Leo, age 5, was diagnosed with autism at three. He has been through all the clinical therapies, but his favorite is occupational therapy utilizing hippotherapy at The Shea Center. Leo is motivated to play and engage in activities on the horse that help him build his...
Luca was born with a bright light inside of him and a contagious excitement for life. He was very expressive and used gestures to communicate what he wanted or needed during the first two years of his life. When he was two and not saying any words, the pediatrician...
Seven-year-old second-grade twins Ellie and Liz have been Shea Center clients for a year. With the onset of the pandemic, the girls began to be anxious about their surroundings by not feeling safe, not wanting to play outside, or being afraid of bugs and so forth. For...
Lana is six years old and loves coming to her occupational therapy treatments using equine movement at The Shea Center! A client for just four months, she is making great progress. Lana was reaching all her milestones until at age 1, she began to regress. She...
Ryan is a cute 6-year-old girl diagnosed with right side hip dysplasia; her hip socket is shallow and the ball at the top of her femur slips out. Ryan’s hip dysplasia was not diagnosed until age three and a half. She then underwent three hip surgeries to make...
Ryden, diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy, was born at 26 weeks, weighing 1.5 lbs. He is nonverbal, but when his mother, Brittany, talks about going to The Shea Center, Ryden quickly runs to the door. Ryden has some sensory issues and when he first came to Shea...
“The Shea Center is life changing.” Those were the words of Nadia the mother of six-year-old Everett. Diagnosed with autism at two years of age, Everett has been riding at Shea receiving occupational and speech therapies utilizing hippotherapy for a little over a...
Did you know that October is Rett Syndrome Awareness Month? Shea Center staff, volunteers, and clients support by wearing purple, the color for Rett Syndrome Awareness Rett syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that affects brain development and can impact gait,...
Tank is a happy seven-year-old who loves Tesla cars. When he is not talking, he is making car sounds and pretending to be driving or parking a Tesla. He has nine Tesla t-shirts made for him by his grandma and he wears one every day. Tank particularly likes electric...
This heartwarming spotlight is about Abigail, our featured client rider at The Shea Center’s 2022 Annual BBQ and Family Faire. If you have ever seen grown adults walking around The Shea Center in tutus and crowns, they were most likely client Abigail’s volunteer team...