Hattie Larlham Research Institute

The Hattie Larlham Research Institute is committed to helping provide the best overall care for the individuals we serve. Thus, research projects are both currently ongoing and consistently being explored in many different areas that affect the lives of children with disabilities. The Hattie Larlham Research Institute works with local and national hospitals and universities.

Clinical Care

The medical conditions of many residents at Hattie Larlham have inspired research into clinical care. The Hattie Larlham Research Institute is committed to working with local and national institutions to determine the best clinical care for the people we serve as well as others for whom our finding might apply. Clinical care is an aspect of daily life for many people with disabilities.

Allied Therapy

The people residing at Hattie Larlham receive physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech/language therapy on a regular basis. These therapies are necessary for the health and well being of the people and the Hattie Larlham Research Institute is committed to determining the efficacy of these therapies for people with disabilities and to promoting best practices in allied therapies.

Hattie Larlham provides the opportunity for local, physical and occupational therapy students to gain clinical experience.

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology refers to any device that is used to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. With that in mind, the Hattie Larlham Research Institute has developed an assistive technology program focusing on enabling access to a variety of objects and experiences through switch usage, computer access and communication. Switches and individually designed switch programs have allowed individuals to participate in activities by independently activating devices they otherwise could not control. Some examples of these devices include toys, kitchen aids, CD players/radios and many other every day devices. Through the use of the computer, people with disabilities are able to complete computer games, begin to learn the basics of communication and independently create art projects. Communication devices range from simple to complex and allow each individual to communicate at a level they feel comfortable, whether that is simple, single phrase communication, or conversational communication.