Seven-year-old Andrew Lee was diagnosed with non-verbal autism when he was an infant. As he grew out of infancy, his parents were troubled that he wasn’t meeting any of his physical milestones typically seen in children between the ages of nine months and one year old.
When Andrew’s parents brought him to the doctor for his one-year checkup, his pediatrician was concerned that Andrew wasn’t progressing at the same rate as other children his age and referred his family to Kids on the Move, the area’s only pediatric rehabilitation program serving children with genetic and neurological disorders, orthopedic injuries and diseases and developmental delays.
“The greatest source of help came from Kids on the Move, says Victoria Lee, Andrew’s mother. “We were referred to Kids on the Move, first, for physical therapy, because Andrew wasn’t crawling or walking,”she recalled.
Physical therapists began working with Andrew to help develop his physical motor skills. Then, Andrew needed assistance with his lack of verbal communication. “When I first met Andrew, he was completely non-verbal,” remembered Elissa Hewitt, speech language Pathologist at Kids on the Move. “Now he is speaking in full sentences and showing us his intelligence and his humor through verbal communication. He’s connecting with the people in his world.”
Andrew has “graduated” from Kids on the Move. Happily, he was discharged in December 2015. Andrew made tremendous progress while on the program’s services and successfully met all his goals.
“The therapy Andrew received from Kids on the Move has given him a way to communicate, to say what he needs, what he wants and how he feels. He’s let us into his world,” said Andrew’s mom. “The growth that he has made is because of the services provided by RAVNAH’s Kids on the Move program. I can’t imagine what he would be like if it wasn’t for this program.”
Kids on the Move is a vital community resource for children and families. The program is dedicated to serving children from birth to 21 who have rehabilitation needs, providing physical, occupational and speech-language therapies in the comfort and convenience of the family’s home. The specialists at Kids on the Move believe that every child should have access to the highest quality pediatric rehabilitation care they need to thrive and grow.
Every year, kids like Andrew receive advanced medical care in their own homes by a team of highly trained professionals with Kids on the Move and Pediatric Hi-Tech programs at Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association. But we can’t do it without the support of our community. Your donation ensures that no child is ever turned away.
A fun way to make a difference in the lives of children and families is to participate in the 24th Annual 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by Vermont Sports Medicine Center, on Saturday, April 30. If you’re unable to join in the race, consider sending a donation to Kids on the Move, c/o RAVNAH at P.O. Box 787, Rutland, VT 05702. Your donation stays locally and ensures that children like Andrew will continue to benefit from programs like Kids on the Move.
