PHOTO (Above): Horizons' Speech Therapist Devyn Williamson works with young Matthew Eike

PHOTOS (Above): Four-year-old Collin Crutcher and two-year-old Xander (below) both receive developmental therapies from Horizons

At the recent Granby Elementary School Health Fair, Horizons Specialized Services’ representative, Roberta Hovermale, stood by her booth and was overwhelmed with the number of inquiries she had. This was a service not many are familiar with—it’s a service that helps families whose children have development disorders—it’s a service that helps adults as well. Horizons help families who may not be able to function on their own without the as independent members of our community. It’s a story about help and support--worth telling, worth sharing with our readers.

Horizons Specialized Services provides help to individuals with developmental delays or disabilities in the five counties of northwest Colorado, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt.

Horizons Mission:
Horizons works in partnership with families and communities to expand opportunities for individuals with, or at risk of, developmental disabilities.

Horizons was created in 1975 by a small group of committed parents who wanted more services for their school-aged children. In the early years, services were provided to children only. In 1981, Horizons opened its first residential program in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. From the first six young adults, Horizons has grown to 62 adults and 142 children and families. Fifty-two of those families are in Grand County.

Child and Family Services
Horizons provides Early Intervention services to eligible children from birth to three years of age. Children are typically referred by nurses, physicians, friends or day care providers due to questions regarding developmental delays. Our therapists evaluate children to determine their developmental level. If there are measurable delays, the child and family qualify to receive therapy services, service coordination and family support at no cost to them. Children learn through play, so Horizons therapists demonstrate to parents ways of encouraging their child’s feeding, motor skills, language skills and cognitive development through play. When needs are identified early, intervention can enable children to reach their full developmental potential. Investing in Early Intervention services enhances future educational opportunities for developmentally delayed children in a cost effective manner. For every dollar spent, five to nine dollars are saved in the need for future services and supports. The family of each eligible child works with a Service Coordinator who assists them in finding and accessing needed services. Horizons works in close association with the Public Health Office, local physicians, pre-schools and others, to ensure families are aware of available services and support in their community. Financial assistance is provided to families through our Family Support Program. This assistance helps to address additional expenses not covered by any other funding. These expenses are most commonly of a medical nature.

An example of a Grand County family being helped by Horizons is the Eike’s of Kremmling. The Eike’s have been blessed with six beautiful children ranging in age from one to nine years, three boys and three girls (including a set of twins). One year old Matthew, like the baby in all families, is everyone’s pride and joy. When Matthew was three days old he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects a child’s cognitive skills, speech and motor skills, and sometimes physical health. Horizons’ Occupational Therapist, Shay Markel, Physical Therapist, JoAnn Roberts and Speech Therapist, Devyn Williamson all go to the Eike home to work with Matthew. During these formative years between birth and three, the team will be with Matthew’s family every step of the way to ensure he meets his developmental milestones to his fullest potential. The team will be there to offer support and encouragement as Matthew and his siblings grow to become members of the community they call home.

Another family Horizons has helped the Crutcher family of Grand Lake. David and Elisa have two boys, four year old Collin and two year old Xander. When Collin was in pre-school, he had trouble meeting some of his developmental milestones, so it was recommended he be tested to determine the reason for his delays. Collin was diagnosed with autism in 2006. Autism is a disorder that affects one child in 150 and is more common in boys. There are various degrees of autism with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. With help progress is possible.

Collin’s younger brother, Xander, who is two and a half has shown signs of having developmental delays. Horizons’ therapists are also working with Xander while he is being evaluated. The combination of speech therapy and sign language is enabling him to communicate, a skill that his mother says he would not have without help. 

Adult Services
Horizons provide supports and services to two adults living in Grand County. Since there are no group homes, three young adults needing more support have moved to Routt County to take advantage of increased vocational opportunities and a public transportation system not available in Grand County. Ultimately, the most practical solution to this need is to establish a group home in Grand County. Currently, the majority of adults are served in Steamboat Springs or Craig. Each of those two communities offers group homes with 24-hour supervision, apartment programs, job placement and training, and recreational activities. The services Horizons provides are determined based on each individual’s needs and wants, ranging from those who need total assistance with personal care to those who need minimal help managing the money they make from working. A state-wide waiting list determines when funding becomes available to deem an individual eligible for services.

One of the two adults we help in Grand County is a married woman. She and her husband struggle to make ends meet but are determined to live independently. Their mobile home had fallen into significant disrepair and there simply was not any extra money left for home maintenance after paying for food, utilities and costly medicines needed to treat an ongoing health issue. A grant from the Mountain Parks Electric Charitable Trust coupled with funding from the Summit Foundation Good Neighbor Grant enabled Horizons to purchase materials to restore the home to a safe and secure level. The labor was provided by the Grand County Habitat for Humanity work crew. Horizons’ counselor worked with all these entities to facilitate the necessary repairs.

Horizons is an integral part of the lives of their clients, their families and their communities, and are proud to be woven into the fabric of the Grand County communities we serve. If you or someone you know is in need of this specialized care, or for more information on how you can help or volunteer, please call the Horizons’ Grand County office at 970-887-1141 or 970-879-4466 Ext. 110.