Read what parents are saying about this work:
Dominik - Unidentified global development delays
Sammy - Unidentified developmental delays
We first met Jackie Mason through a Special Needs children workshop for toddlers with limited movement. At the time (and to this day), we did not have a formal diagnosis for Dominik’s condition: Our son suffers from severe global developmental delays, including the inability to walk and crawl.
Prior to meeting with Jackie, our little boy was only able to pull himself up to a stand for a brief period of time. His principal mode of locomotion was “scooting” on his bottom. Dominik had also shown some progress as a result of enrolling him in an early intervention program which consisted of intensive, weekly occupational, child development, speech and physical therapy. As a result of these services, we had noticed a marked, but slow improvement in Dominik’s progress.
After the first initial therapy sessions with Jackie, we immediately started to notice some improvements in our son’s ability to move.
He did quickly become more mobile with a strong desire to explore his surroundings. Dominik’s appetite also began to greatly improve. Our son had been suffering from severe constipation due to limited body movement, which would only be relieved through the use of a prescription laxative. As a result of working with Jackie, Dominik’s bowel movements began to improve so that to this day we rarely have to give our son any laxative. His body flexibility also improved with less rigidity.
After noticing these immediate results in Dominik following Jackie’s workshop, we quickly opted to continue working with her by bringing Dominik for therapy up to her office in Nevada City. As a result, Dominik’s mobility has continued to improve weekly and even accelerated. Remarkable changes have been taking place on a daily basis to the point where they would be too lengthy to list in this article. Just to mention a few:
Dominik now easily pulls himself up to a stand for extended periods of time, climbs onto furniture and has even begun “cruising” without the aid of his leg braces!!!! We are now hopeful that Dominik will be able to walk in the near future! Improvement in his body posture, mobility, and going up to a stand has also allowed Dominik’s speech to take off (all are correlated). Our son now attempts to increasingly communicate with us verbally. In addition, his cognitive skills are now very much age appropriate (prior to starting therapies, there had been some concerns by a few of Dominik’s doctors that he might be mentally retarded).
Most importantly, Dominik seems to be a much happier little guy since he has discovered a new freedom in movement. We still have a long way to go but we now can see a “light at the end of the tunnel”. We know that Dominik will be reaping the benefits of Jackie's work for the rest of his life, and for that we are deeply grateful.
Thank you and God bless you Jackie for helping our little boy.
Jan & Carol Rutenbergs
Auburn, California
We took Benny to Jackie’s workshop for Special Needs children on the remote possibility that she might be able to help him walk better. He has mild Cerebral Palsy and walks on his toes. His whole body was torqued to the right and his neck and shoulders were frozen solid. At the workshop we noticed how he became more erect in posture and seemed to rest more comfortably through his spine. In his 2nd session, his neck seemed to lengthen out of his shoulders making him significantly taller. In fact, his physician measured 5 inches of growth!
In his 3rd session his lower back freed up and he now moves with a hip shake. His prehensile toes, frozen feet and ankles are gone. They have a lovely arch now and the toes are relaxed.
In session 4 his heels came down and his habitual toe walk, though he tried, was no longer available. It was so new to him walking with his whole foot and this will take a little more time to reeducate himself.
But the big difference is his balance, he used to fall constantly, hard, on his knees, but now only rarely. He could not sit up straight before but now rests comfortably in his spine. His motor skills have improved 100 fold and while I did not think there was room for improvement his concentration is sharper and longer lasting. These are not wishful thoughts of a new parent, but are documented by his Physician, 5 inches of growth, and normal school teachers and Aikido instructors are wowed by the improvements.
Thank you a million for the opportunity again to stand and be counted as another of your great achievements. This family is deeply grateful.
Elaine Joyce and John Hoopes