How one 4-year-old + his parents have found a lifeline at United Ability

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United Ability has changed the lives of so many families, including the Connors. We were able to meet sweet Emmett and his parents, Michael and Bre, to learn their story. Keep reading to hear about their disability journey and how you can celebrate them on August 19.

Emmett’s story

When Emmett was born, he was a happy baby who hit all of his milestones, until he never started walking.

“We thought maybe he was just a little slower, so we started to see more doctors and got involved with early intervention. It took us a little over a year to get a diagnosis. We tried all kinds of stuff… different walkers, PT, and we thought it was just a strength problem.”

Michael Connor

Before Emmett’s second birthday, his teachers noticed he was having trouble eating and swallowing. From there, they did a swallow study and sent off genetic samples to be sampled in a lab.

They soon figured out that both Bre and Michael are carriers of a recessive genetic disorder. Emmett was diagnosed with a progressive neurological disease that will continue as he gets older.

“When we got his diagnosis, it was devastating. But after we had our mourning period, it was ‘okay, what good are we going to find in this? We aren’t going to sit here and cry every day away, because we don’t know how many we get.’ If we can bring hope to someone in similar shoes, that’s what it is all about.”

Bre Connor

The Connors quickly found a community at United Ability

Bre and Michael heard about United Ability before Emmett was born. They even considered sending their older daughter to school at Hand in Hand Early Learning Program because they had heard such amazing things about sending typical children there.

“It was so great that we already knew about United Ability. We couldn’t just send Emmett off to any school and we didn’t want to keep him home all the time, so we knew immediately that he would go there.”

Michael Connor

They told us that Emmett is basically a local celebrity at school and sometimes even flirts his way out of nap time to cuddle with his teachers instead.

Psst—Emmett is the honoree at Journey of Hope on August 19. Get your tickets.

Emmett lights up at Hand in Hand

When Emmett goes to school at Hand in Hand, his parents say he’s living the dream. He has someone with him all day long and gets the attention that any other 4-year-old would get at school, if not more.

“He has amazing friends. It’s just like when our daughter comes home from school. His friends bring him toys when he’s in his chair, know what toys he likes, include him in circle time and fight over who gets to push his chair around.”

Michael Connor

The care that comes from United Ability is also unmatched.

“There’s so much love and care in every room. We’re able to see other parents and talk to them without having to explain anything. They’re living it too. It’s not crazy for me to have my kid with me who can’t talk and has to do tube feeding. He’s just another kid.”

Bre Connor

United Ability has changed the Connors’ lives

One of the coolest things about Hand in Hand is that the classes are a mix of typical students and students with special needs.

“Our daughter is wise beyond her years because of this whole experience just having her brother here. Half of the kids at Hand in Hand aren’t special needs, and the experience that they get makes them much more empathetic, caring human beings. They are putting amazing children into the world that are going to be beams of light.”

Michael Connor

Bre noted a few times that they have no idea where they’d be without United Ability.

“Nobody anticipates being thrown into the special needs world. There should be a handbook that they give parents. There’s not, but the United Ability community is the closest thing to it. Somebody in the school has always been through something similar, whether you’re needing more info about insurance, therapies or what grants are available. It is absolutely invaluable.”

Bre Connor

Emmett is this year’s honoree at Journey of Hope on Saturday, August 19. Get your tickets now.

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