The stories of a few speak for the many...NEAT serves over 20,000 people of all ages each year.      

Two-Year-Old Ethan Loves to Feel Independent

Ethan is a typical toddler; he enjoys playing with his toys.  However, Ethan has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA, type 1) and his body has almost no movement of its own.  Due to difficulty swallowing, Ethan is fed through a g-tube.  He receives services from the NEAT Center at Oak Hill Birth to Three Program.  Ethan no longer feels frustrated by not being able to play with his toys.  He just received a micro-lite switch and for the first time was able to turn his toy on and make it go by himself and this makes him very happy.  His mother, Kelly, was so excited she was almost in tears.  It brings her a lot of joy to see her son so happy and playing like other children.  “He loves to feel independent.  SMA is not easy, but we love Ethan so very much and everything we do and go through is so worth it.  He is the greatest and I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world.” 
Kelly Takacs, parent, Fairfield, Connecticut

I Struck Gold Finding the NEAT Center

“There aren’t enough positive, uplifting, great words in the English language to describe my visit and purchase at NEAT.  I am in the process of moving my elderly mom and I feel I struck gold finding your service.  The staff from the ERC deserves extra kudos on their understanding, service and ability to understand my needs at this time.”
- Kathy Smith

“Thanks so much for your help.  The stair lift is working out really well.  The person that helped me install it (he’s an elevator and crane installer) said that the stair lift was of high quality and showed little wear.  Thanks again, your business makes it possible for people who aren’t well-to-do to purchase good quality used equipment.”  
– Chris Freer

“The part worked!!  My mom is enjoying her chair once again.  This was a blessing.  Thank you so much.”  
– Linda and Henry Eng 

A woman with Parkinson’s disease visited the NEAT Center recently based on the recommendation of a friend who had purchased a seat-lift recliner and a shower chair through our Equipment Restoration Center.  One look at our gadgets and gizmos displayed gave our visitor renewed hope for her ability to continue cooking and gardening.  Simple adaptations to ordinary cooking utensils and gardening tools will make it possible for her to have a secure grip and more control over her movements.  We were able to help her and her husband find stores locally that carry these, and other items, and to help them locate products for his 95-year-old mother who now problems associated with low vision

NEAT Gave Me a Better, Fuller, Self-Sufficient Life

“Thanks very much to you and your staff in helping us to obtain the ‘Easy-Stand.’ My husband, Bill is now using it every other day.  This is amazing as Bill never uses his braces to stand (it is much too difficult to balance/lift yourself up on braces).  Due to the low insurance policy, coverage there was no way we could have paid for this therapy device.  Thanks again.”
- Shelia Shea

“Thank you for all your help.  This new lift should give me a much better, fuller, self-sufficient life.  I will remember your kindness.
- Judy Koluzenko

“Just a note to thank you for all your support, you seem to be always available to answer my equipment questions and are always on the “lookout” for specific pieces of equipment for Coventry Schools.  Most recently we were able to purchase a Pony Walker for a kindergarten student.  It was just like new and delivered to us by Kerry Sheltra from Connecticut Rehab and Medical Products.  Our student immediately stood in the Pony Walker and took several steps.  We thank you.”  
- Linda Tomaszewski, Physical Therapist, Coventry Public Schools

“We have a little girl (about age 7) who visits us a couple of times a year and who has been coming to NEAT for about 5 years.  She has facial disfiguration and mobility issues which she is working to overcome.  Every time she comes to see us for new equipment, she stops in the Kids' Corner and locates her favorite toy: a pop gun that shoots foam discs.  She has to shoot Don Hoerman, the manager of NEAT’s ERC and he has to pretend to be hurt and she giggles all the way out the door.  There are several kids who come in and use the switch adapted toys and adapted books.  We try and introduce the kids to as many different things as we can while they are here.  Many times, we are trying to occupy the kids while Mom and Dad are busy in the computer lab or in other areas of the building.  Our work crew enjoys the toys.  My husband, Mark especially likes the switch adapted elephant.”
- Jennifer Baker, Adaptive Equipment Specialist, NEAT Center at Oak Hill 
 

You Gave Him Back His Voice

Isaiah - I Knew He Could Do It!

Cynthia Crosby and her son Isaiah visited a recent NEAT expo and Cynthia told us, “We were told more than a few times that 4-year-old Isaiah would never be able to ride a bike, as a means of laying the ground for ‘don't expect too much.’”  But a ride a bike he did Isaiah was in his element.  You could see the look of joy on his face when he first took off on the bike and the expression on his mother’s face that said “I knew he could do it!”  It’s no wonder that Cynthia says, “This was a very special day for us. We were very excited to provide him with this opportunity today in such a spontaneous way. Thanks so much.”
- Cynthia Crosby, parent

People Can Finally Hear What I'm Saying

An 84-year-old woman who, due to illness, could only speak in a very soft whisper received a voice amplifier which looks like a small, walkman type of radio that could be worn on a belt with a headpiece microphone attached. The woman stated that for the first time in years, people could hear what she was saying. Needless to say, her nursing home staff was very pleased!

A Young Solidier Who Lost His Sight is Re-Learning the Computer

"We also have a young veteran who was blinded when hit by enemy fire during the war in Afghanistan. He will be taking our JAWS training so he too can use the computer to hopefully find employment."
- Steve Famiglietti, manager of the Vocational Program for adults who are blind and visually impaired“

We were referred to the NEAT Center at Oak Hill in the hopes of finding help for my 88-year-old aunt who suffers from macular degeneration.  We were not disappointed.  Not only were we amazed by all of the equipment that is available to the sight-impaired, we were astounded by the host of services that you provide with disabilities of all kinds.  You demonstrated a video magnifier and my aunt declared she had to have one.  Due to her limited financial resources, you recommended a reconditioned magnifier.  We bought it that day and installed it for her and she has been using is to ready with daily.  Before the magnifier, my aunt was giving up on life.  Macular degeneration was robbing her one great pleasure…reading.  We can’t thank you enough for helping us help her rekindle her enthusiasm for life.”
- Marilyn A. (New Hartford, Connecticut)

Dan is an engineer with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a condition which causes the field of vision to decrease until the person becomes blind).  He could no longer see the computer monitor and called The NEAT Center at Oak Hill for advice.  In order to retain his job, he needed to take one on-line course per quarter for his company as well as work on his computer daily.  We suggested that he learn the JAWS screen reading program and his employer agreed to pay for the course. Dan completed the five-day course and is now able to navigate the computer without vision. His employer is very pleased and authorized him to participate in the next course level.
 

An Oak Hill Corporator attended a recent annual meeting held at The NEAT Center at Oak Hill where she told us she had recently been diagnosed with macular degeneration.  After the meeting, she talked to staff about aids that would be available to her once her vision began deteriorating and left armed with materials that helped her feel more in control of a devastating affliction.

A college professor from Chicago called The NEAT Center at Oak Hill in response to a Hartford Courant article that was reprinted in the Chicago Tribune.  He is legally blind and losing more of his vision daily.  What should he be doing?  Where could he go to find help?  How could he access his computer when his sight is gone so that he can keep his job?  He called us because he knew of nowhere else to find these answers.  The NEAT staff has provided him with information about myriad computer adaptations and specialized devices that will assist him and has given him the names of some professional organizations in his area that may be of support as he loses his sight entirely.
 

Helping Students with Autism Achieve

A 15-year-old male with pervasive disorder who had problems with time management, especially with regular ADL morning activities and with the help of the NEAT staff; demonstrated how his own cell phone could be programmed to chime every 20 minutes in the morning to remind him to stop and/or start a morning activity. His Mom was extremely pleased!

A team of people including a speech/language pathologist, an occupational therapist and a teacher spent time in the Computer Lab recently.  This happens frequently with teams from districts all over the state.  This time, it was a team working with a 12-year-old boy who has autism, and the group included his mother.  Having everyone who works with the child together while the boy tried various types of equipment enabled them to discuss when and how each piece could be used in school and at home, an important connection for a child with significant needs. 

Helping Seniors with Memory Loss

Three-Year-Old Emma Finally Has a Wheelchair

"We are so excited that other people in his life will be able to understand what Richard wants to say!"

Richard is a very active, non-verbal 3 year old. He has difficulty staying on task and effectively communicating. It appeared that his parents could understand his needs but not other people in his life. His parents further stated that they were having difficulty engaging him in low key fun activities. Both his parents and his OT met with NEAT staff. Staff introduced Richard to a “cause and effect” game on the computer. Although he had a lot of difficulty utilizing a switch or mouse he successfully used a touch screen to engage in the activity. After a short while, staff introduced him to a “Go Talk” communication device. Staff placed pictures of desired items in each of the 9 blocks, recorded what the items were and then showed Richard how to use it. By pressing the desired picture, the device would “say” what it is so others could understand his need. His parents were so excited to actually be able to “hear” what Richard wanted to say. They borrowed the Go Talk from the AT lending library until they could purchase one for Richard. His mother stated, "We are so excited that other people in his life will be able to understand what Richard wants to say!"