CFI Staff
The Center's highly certified trans-disciplinary team provides a holistic therapeutic approach that maximizes self-care and mobility skills to ensure children with physical disabilities reach their highest level of independence!
CFI Professionals
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROFESSIONALS
All Center OTs have Doctoral or Master’s Degrees. They focus on purposeful activities
that maximize overall independence and quality of life. The OT provides techniques to improve upper limb function such as:
- Fine motor programming and splinting
- Strengthening activities
- Self–care skills and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs):
Dressing
Eating
Toileting
Grooming - Executive functioning for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs):
Employment
Transportation
Money Management
PHYSICAL THERAPY PROFESSIONALS
All Center PTs have Doctoral and Master’s Degrees who supervise our Physical Therapy Assistants (Associate’s Degree). Skilled intervention focuses on:
- Mobility and gross motor training
- Postural control with an emphasis on correct alignment
- General strengtheningï‚·Functional transitioning skills
- Orthotic and wheelchair recommendations in collaboration with outside orthotists and physicians
The Conductive Education Teacher (CET)
Has a 4–year college degree from András Pető College –Semmelweis Universityin Budapest, Hungary.The degree focuses on intensive hands-on training in the clinical field. All Center CETs individually have over 20 years of experience in the field.The Conductive Education Teachers focus on the complex development of children and young adults with motor disabilities (CP), promoting independence in self–care, mobility, social and academic skills. They look at the participant in the context of their routine, working to apply the skills the participants arelearning in the program to their daily lives.
CLASSROOM AIDE
All Center aides assist the professional therapeutic staff in ensuring a cohesive therapeutic environment is maintained.
SOCIAL WORKER
The Social Worker helps participants and their families navigate life with a disability by linking them to community resources and offering counseling support.
Additional Specializations of CFI Professionals
- Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) Level AGross Motor Assessment
- (GMA)/Hammersmith InfantNeurological Examinations (HINE
- Infant Massage
- Early Intervention Evaluator/Provider
- Neuroplasticity and Development
- Pediatric Gait and Orthotic Management
- Seating and Positioning
- Bowel and Bladder Management and Toilet Training
- Sound Assisted Soft Tissued Massage (SASTM)
- McConnel and KT Taping Techniqueï‚·Total Motion Release (TMR) Technique
- Clinical Supervisors for Masters and Doctoral Level PT/OT Students
- Certification in Conductive Education Principles
Our Mission
The mission of the Center for Independence is to help children and young adults with disabilities achieve their highest level of independence in the home, school, community and workforce. Our therapy programs help children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) develop life skills, motor-function and an "I Can!" attitude.
Committed to breaking down barriers to employment, the Center also provides job training and placement for young adults with developmental disabilities through our innovative program Working Together Chicago.
The Center is an IL 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
EIN: 36-4259162
Our Vision: That children and young adults with disabilities have the opportunity to be fully participating members of the community.
Expect more, learn more...DO more!
Center Hours
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Program times vary — check calendar.
Quick Contact
Center Locations
CFI Main Center
100 W. Plainfield Rd.,
Countryside, IL 60525
The Hope Collective
23153 W Miller Rd.,
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Brighton Park
2701 W. 36th Pl.
Chicago, IL 60632