STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A butterfly mural stretches across the wall at CP Unlimited’s Cora Hoffman Center — a symbol, staff say, of transformation.
As Joseph Pancari, president and CEO of Constructive Partnerships (CP) Unlimited, explained the symbol, a man walked by with the assistance of a gait trainer, demonstrating that transformation in real time.
“He never walked before this,” said Ann Lawrence, a vice president at CP.
A gait trainer is a wheeled mobility device that provides more support than a walker.
It’s this kind of life-changing work that brought State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton to the Forest Avenue facility on Friday. She announced she’s secured $250,000 in capital funding for upgrades to the facility.
The facility houses the only Mobility Opportunities Via Education Experience (MOVE) program in the New York City area outside of the Board of Education.
MOVE is an approach that focuses on teaching people with severe disabilities to sit, stand and walk using adaptive equipment tailored to their needs.
“The upgrades to CP Unlimited will greatly improve the quality of services they provide to some of Staten Island’s most vulnerable populations,” Scarcella-Spanton said. “All individuals deserve spaces adequately suited for their needs.”
There are currently 15 participants in the MOVE program at the Cora Hoffman Center, according to Chief Communications Officer Jeremy Willinger. Each device is customized to the individual’s needs, and for some participants, it means walking without assistance for the first time in their lives.
Frankie, one program member, uses both a tricycle and a gait trainer. His gait trainer helps him stand with better posture and walk without help.
Andrew, another participant, relies on a gait trainer that straps his arms in for better stability, giving him mobility he couldn’t achieve on his own.
Pancari said the specialized equipment provides “independence, dignity and longevity.”
“It adds years to their lives,” Pancari said, explaining that the mobility devices benefit participants circulatory systems and overall health.
But the financial reality is harsh. The cost of the devices range from $5,000 to $15,000.
“It’s very expensive, so contribution goes a very long way to help Staten Islanders to be more healthy,” Pancari said.
He noted that the Board of Education covers mobility devices for disabled students, but that support vanishes when they turn 21.
Wheelchair users also face financial challenges. Pancari said Medicare and Medicaid typically cover replacements every five years.
“That’s difficult for folks with cerebral palsy who experience bodily challenges like aging, weight loss or weight gain,” Pancari said.
Beyond mobility services, CP Unlimited provides services and support for people with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism and spinal cord injuries.
“If you have a disability, we can help,” Lawrence said. “From the lowest able to the highest able person.”
The Forest Avenue facility provides support and services to individuals with a wide range of disabilities.Claire Hamlet
The organization also serves individuals experiencing housing insecurity or food instability.
The organization serves several thousand people citywide, Pancari said, including more than 250 residential sites across New York City and 13 homes on Staten Island. He said about a third of the individuals at the Forest Avenue facility also live in CP Unlimited residences.
For some MOVE participants, the new devices enable them to walk without assistance for the first time in their lives.Claire Hamlet