It can also be used on people with disabilities to release tension and blockages in the body and promote physical well-being.
more info