05/28/2026
Meet Lily.
She’s the kind of kid who remembers your favorite things, who makes you laugh without trying, and who loves Fortnite, traveling, and being with her family. She’s curious, thoughtful, and full of personality. And more than anything, Lily wants to be independent.
Lily has a rare neurological condition called schizencephaly and uses a wheelchair. She also relies on an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device to speak, complete her schoolwork, and connect with the world around her. These aren’t extras.
They are her voice. Her access. Her freedom.
But for a long time, those tools didn’t fully work for her. Her communication device would slip off of her wheelchair tray. If someone wasn’t there to hold it, she couldn’t use it. Reaching for it over and over without the right positioning caused pain and exhaustion. As the day went on, her ability to communicate faded.
At the same time, moving through her day wasn’t easy either. Spaces weren’t built for her. Equipment didn’t quite fit. Independence always felt just out of reach. That began to change when Lily started working with the NEAT Center at Oak Hill.
The team didn’t just look at one challenge. They looked at her whole world. They listened, observed, and worked alongside her family and school to understand what was standing in her way. And then, they started removing those barriers.
With the right wheelchair mount, Lily gained consistent access to her communication device. With a new power wheelchair, she gained the ability to move on her own. For the first time, Lily could go where she wanted and say what she wanted without waiting for help.
While Lily has experienced newfound freedom and independence with her power chair, it cannot be used at home due to space and environmental constraints. And over time, Lily outgrew her manual wheelchair. Insurance will not cover both.
So at home, the independence she worked so hard to gain outside of her home, begins to slip away.
This is the reality for so many families.
The right equipment can change everything, but it is not always covered. And when one need is met, another is often left behind.
That is where you come in in.
Because of donor support, Oak Hill is helping provide Lily with a new custom manual wheelchair, complete with the proper supports and a mount for her communication device.
This means her independence will follow her home. Into her everyday life.
There are more people like Lily still waiting.
This spring, your impact can help provide the tools that make independence possible from communication devices to wheelchairs to the adaptive technology that bridges the gap when no one else will.
Because everyone deserves the freedom to move, to connect, and to be heard.
Help Oak Hill turn access into independence with your support. Make independence possible. Please consider donating today with the link below:
Donate here: https://oakhillct.org/giving/make-a-gift
