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CHILDREN'S STORIES
Alex’s Story
 Alex was a polite and extremely motivated 15-year-old teenager diagnosed with cerebral palsy when his aquatic therapist referred him to United Cerebral Palsy's Steps to Independence® program, an intensive physical and occupational therapy program for children from infancy through adolescence with motor disorders.
Due to burnout from the ongoing demands of traditional physical and occupational therapy and the fact that he was no longer deriving significant benefit from either, Alex had stopped attending therapy. He also was in need of a change of pace and a challenge. His primary goals for the Steps to Independence® program included strengthening his legs and trunk, improving his overall endurance level, transferring himself from a low surface to a higher one with an assistive device, setting up his own meal and buttoning his clothing.
While in the intensive therapy program, Alex achieved all of his goals. In fact, Alex's progress in Steps exceeded all expectations. Showing tremendous improvement in strength, Alex was able to walk on the treadmill for 10 minutes at the conclusion of
Steps, nine and one-half minutes more than he was able at the start of the program. Alex developed increased range of motion in his upper and lower body as well as the ability to transfer from his wheelchair to a mat table without assistance. He is now capable of setting up his own meal, which includes opening jars, pouring his own drink, spreading food with a knife and cutting bread. Alex is also able to button buttons with a buttonhook and put on socks with a sock aide and minimal assistance.
Alex is an exceptional young man who achieved impressive progress through the intensive therapy program. As the result of the advancements he made in Steps and the organization's ability to respond to his and his family's needs, Alex decided to continue services at United Cerebral Palsy through its traditional therapy program. Alex's success and the agency's support helped him to overcome the 'burnout' he had experienced in the traditional therapy environment and diminished the significance of his age as an impediment to his path of progress.
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