Seeing the Possibility
Date posted: December 1, 2015
Give a possibility to someone with a disability!
We want to introduce you to five amazing participants that discovering their possibilities through Stepping Stones’ innovative programs.
Meet Zach
The possibility is quickly becoming the reality for Zach, an 18-year-old young man in Stepping Stones’ transition classroom for students with autism and significant behavior challenges. When Zach started in Step Up, he had severe behavior challenges and communication frustrations. Today, Zach effectively communicates through signs and gestures, is building independent living skills and is working on telling time and understanding money. This boy who used to be overwhelmed by his challenges is now exploring new possibilities that will strengthen his future.Meet Patrick
Eight-year-old Patrick’s mother saw the possibilities of Stepping Stones’ summer camp for her son. Patrick’s sensory challenges made it impossible to succeed in typical summer recreation programs. At Stepping Stones, the possibility became reality when he thrived and made progress with communication and social interaction skills. Now, Patrick can’t wait to come back to summer camp next year to discover all the possibilities of childhood.
Meet Becca
Quiet. That was how everyone described Becca. She is an adult with disabilities and she is also an adult with enormous possibilities. But Becca would disappear into the background, not talking, not interacting. In November, Becca joined Stepping Stones’ Adult Day program and the door to her possibilities opened.
In just one month, it is like a light came on inside Becca. Today, she speaks up in programs and lets people know what she wants to do. She is going on community outings and initiating conversations with other participants and staff. The young woman who used to be ‘Quiet’ has become ‘Becca’.
Meet Ron
Let me try.” That could be Ron’s motto. With steel-like determination, he is not shaken by the challenges of cerebral palsy, the constrictions of a wheelchair and the daily struggle to communicate. “If there is a possibility of him being able to do something, Ron wants to be in there first making it happen,” said a Stepping Stones program manager. Ron is an accomplished artist, using a mouth stick to hold his brush. Stepping Stones’ technology lab has set his will on fire as he becomes more adept every day at using a touchscreen and iPad. Ron’s challenges are huge, but his possibilities – they’re enormous.
Meet Mychal
Mychal is 28 and is exploring his possibilities in the Weekend Respite and Adult Day programs. At Stepping Stones, Mychal has stretched his abilities to interact in groups and participate in daily activities. While he has known what it feels like to need help – Mychal now knows how it feels to give back and help others.Today, Mychal is reaching out into the community by regularly volunteering at Matthew 25 Ministries and the Cincinnati Nature Center. In assisting with mailings and other volunteer projects, he is discovering how is abilities can make a difference in other people’s lives.
We invite you to support Stepping Stones, to help create more possibilities for individuals just like Patrick and Zach. Every donation, of all amounts, helps Stepping Stones in providing vital and innovative programming for more than 1,000 individuals each year!
Stepping Stones is a nonprofit, United Way partner agency with year-round programs for people with disabilities in Greater Cincinnati.
