Dayton Children’s Hospital Set to Expand Pediatric Services with New Rehabilitative Facility
Families connecting to services early is key to getting children with disabilities started on the right path in life. Dayton Children’s Hospital is expanding access to pediatric services with that in mind.
Dayton Children’s Hospital will break ground on a new facility specifically for pediatric rehabilitative services. The single-level building, located at 437 Valley St, adjacent to Ronald McDonald House will feature enhanced space for physical, speech, and occupational therapies, along with specialized areas for children with autism, sensory challenges, and outdoor therapy space to meet rising demand, per an article in Spectrum News.
Dayton Children’s Hospital shared the following facts about what rehabilitative services focus on in an announcement about the upcoming expansion:
- Physical therapy: Focuses on improving gross motor skills, strength, balance and coordination associated with movement disorders, developmental delays and injuries
- Occupational therapy: Focuses on improving fine motor skills, sensory processing and emotional regulation to help children function independently in daily life, such as playing, learning, and self-care.
- Speech therapy: Focuses on challenges with speech, language, social communication, feeding and swallowing to improve communication skills.
Terry Weigel, Director of Rehabilitative Services at Dayton Children’s Hospital is quoted sharing his feelings about the improved services and new building in the announcement on the hospital website about the upcoming expansion.
“New tools and techniques require more space to use and store. This new building will allow us to continue to provide the above and beyond Dayton Children’s experience for our families and kids,” he said.
Deborah Feldman, CEO of Dayton Children’s Hospital, also shared her feelings on the expansion in the announcement.
“Rehabilitative services change lives, and this building will allow us to meet growing needs for years to come,” she said.
An article in WYSO reported that each year, Dayton Children’s Hospital cares for more than 400,000 children across 20 counties in Ohio and eastern Indiana. WKEF further noted that the hospital has seen a significant increase in patients in the past 10 to 15 years and the expansion of services is part of a goal to reduce wait times and improve access to care.
The expansion, described in this Dayton 24/7 Now video, serves as part of the hospital’s growth strategy to improve convenience for families.
Work on the new Dayton Children’s Hospital building will begin in June 2026 and continue to its completion.
As families look forward to the opening of the building for pediatric rehabilitative services, the promise of reduced wait times and greater access to specialized care brings hope and reassurance for a healthier future for children with disabilities in Dayton and surrounding areas.