Be inspired by some of the 450 stories unfolding at Mary Cariola Center.

Alyssa and Lincoln

Mary Cariola Special Education Teacher Alyssa Kamm is talented, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about leading a classroom. A 13-year veteran, and the 2020 Employee of the Year, Alyssa is a well-respected member of our school team who loves to provide her students and their families with the variety of educational experiences and clinical services offered at Mary Cariola.

Alyssa never expected to be on the receiving end of the same services she provides. The Mary Cariola teacher became a Mary Cariola parent.

Soon after she gave birth to her twins, Aria and Lincoln, Alyssa noticed ‘something was a little off’ with Lincoln’s vision. He was diagnosed with Norrie Disease, an inherited eye disorder that leads to blindness in male infants at birth or soon after. As Lincoln progressed through early intervention services and the time came to attend a preschool program, the decision was easy.

“There was undoubtedly no thought in my mind that he would go anywhere other than Mary Cariola” Alyssa said. I wanted Lincoln to get a school experience. I wanted him to get all his needs in one place. He loves school.”

Lincoln, age 4, has made considerable progress on his physical therapy goals, using his belt cane to navigate his classroom and school hallways. He also receives vision, speech, occupational and music therapy from Cariola’s interprofessional team.

Alyssa is making strides too, maneuvering around a new world of resources that will help her as a parent and make her a better educator.

“As an educator you feel like you know so much, and I have found that even though I work here, there is so much I don't know. Our therapists are great, Alyssa said. “They have helped me and given me great ideas I can use at home AND in my classroom.”

Mary Cariola’s unwavering team approach to student success continues to provide families with hope. And your support is instrumental in our success.

Your gift allows our staff to learn innovative technologies and strategies, especially in ever changing fields like vision therapy, behavior management, and assistive communications. Your support allows us to purchase unique equipment for individuals with highly specialized needs. Your support provides our families, like Alyssa and Lincoln, with confidence, knowing their child is engaged, learning and their needs are being met.

Can we count on your support once again?

See the Possibilities!

“ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.”

Those three words are spoken every day at Mary Cariola as a staff of passionate and innovative people strive to set and meet the goals of the individuals we serve. We may set the goals, but it is clearly our students and residents who demonstrate perseverance and courage. It’s emotional to watch them work so hard and joyous when even the smallest of goals are met or exceeded.

…It has been amazing to see Derek progress in his walking abilities. His physical therapy team and classroom team have provided more opportunities to practice walking each day. He has built the confidence to walk with hand-held assistance rather than depending on a walker!

…Our Occupational and Physical Therapy Team along with our Social Work Department worked collectively to make sure Alfie has a wheelchair, a communication system, eyewear and hope for a brighter future. He can now explore his world and share his bubbly personality with others.

…As a transition-aged student, it is extremely important for Mayah to be as independent as possible. Thanks to her classroom staff and therapists, Mayah is completing multi-step, functional roles such as stocking items into cabinets, making classroom deliveries and completing assembly tasks.

…Serenity has worked hard with her Speech Therapy team and is now using a Picture Exchange Communication book. She has a wide range of vocabulary options to help get her wants and needs met which include her favorite requests, “go” and “swing.

It takes tremendous financial support to purchase classroom supplies and specialized equipment as well as provide ongoing educational staff support, to ensure everyone we serve has the same possibilities. These are just a few examples of what our students and residents can achieve given the right possibilities.

At Mary Cariola, we transform the lives of individuals with disabilities. It’s what WE do, thanks to donors like YOU. Will YOU help us? With your support, we think the possibilities are endless.

DeAshaney’s Drive to Learn

We’ve enjoyed watching DeAshaney grow up at Mary Cariola.  Since 2007 “Dee” has graced us with her cute hair accessories, a keen fashion sense, an ever-present smile, and a desire to learn!  She has become an accomplished communicator using various devices over the years, embracing the changes that often come with its ever-changing technology.  She has amazed us with her increased independence as she navigates around campus in her motorized wheelchair.  Dee has worked hard learning speed controls and turning.

We are proud of Dee’s many accomplishments during the past 15 years including:

·        4 years of 4-H Public Presentations

·        Published in a number of books for short stories and poems

·        2021 Outstanding Youth in Monroe County

·        2022 Busy Bee Proclamation by the Monroe County Legislature – she received a standing ovation

·        Gold Medal for Special Olympic Wheelchair Racing - 2021

·        First Place for Special Olympic Bowling - 2022

Dee’s Mom, Kim, credits the collaborative efforts of the Cariola team for much of Dee’s success. She says “I love the various views that the teachers and therapists have. The trial and errors that must happen to progress each child’s development.  I love the way ALL staff talk to one another to bring more knowledge to the table and the fact that the staff is always so encouraging and uplifting.”

Dee’s teacher, Kathy Lee says “It’s a privilege to teach Dee.  She is a willing learner and wants to be a part of every group, every learning opportunity. Dee encourages others to participate and find the fun in learning.  Even when confused, Dee finds the fun! 

Destin's Destiny!

Destin is a happy student who truly enjoys coming to school to learn. He likes being with his friends, teachers, and clinical staff. He also loves music, books and movies, and enjoys spending time with family.

For Destin, there was a time when his family wasn’t sure if he would crawl, walk, talk, or do daily activities on his own. When Destin’s Mom found Mary Cariola Center, she knew it was the right fit for him to grow and thrive.

One of Destin’s biggest accomplishments is being able to read and ask questions to another person. He is working hard on his communication, and he has started to initiate asking for help. Another one of Destin’s accomplishments is he has increased his socialization with peers, and now enjoys Game Group with a few of his classmates. They especially enjoy playing Candy Land or Connect Four!

He has also made a lot of progress in increasing his overall independence. He is now able to complete most daily routines on his own, with minimal prompting from staff. Right now, Destin is working toward completing an individualized fitness circuit on his own in Physical Therapy.

When sending Destin off to school each day, his mom says, “He’s going to be with family for the day. There is no other place for him!” I’m so proud of Destin because he continues to persevere and doesn’t give up. His resiliency is something to see!”

Meet Madelynn

Sweet young Maddy has been praised for overcoming medical challenges, navigating thru COVID…and blossoming into a beautiful, positive student. Mom describes Maddy as full of energy, spunky and demanding. The Cariola Team really got to know Maddy after the COVID 19 Pandemic slowed down and in-school learning resumed. And Maddy learned a lot last year. She learned functional sign language –help, no, yes, goodbye. She learned how to clean up and put toys in bins after use. She tried new foods and expanded her diet from only eating potato chips…to French fries and fruit. She’s working hard at keeping food on her plate, thanks to silicone divider plates used at school and home.

Maddy moved to a new classroom this school year and has been working on many goals with her new classmates. Maddy, now 9, is working on attending and sitting in circle group, making a choice from the choice cabinet, and not getting over stimulated. She likes to match numbers and letters and loves doing jobs…her current job is distributing mail following step-by-step picture instructions. Her favorite mail delivery is to her former classroom.

At home, Maddy is using more words. Mom hopes that Maddy will continue to work on independence and communication skills, and that she’ll try more solid foods. From what we can tell, Maddy has the energy and spunk to accomplish whatever is asked of her.

Zyon—Embracing Every Challenge!

Living with a feeding tube, ventilator, and tracheostomy. Contending with visual impairments, global developmental delays, and a wheelchair. These are all challenges that would defeat many individuals and prevent them from achieving their goals and even having fun—that is until you meet a spunky little 4-year-old student at the Mary Cariola Center Preschool.

Zyon was born at 22 weeks and spent 9 months in the hospital then went to foster care. He was soon adopted by his foster family and loves his close-knit family including nine other brothers.

Zyon, with his “I know a secret” type of grin, has captured the hearts of everyone he’s met in his two years at Cariola and the preschool team loves him just as much as he loves them. “It was the only place we looked at and we knew there was no place else we wanted Zyon to go,” said his dad, Avery.

Originally Zyon was placed in a classroom for medically complex students and almost immediately he showed staff he was ready for so much more. He became a social hero of sorts with his crawling, sitting, playing, and of course—the smile.

Today, Zyon enjoys the camaraderie of an all-boy classroom where Mary Cariola’s adapted workshop has outfitted a school chair on a specialized platform that he can safely sit in while enjoying circle time with his classmates. He uses a communication device and can express a few words and navigates his iPad with a stylus. Described as “boy’s boy” by his Special Education Teacher Erin Jamieson, he likes to get dirty and mess around, especially with foam soap. He receives occupational, physical, music, and vision therapy and was recently seen without his walker, holding the hand of his physical therapist walking down the hallway.

“Zyon’s opportunities are endless; thanks to a staff who challenge him to work hard and set him up for success. They do not hold back—staff introduce a walker, crawling, sitting to playing.  It’s exciting to get school notes to discover that Zyon is achieving so much because staff continues to offer him so much, “Avery said.

John’s Journey

John was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Like many other children with autism, John also has severe cognitive, developmental, and language delays. His behaviors were very unpredictable and, at any given time, he might attempt to run into traffic, eat non-food items, or try to jump out of an unlocked window. John suffers from a total lack of safety awareness. He was discharged from all available programs and support services because safety had become such a critical issue.

By the time John was seven years old, he and his family were in crisis, and when the situation became dire, his family turned to the Mary Cariola Center. At the time, the newly founded Behavior Management Services team was called in and highly skilled Behavior Intervention Specialists responded. John’s challenges and needs were assessed, and the team provided the family with a Behavior Support Plan developed specifically for him.

Due to family health issues and John’s increasing struggles, John temporarily moved into a respite bedroom at our Bailey Road residence in 2016. In 2017, John received a permanent placement at the Mary Cariola Rushwood residence.

The Rushwood residence is a warm, welcoming, and wonderful place for John to live and grow up. He, along with five other housemates enjoy daily outings, hikes, van rides, even doing chores. The staff encourage independence and pride, focusing on each resident’s maximum potential. Now at age 12, John is able to participate in family-style meals and has started to eat with a fork and spoon. And he goes to school each day at Mary Cariola Center where he is happy and active at our East Henrietta Campus.

At Mary Cariola Center School, John enjoys socializing with his staff and teacher and is especially interested in exploring technology such as the iPad and Clear Touch (large computer screen) devices.

His parents say, “We look forward to watching John continue to develop and grow, thanks to the Mary Cariola Center.”

From an orphanage in South Africa to the Classrooms at Mary Cariola—Meet Abram

Linda Selby met 3-year-old Abram in July of 2010, a year after his mother died. She had volunteered to help at his orphanage in South Africa. He was deaf and diagnosed with autism. Linda worked closely with Abram for almost 3 weeks and then again twice more over the years.

The Directors of the orphanage asked Linda to consider adopting him!  In February of 2015, Abram became their son! In March, 2015  Linda began the school enrollment process. Abram had never been to school, had no language, and he was 8 years old.

 Linda and Abram visited Mary Cariola. Immediately, she knew it was where Abram belonged. Staff were using sign language. There was diversity of the student body as well as the staff. And there were swings and bikes, important items for Abram’s sensory needs. She  saw so much joy in the hallways that day; she wanted Abram to go to school at Mary Cariola. And he did.

Abram excelled and became more comfortable around people. He made better eye contact and was able to focus better. During the initial quarantine in 2020, Abram began to use his school issued  iPad to communicate expressively. In a few weeks, the family and classroom team were working together in ways very different from traditional schooling. Linda notes that no one would have chosen to complete the school year and start another one on-line, yet so much good has come from it.

Linda is so grateful for the Mary Cariola experts who are working together to help Abram to continue to learn and to grow.

Ny’kira’s Guardian Angel

There is a belief that everyone has a guardian angel.  Little did a Rochester business woman know watching the news would make her a guardian angel for a Mary Cariola student and family.

A little girl named Ny’kira lived through more trauma in her first three-years than many of us see in a lifetime. Caught in the middle of domestic issues, she received permanent injuries that resulted in blindness, traumatic brain injury and the ability to walk.  Ny’kira, now under the care of her Aunt Denita, became a student at Mary Cariola.

Not fully prepared to take on a young child with numerous special needs, Ny’kira’s Aunt needed support and adaptive equipment, not to mention transportation for a child in a wheelchair. Popular Go-Fund-Me pages failed to produce the funds required to purchase a disability-friendly minivan, not even a used one.

Enter Ny’kira’s guardian angel. With an entrepreneurial spirit and an open heart, Lindsay, a local business woman saw a story about Ny’kira’s plight. In no time at all, she was on the phone to Cariola planning to get a wheelchair accessible van for the family.  Lindsay is someone who clearly makes things happen. She wasted no time and purchased the van, had it modified for wheelchair use, arranged the presentation and even made sure to have a big bow on the vehicle.

Today, Ny’kira is flourishing at Mary Cariola. She is now in a school age classroom and learning to feed herself. She works diligently with her physical therapist. 

Ny’kira’s story is sadly more common than people think but thankfully, the dedicated, innovative and inspirational staff at Mary Cariola Children’s Center stand ready to serve people with multiple complex disabilities.