Children & Families
The value of the work of The Legacy Rainbow House can be seen through the fantastic achievements of the children who attend. Each year we teach many children to walk completely independently, and our reputation is growing all the time, so we now have a waiting list of children wishing to join. Here are just a few of stories which demonstrate how we help children with disabilities to lead more independent and fulfilled lives and provide support and advice to their families.
Jonathan Knowles, age 24
Jonathan is our eldest beneficiary and wrote this quote to explain why he likes attending the services at The Legacy Rainbow House:
Christopher Hardman, age 5
"Christopher was first diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when he was 20 months old. We were offered limited support services through the NHS so I decided to do some research myself, and this was when I discovered Rainbow House.
When Christopher started here he was not able to speak. He was able to crawl but he could only stand for a few seconds. Christopher's legs and left arm have increased muscle tone and as a result are stiff and difficult to move. Only ten months after starting he was able to walk with the use of a walking frame and now he walks independently. His speech has also improved and he is now able to speak in short sentences.
Christopher has developed into a confident and chatty child who enjoys life and is becoming more independent every day. The practical and emotional support given to parents and carers is also a lifeline"
Natalie Hardman
Gemma Kavanagh, age 6
"Gemma has an undiagnosed neurological condition and low muscle tone which meant that she was very floppy and suffered from severe head lag.
In the five years she has been attending The Legacy Rainbow House she has made great progress. She is now able to sit well, she can stand and is able to coast on furniture, her balance is improving and with a walking frame she can now walk short distances. All these achievements have given Gemma more independence and given her more confidence in her own abilities and how to socialise.
The staff at The Legacy Rainbow House are excellent, they are an education to the parents as well as the children. They are always positive and welcoming and are great at coming up with new ideas to tackle problems. We always focus on what Gemma can do not what she can't do and together we are well on the way to helping Gemma to lead a more independent life."
Amanda Kavanagh
Jules Lofthouse, age 4
"Jules was born a healthy baby with no medical problems at all. At the age of one he was walking and starting to talk. Then, when he nearly two years old, I put him to bed and in the morning found him in a coma. He had contracted encephalitis through a viral infection. He was on a life support machine for 10 days and then in hospital for four months. He could no longer swallow, so he couldn't eat or drink, and he had no control of his head or limbs.
When we got home he was given 1 hour of physiotherapy a week and making no progress, but through a friend I heard about The Legacy Rainbow House.
He has made huge progress since he started. He is now able to feed himself, he can roll over and is able to sit for a few minutes with minimal help. He can even make steps with assistance.
Looking after a child with a disability is always going to be hard, but with the support of The Legacy Rainbow House, Jules is leading a more independent and fulfilled life."
Terri Lofthouse
Early Years service
