With her sparkly pink shoes on her feet, Nora Randall lights up with a big smile when she walks around her house, asking for snacks and exploring her toys.

“When you think about where we started, to where she is now, it’s pretty cool!” said her mother, Lindsay Randall. “There were times we felt like we would never get to this point.”

Around Nora’s first birthday her parents, Lindsay and her husband Josh, were concerned that she was struggling with learning to move her body. She had just started crawling and wasn’t really pulling up to stand. Their pediatrician referred them to Ohio Early Intervention.

Provided in Licking County by LCBDD, Early Intervention is a statewide program that supports children, from birth to age 3, with developmental delays or disabilities. Services are provided at no cost to families in their homes, where children learn best.

After meeting with Developmental Specialist Jen Hammond and Service Coordinator Kayli McClain, they decided to focus on helping Nora gain strength and stability. Using Family Support Services (FSS) funds they were able to purchase a Nugget Play Couch to help her work on climbing, squatting and bending while she played. They also purchased SMO orthotics to give her feet more stability.

Using toys and some of Nora’s favorite snack — puffs — Lindsay and Jennifer were able to encourage Nora to pull up and cruise on the furniture.

With every visit with Jen, Lindsay said she learned new ways to help Nora move that felt like play — not physical therapy. She was able to share what she was learning with Nora’s grandma, who provides some of her childcare.

“It was nice to have some extra attention and ideas to help her progress,” Lindsay said. 

By early December, Lindsay could tell Nora was ready to walk, but needed to build her confidence. When she finally worked up the courage and took her first steps, everyone celebrated!

Now just a few weeks away from her second birthday, Nora is on the move and loves to show off how she can twirl. Lindsay said their next goals are for her to work on jumping and climbing stairs.

Looking back on a year ago, when they didn’t know where to turn to help their daughter, Lindsay said she’s grateful for the support Early Intervention has provided.

“I’m glad we did it!” she said.  

For more information about Early Intervention in Licking County, go to https://lcountydd.org/birth-to-3/. To make an EI referral, please call 1-800-755-4769. You can also make a secure online referral at http://bit.ly/ReferToHMG.