{"id":138394,"date":"2023-12-08T11:27:40","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T16:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=138394"},"modified":"2025-04-24T16:04:38","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T20:04:38","slug":"mighty-knights-program-helps-children-with-complex-communication-and-motor-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/mighty-knights-program-helps-children-with-complex-communication-and-motor-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Mighty Knights Program Helps Children with Complex Communication and Motor Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Speech-language<\/a> pathologist and Assistant Professor Julie Feuerstein and pediatric physical therapist and Clinical Associate Professor Jennifer Tucker share a passion for improving clinical care and the quality of care for children with complex communication and motor needs. Feuerstein leads the Early Communication and Play (ECAP) Lab and Tucker the Early Mobility and Play (EMAP) Lab \u2014 both designed to address access, engagement and communication among special populations.<\/p>\n

The two joined forces to create the Mighty Knights program \u2014 a unique, community-based enriched play experience for infants and toddlers with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Rett syndrome and other complex medical conditions. In the program, Feuerstein and Tucker use communication and mobility supports to offer playdates that include art, music, movement and sensory exploration at local parks, playgrounds, a local family-fun farm and inside UCF\u2019s Rehabilitation Innovation Center.<\/a> Since starting the program in Spring 2022, there have been eight play sessions held, with five to 10 families attending each event.<\/p>\n

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