Invest in the future “There is no place like P.G. Chambers School,” thought Beth Skolnick, mother to preschooler Rebekah, once her daughter enrolled at PGCS. For Beth, Rebekah enrolling in the school was like joining a family. At four weeks, Rebekah’s family learned that she had Mowat-Wilson Syndrome*. Uncertain of her daughter’s future, the family felt isolated. Beth yearned for a support system, which she found through the Mowat-Wilson Syndrome Foundation and at PGCS. When she was two, Rebekah attended weekly Early Intervention groups at PGCS. “We wanted a place for our daughter to have the social environment with other kids. While Rebekah was a toddler we visited pre-schools and we loved what we saw at PGCS. We liked the friendly and accomplished staff and the visually stimulating hallways and classrooms. We loved the team approach taken for each child, with specialists visiting the school for physiatry, orthotics, splinting and equipment clinics.”
Your gift provides purpose
Your gift of $120 funds a child’s participation in the early intervention group for four weeks.
Although confident that PGCS was the right choice, Beth still felt uneasy as Rebekah got started. You see, Beth had been with Rebekah every step of the way during her Early Intervention journey. Now, Rebekah would be going off to school without her and Rebekah wouldn’t be able to tell her parents about her day. It did not take Beth long to realize how effectively PGCS staff partner with parents. The thankful mom receives weekly newsletters updating her on class activities and Rebekah’s progress. At PGCS, Rebekah receives physical, occupational, and speech therapy coordinated in support of her educational and developmental goals. In the year Rebekah has been at PGCS, she has made incredible progress. Before PGCS, Rebekah used an iPad to make basic requests by touching a picture of a cookie or a cup, for example. She’s now practicing picture symbols and sign language for 300 core vocabulary words and uses her device to speak abstract words like: go, stop, more, want, like, good, bad, all done.
Rebekah’s mobility has also improved. Prior to enrolling, Rebekah was able to take one or two steps with full support from two adult hands and the prompting of each leg. This was all done very slowly. Now she walks holding only one adult hand, for 10 minutes at a steady speed! This year we ask you to join our PGCS family, as Rebekah and Beth have, and consider making a donation today. * Mowat-Wilson Syndrome is a genetic condition that affects many parts of the body. Major signs of this disorder frequently include distinctive facial features, intellectual disability, delayed development, intestinal disorders, and other birth defects.
Your gift connects
Your gift of $300 funds a child’s core word communication device.
Your gift goes the distance
Your gift of $1600 provides a child in need with new orthotics. (over, please)