Helping our son be a kid
ADA is helping our son be a kid.
Emmett is a smart, funny, outgoing four-year-old, but his muscles don't respond in a normal way. He has cerebral palsy (CP). As a result, he is unable to walk, talk, or even sit on his own. We have been fortunate enough to work with an amazing team of therapists and teachers, and he continues to make great progress. However, most of that work is very clinical and sometimes isolating - it's just the nature of things.
Equipment from ADA has helped bridge the gap between therapy and fun.
One of my earliest memories is of riding in the child seat on the back of a bike with my Dad. I wanted to share that experience with Emmett and thanks to ADA, I'm now able to. After researching bike seats, I couldn't find one that would be safe for him. The seats I found had only flimsy straps to hold the child in the seat. ADA modified a seat to have a full vest and a wide strap so that Emmett is safe, supported, and can enjoy the ride. Emmett was all smiles the day we rode through our local park and I was confident he was safe and secure. That wouldn't have been possible without ADA.
Our family happens to live in a building with lots of kids. During the summer, the courtyard becomes a giant canvas for chalk art. ADA helped Emmett join in the fun with a special seat and chalkboard desk. Before the desk, Emmett and I would watch the other kids drawing, but couldn't really participate. Now, with his desk, he can be at the center of the activity - drawing on his desk while the other children draw with him.
For Emmett, living with CP means living with equipment (special strollers, chairs, braces, etc.). Living in NYC means living in walk-ups and small apartments. When visiting friends, we have to ask ourselves if his stroller will fit and if not, we have to figure out where Emmett will sit. Thanks to ADA, we now have a portable seat that Emmett can use whe we leave our home. It gives him the support he needs to sit independently and even has a tray that holds his iPad so he can play on his own.
The individualized equipment ADA has created for Emmett is helping him interact with his peers and with his family in ways other, standard, mass-produced products cannot.
Shannon Thomason
Parent
TEST DRIVE FOR NEW BIKE SEAT:
Standard child seats for bicycles weren’t comfortable or safe enough for Emmett. ADA adapted this one to make it fit better, and to provide support. The blue padded vest and an off-the-shelf helmet (not shown) offer great security as well.
Emmet's story was featured in the May Issue of The Chronicle of Philanthropy's Face of Philanthropy section. The story focuses on how adaptive devices allowed a mother to share childhood experiences with her son. Read more about Emmett and his mother, Shannon, by reading her letter to ADA Staff on our website.
