When Abraham first joined CTRC in January, he was reluctant to wear his helmet. He did not want to enter the arena and was unsure of what to expect. In just a few short months, the transformation within Abraham from how he first presented to now is truly remarkable. It is night and day, what the horses provide him: trust, safety, and courage. Today, Abraham independently walks into the building, willingly puts on his helmet, and waits with a smile to mount his horse—all clear signs of his growing comfort and joy.

During sessions, Abraham communicates with his speech language pathologist, Jill, using a combination of sign language, push-button switches, and

his augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. At first, he initially relied on only a few signs and buttons, but he quickly began using

his AAC device more consistently as he gained confidence in the saddle. His receptive and expressive language skills have blossomed, and mom reports more vocalizations and imitations at home after his time at CTRC.

“Every time Abraham is on that beautiful horse, I cry,” shares his mom. “I see how he enjoys every moment and how Jill puts her effort into helping my son achieve his goals. After a couple of weeks, I began to see more eye contact in Abraham.”

Your support makes transformations like Abraham’s possible.