Success Stories

Victoria "Tori" Boyles

She’s a “ball of fire” -- that’s what anyone who knows Tori Boyles, age nine, will tell you. With her wide smile, and big, curious brown eyes, she’s always engaged and, most often, in the middle of whatever is happening. She’s also very determined and sometimes stubborn, qualities that her mom and her teachers both admire and encourage. They’re also quick to point out that “can’t” is not in Tori’s vocabulary. Tori was diagnosed with Spina Bifida and Tori's mom Becky found Easter Seals when she was seeking a child care program that was inclusive and where children were grouped by their age and not their developmental milestones. At the Easter Seals Child Development Center in Columbia, Mo., Tori joined her two-year-old peers. With the help of Easter Seals, Tori was able to start elementary school on time, with her Easter Seals teachers providing background for her new teachers. Read more on the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Web site.

Vanessa

Janelle and Rick Farrell discovered their beautiful baby girl, Vanessa, had Down syndrome the moment she was born. For Vanessa, who has grown into a 3 ½ -year-old sprite with energy enough for an entire playground of children, playing at the Rotary Park BoundlessTM Playground in Simsbury is as natural as signing for her mother to "Come, come" or horsing around with her big sister, Adriana. I've noticed a change in my daughter, with all the physical activity throughout the day from the BoundlessTM playground. It really makes a difference. And she's interacting with other kids, which is just wonderful."

Read more about Vanessa on the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Web site

Kyle

Three days after he was born, Kyle developed spinal meningitis, a crippling disease that has left him paralyzed. When Kyle was three, he was enrolled in Meeting Street. He was completely nonverbal and would get so frustrated trying to communicate that silent tears would stream down his little face. Kyle is now 17 years old and uses a wheelchair, but he is determined not to be defined by his disabilities. Now he not only talks, but he is bilingual in English and Portuguese and even serves as an interpreter for his grandmother. Recently he raced to the sound of cheering crowds at the Annual CVS / pharmacy Downtown 5K in Providence. As a high school student at Meeting Street, Kyle is gaining practical skills and experience working at various job sites run by companies that partner with Meeting Street to help the students. Kyle is becoming more independent and that is the primary goal of Meeting Street...to help students reach their maximum potential and highest quality of life. Read more on the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Web site.

Nelson

On any day of the week, including weekends and holidays, if you ask Nelson where he wants to be, he’ll say Meeting Street. Nelson found it difficult to speak and would use his hands to try to communicate with his peers. About two years ago, he became a student at Meeting Street's Bright Futures Early Learning program. With the help of behavioral modification and speech therapy, Nelson began to find a way to interact with other children, but the biggest breakthrough came because of Meeting Street's extraordinary audiology services. Dr. Jodi Glass started working with Nelson to get him used to the hearing assessment process and equipment so he would sit still and cooperate during the actual test. Fitted with the right hearing aid, Nelson is now an incredibly social student. "The school has given him a new life. What Meeting Sreet has done for Nelson and our family is nothing short of miraculous." Read more on the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Web site.