For several years, Mary and I were looking for an adult program for our son, Patrick who is blind and neurologically impaired. Everywhere we looked, we were given excuses as to why those programs could not encourage Patrick’s capabilities or see his accomplishments. They seemed to be, at best, custodial in nature.

From the moment we met Helen, the Center’s Executive Director, we knew that this was the right program for Patrick. We jointly developed a program to address his health in body (swimming twice a week), mind (special outings, reading, vocabulary, specific work assignments like delivering the mail and leading the pledge of allegiance) and spirit (music therapy and opportunities to attend Holy Cross Church). Every activity sets Patrick up for success and celebrates his growth.

Helen and the team are always saying, “How can we help Patrick accomplish his goals? How can we make his program more interesting and challenging? How can we modify things to make the experience more meaningful to him?”

Since Patrick has been attending Saint Catherine Academy, his confidence has grown. Instead of being too shy to sing along with his peers, he now sings right into the microphone.