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We wanted to thank you very much for providing our daughter Hailey, 8, with a shadow for the past few summers at the Great South Bay YMCA. Hailey is a very happy 8 year old girl who was born with an extremely rare genetic disorder. All Hailey wants to do is play and make friends like her typical peers do. This program through the LIAM Foundation allows Hailey to do just that. She absolutely loves going to the camp each day!”
It would not be possible without this program as Hailey requires a little more attention than her typical peers do. Both my husband and I work so it is difficult at times to find somebody we trust to watch Hailey during the summer. Prior to finding out about the LIAM Foundation shadow program at the Great South Bay YMCA, we made numerous phone calls and inquiries to find a suitable camp program for Hailey, and most phone calls ended with the usual, “unfortunately, we cannot accommodate Hailey.” It was definitely upsetting at first, however in the end once we reached out to the LIAM Foundation that all changed!! The LIAM shadow program has been a lifesaver for us! Last year we had the pleasure of meeting Liam and some of the founders of the LIAM Foundation at the open house held at the camp and it was nice to see we are not alone and that others understand as several families shared their stories.
We have been told how Hailey has thrived at the camp over the past few summers. All of the shadows we have met along the way have been wonderful with Hailey. Hailey loves to be outside, run, swim, read, listen and dance to music, and most of all, climb the rock wall. She has even been named camper of the week a few times! The LIAM shadow program has given Hailey the opportunity to grow and become independent at camp, while providing her with the extra guidance and support that she needs along the way. We can’t thank you enough!
Jesse never had a male model parent, nor does he have siblings. He is longing for a companion to mentor him. Jesse was diagnosed with ADHD and speech delay at two years old. He is clumsy and very often embarrassed to do things. He is longing for a social life but feels ashamed. Jesse needs someone to encourage him and help him with his anxiety and his social skills.
Jesse and I have been moving a lot (due to an economic situation) which has weighed on him. During our time of homelessness, Jesse was spending very little time with peers and as a result has become very introverted. I was very overwhelmed with his disability and as head of household I have to focus on many things at one time, therefore I am not able to give him the attention he needs. When I heard of the LIAM Foundation I was so happy and felt so relieved. Jesse requires assistance in a large group environment as he gets distracted easily and he is unable to follow directions due to the fact that he doesn’t understand them or was focusing on something else. Because of this, Jesse might overwhelm the camp counselors and his peers. A shadow will provide Jesse the opportunity to make friends and experience camp.
Gianna is a happy and friendly 6 year old. She has been diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech and multiple Global Developmental Issues and ADHD. We are still in the process of trying to figure out a true diagnosis, at times she seems like any other 6 year old and at times she exhibits behavior that puts her on the Autism Spectrum. In August of 2015 we were informed that she had an undiagnosed hearing impairment of over 60% in both ears. In October 2015 she received her hearing aids.
Gianna had a new world opened for her with her new hearing aids; with her hearing now corrected she has begun to flourish. Where she was once shy and stayed back, due to her disability, she now eagerly participates in group settings and loves to talk and interact. The down side is that due to her not hearing for the first 6 years of her life she missed out on learning many of the social skills and queues that are learned at a young age. The hearing issue in combination with the aforementioned issues have made her life very challenging. She has made leaps and bounds in her “catching up” but does need help at the onset of any new environment. She has a magnetic personality that many of her peers do not get to see due to her social awkwardness. She strives to do things right and follow the rules and gets frustrated when she doesn’t understand something. Right now she is working with a Teacher for The Deaf to help her learn how to use her hearing properly. She loves to be around other children and is very caring and concerned for others, yet this is overshadowed by her lack of proper socialization.
Last year the LIAM Program was the best thing that happened to our family. Gianna loved it and felt a sense of independence and really grew as a person. It was also what she needed as she was placed in an integrated class for 1st Grade. The LIAM Program was a perfect fit for her because it gave her someone to help her stay focused and learn the routine, while providing a role model and confidant. It also helped her to assimilate into a group where she was accepted as an equal to her peers, unfortunately, not how the school system works. We are hopeful that the 2016 Season will be even more of a positive and maturing experience as she now can hear.
Thank you for all that you do. For our family your program is the best thing that has happened for us, it gives Gianna a safe place to learn how to be a kid for the summer after a very trying school year full of therapy and special classes.
Nicholas is a bright, loving boy who is thirteen years old. When he was two years old he was diagnosed with PDD-NOS. He is considered autistic and currently goes to a typical middle school in a special education class with a one-to-one aide. My school district feels it is necessary to provide Nicholas with summer services to continue the opportunity for language and social growth.
Gianna had a new world opened for her with her new hearing aids; with her hearing now corrected she has begun to flourish. Where she was once shy and stayed back, due to her disability, she now eagerly participates in group settings and loves to talk and interact. The down side is that due to her not hearing for the first 6 years of her life she missed out on learning many of the social skills and queues that are learned at a young age. The hearing issue in combination with the aforementioned issues have made her life very challenging. She has made leaps and bounds in her “catching up” but does need help at the onset of any new environment. She has a magnetic personality that many of her peers do not get to see due to her social awkwardness. She strives to do things right and follow the rules and gets frustrated when she doesn’t understand something. Right now she is working with a Teacher for The Deaf to help her learn how to use her hearing properly. She loves to be around other children and is very caring and concerned for others, yet this is overshadowed by her lack of proper socialization.
Last year the LIAM Program was the best thing that happened to our family. Gianna loved it and felt a sense of independence and really grew as a person. It was also what she needed as she was placed in an integrated class for 1st Grade. The LIAM Program was a perfect fit for her because it gave her someone to help her stay focused and learn the routine, while providing a role model and confidant. It also helped her to assimilate into a group where she was accepted as an equal to her peers, unfortunately, not how the school system works. We are hopeful that the 2016 Season will be even more of a positive and maturing experience as she now can hear.
Thank you for all that you do. For our family your program is the best thing that has happened for us, it gives Gianna a safe place to learn how to be a kid for the summer after a very trying school year full of therapy and special classes.
My son, Michael is an adorable, active 6 year old. He has lived in our home since he was three days old, as our foster child. When he was 14 months old, his bio sister was born and joined our home as our 2nd foster child. We could not love our children more. Michael was diagnosed with PDDNOS at age 1 1/2 and began an intensive ABA program in our home along with services for OT, PT, and Speech for Feeding. Our prayers were answered when both children were legally adopted by my husband and I in 2011.
Michael is in a 15:1:1 self-contained setting in first grade with a 1:1 aide. He is impulsive and can elope. He perseverates on all types of vehicles (cars, trucks, helicopters, boats). He is a kind, loving boy with a huge imagination. He loves to run and has competed in two 5k’s already in his young life.
The Liam Foundation came to the rescue last summer when we had difficulty finding a structured summer program for Michael. Without a 1:1 aide, we would not be able to enroll Michael in a summer camp. Last summer, Janelle was the LIAM shadow that worked with Michael. Her bubbly personality and kindness were a perfect match for Michael. He thrived attending the activities with Janelle by his side. Opportunities like going to his first movie in a theatre, playing at a bouncy place for field trips as well as the wonderful on-site activities like swimming and rock climbing are still recollected by him as his favorite moments!
Rather than being restricted to our fenced-in backyard for the summer, he flourished during the weeks he attended the LIAM Program at the YMCA. I have no support at home to take the children out in the community, and it is too risky for me to venture out without assistance. My husband is at work six days a week and can only assist with sport activities on his day off on Sunday.
I could go on with all the gratitude and appreciation we have towards The Liam Foundation for the adventures you allowed our son to participate in!