Kenny Kids is a specialized pediatric rehabilitation program offered by Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute.
We are dedicated to providing personalized treatment for children from birth to late adolescence who have medical conditions or syndromes that may interfere with normal development. (Pediatric therapy is also offered at many of our other Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute sites).
The Kenny Kids staff consists of occupational and physical therapists and speech-language pathologists who have extensive training in pediatric rehabilitation.
Patient stories

Hanna Maslowski: Patient of the Year
Hanna Maslowski, the recipient of Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute's highest Inspiration Award, has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She overcame shyness to enter pageants and start the Pageant of Hope. The program gives confidence to girls with special needs.

Scott Benz: Determination well beyond his years
Imagine being only 14 years old and suffering four ischemic strokes. That's what happened to Scott Benz. The strokes occurred during a five-month period, until a Microplex coil was inserted into his vertebral artery to prevent further episodes.

Kenny Kids: Making lives work through play
Bailey Kircher is a fun 5-year-old who happends to have autism. Therapy twice a week at Kenny Kids – Owatonna taught her how to communicate with her parents and siblings.
At-home ideas for families
Our Pinterest board is a resource for parents looking for ways to continue working with their children at home. Check it out at pinterest.com/kennykids.
Services
Kenny Kids is designed to help children who experience the following:
Kenny Kids also provides services for children with autism, ADD/ADHD, arthritis, brain injuries, cerebral palsy, chronic illness, cleft palate, delayed motor development, genetic syndromes (i.e., Down syndrome, Fragile X), hearing loss, orthopedic injuries/surgeries and spasticity.
Kenny Kids helps children with their perceptual, social, motor and handwriting skills. Information is provided on
augmentative communication,
fitness and exercise and on
safety concerns for children with special needs.
Education is provided through classes, home programs, family conferences, care coordination with schools and a resource library.
About our staff
Our staff consists of occupational and physical therapists and speech-language pathologists who have extensive training in pediatric rehabilitation.
Occupational therapists focus on:
- strength and fine motor coordination such as reaching, grasping and writing
- sensory processing, including sensitivity training to touch, movement and noise
- daily living skills such as feeding and dressing
- cognitive skills, including problem solving, organization, attention span, and following directions
- wheelchair positioning and special equipment needs.
Speech language pathologists focus on:
- improving the ability to produce speech, put words together and understand language
- evaluating and treating swallowing problems and feeding disorders
- oral-motor treatments
- voice disorders
- stuttering
- sign language and other communication systems
- cognitive skills, including memory and reasoning.
Physical therapists focus on:
- increasing flexibility of muscles and joints
- balance and coordination skills, such as standing on one foot or kicking a ball
- gross motor skills such as rolling, crawling, running, jumping
- posture, positioning and equipment needs
- lower extremity serial casting.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions for parents
Family members and caregivers directly involved with your child are welcome to attend therapy sessions. We feel it is important for caregivers to be involved in learning about play activities that are beneficial for your child. Children who have actively involved families have the best outcomes in therapy intervention.
Due to the privacy of all of our patients, only one or two family members should attend your child's treatment session at a given time. If it is necessary for you to bring siblings along to therapy, you may be asked to wait with your child's siblings in our waiting area. This allows for the privacy and optimal treatment environment for all of our patients, as well as safety and infection control concerns.
If you are not present during your child's full treatment session, you are welcome to attend the last five to ten minutes to discuss your child's session and plan of care in the privacy of a treatment room, rather than in the waiting area.
After an evaluation, the therapists – along with the caregivers – are better equipped to formulate goals and a focused intervention plan. While the child's overall developmental needs might be global, the initial plan may focus on a single area of development for a defined period of time. This individualized treatment plan is determined by the child's current abilities and needs, parents' and family's goals, capabilities and schedules, and other interventions the child may be receiving.
Therapy intervention may be one of the following options:
- an interval of time, but with increased intensity to target the needs prioritized in the evaluation process
- weekly ongoing therapy
- intensive short-term treatment
- group treatment options.
Frequently asked questions about scheduling
In an effort to provide your children the best care possible, we encourage regular and timely attendance at scheduled therapy appointments. Children demonstrate more objective progress toward their goals when they attend appointments consistently.
Our goal is to provide excellent rehabilitation services and maintain the productivity of our staff by improving scheduling and reducing last minute cancellations.
Please review your child's printed itinerary report for appointment confirmation. You should receive a copy of this itinerary on your first scheduled therapy appointment. You may request an itinerary report at any time from the schedulers/receptionists.
A referral is needed from your child's health care provider before therapy can begin. Once your doctor has referred you to the Kenny Kids Rehabilitation Program, contact the location of your choice below.
Kenny Kids - Buffalo
Buffalo Hospital
300 Catlin Street, Suite 101
Buffalo, MN 55313
763-684-3888
Kenny Kids - Coon Rapids
3111 124th Ave. NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
763-236-7337
763-236-8966 fax
Kenny Kids - New Ulm
New Ulm Medical Center
1324 Fifth North Street
New Ulm, MN 56073
507-217-5000
Kenny Kids - Owatonna
Owatonna Hospital
2250 26th Street NW
Owatonna, MN 55060
507-977-2150