Evan’s Story

Evan is Meeting Street's biggest fan

Evan is 10-years-old and has been at Meeting Street for nearly five years.  He has cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, which means that he has some levels of paralysis in all of his limbs.

Despite his challenges, Evan is a typical kid.  He has a great sense of humor, loves music, and works hard in class.

Physical therapy is a very important part of his time here at Meeting Street.  It is the key to helping him develop functional mobility.  As he gets bigger, he has to be able to help his mom and other caregivers when he has to transfer from one surface to another...moving from his bed to his wheelchair, wheelchair to an exercise mat, etc.

There is great emphasis on Evan being able to take what he is capable of doing and turning it into things that will help him function more effectively.  Evan is able to move his head and that has been the key to him controlling his specially-built power wheelchair.  Because he uses his head to control his wheelchair, it has also strengthened his ability to control his head movements.

One of Evan's favorite activities is hippotherapy...horseback riding as a treatment tool.  It creates movement in the pelvis that closely mimics the way humans walk.  It helps to strengthen Evan's trunk, his ability to balance, as well as his hand/eye coordination.

The horse is also used for sensory integration therapy...relaxation, heightening awareness, and maintaining attention...all varied by the amount of movement and speed of the horse.  Evan loves the freedom he feels from horseback riding so much that he spends time riding with his family when he is not at Meeting Street.

"Evan is Meeting Street's Biggest fan.  Even when he is on vacation, he can't wait to get back to school.  It's wonderful that they don't pigeonhole the children.  Every child is treated as an individual and each program is developed to meet the needs of a specific child," said Evan's mother in a recent interview.