Brandon, the subject of our lead story, is just one of countless individuals across Central PA who got the best possible start in life thanks to UCP services and supports, particularly our Early Intervention (EI) therapies. But it wasn’t just the children who benefited from their early years with UCP. Enduring friendships—often lifelong—developed among the parents as they shared their experiences, their ups and downs, and their journeys.

Three such “EI Moms” were recently spotted at the Capitol building in Harrisburg doing what they’ve been doing for several decades: advocating for appropriate funding for disability services.

• Fran’s daughter Sara was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth in 1981. She began receiving EI therapies (physical, occupational, speech, and nutrition) in 1982. Today Sara is 42.
• Cathy’s son Joe followed in Sara’s footsteps, both in terms of diagnosis and in receiving EI services at Linda Lane. Joe is turning 39 this month and has been living in a UCP staffed home since 2010.
• Tammy is the last of “the Three Amigas.” She had two sons that received EI services: Zach had CP and was in EI with Sara, and his younger brother Adam, 39, was in EI with Joe.

It was enlightening to chat with the moms about what it was like for them back when their children were recently diagnosed and there were so many unknowns.

While all three women spoke highly of the care and services provided their children, they also had an interesting observation about the difference between EI now (therapies provided in the child’s natural environment, such as home, preschool, etc.) and EI then (center-based therapies provided in a common setting).

These mothers are united in their belief that today’s EI families are missing out on something crucial: the opportunity to routinely get together in the same setting, share their successes as well as their challenges, and develop and nurture meaningful friendships. To a person, they expressed their appreciation for what UCP’s EI services meant not just to the children, but to their families as well.

Tammy C: “My son Zach, who had CP, couldn’t have gotten a better shot at life than he did with the EI therapists and classroom instructors. The same goes for his younger brother Adam who has an Autism diagnosis. Back then, parents were encouraged by the staff to stay at the Center while the kids were receiving therapies or participating in the classroom. We had parent groups that met while the kids were in class. The parents sat together and talked and shared what was going on in our lives. We were our own little support group, navigating unknown waters together. I fear that connection got lost with the move away from center-based EI services.”

Cathy I: “Early Intervention at Linda Lane was not only a great, great program, but it gave parents a comfortable place to meet up and afforded us the opportunity to make lifelong friends. From day one, the parents were encouraged to stay at the Center while their children were in the classroom or having therapy. Siblings were welcome too. We got to know each other and each other’s families. We began socializing together and got involved in each other’s lives. We bonded. Nearly 40 years later, a number of us moms remain good friends.”

Fran S: “I’ve often thought about how we as parents would have managed if it hadn’t been for the guidance and support we got from UCP in addition to the EI therapies our children received. We were there for workshops and for a weekly guided parents’ meeting led by staff. We would all sit together and share what we were doing with our children, what was working and what wasn’t. Other approaches were suggested and the following week we’d report back on those. It was a good bonding time, and more. We were given a firm foundation to move ahead on, not just for the first few years, but for a lifetime. I can’t imagine where we would have been without it.”