in december 2015, christopher rogers-pilla...
TRANSCRIPT
InDecember2015,ChristopherRogers-PillasuccessfullygraduatedfromtheLaSaQuikprogram.Chris’graduationwasnotjustanachievementforhimbutformultiplepeopleandorganizationsthatcametogethertoprovideChriswiththisopportunity.Chris’journeywasauniqueexperiencebecausehewasthefirstvisuallyimpairedyouthtoattendandgraduatefromtheLaSaQuikprogram.
Chrisandhistwinbrotherbothbecameblindduetocomplicationsshortlyafterbirth.ThroughouthislifeChrismadeacommitmenttoneverlethisvisualimpairmentholdhimback.Hisfamilydescribedhimasan“AmbassadortotheSeeingWorld”asheoftengave
talksaboutthechallengesandtriumphsthatsomanypeoplewereunawareof.Chrisstatedthathereallywantedtohelpotherhaveagreaterawarenessandunderstandingofindividualswithvisualdisabilities.Likemanyteenshowever,Chrisexperiencedbumpsintheroadwithhisadolescentdevelopmentandmadeunhealthychoicesthatledtohisneedforspecializedresidentialplacementandtreatment.
WhenChriswasfirstadmitted,hisfutureandtheabilitytoprovidehimtheappropriatetreatmentwasuncertain.WiththehelpfromMontgomeryCountyJPO,TheSierragroupcasemanagement,theConnectionsAcademyCyberSchool,theBLaSTIU#17on-siteclassroom,thestaffandpeersatLaSaQuik,thelovingsupportofhisfamilyandChris’ownunwaveringdetermination;hewasabletofullyparticipateinalltheservicesofferedintheprogram.
DuringhisplacementaLaSaQuik,Chriswasabletobenefitfromstateofthearttools.HehadtheassistanceofaspecializedpublishingcompanythattranscribedallofChris’treatmenttextsintoBraille.MosthelpfulwasChris’“BrailleNote”.Similartoalaptopcomputer,themachinewasabletoconvertanythingChriswroteinBrailletotheMicrosoftWordformatandviceversa.
WithtimeandsupportChriswasabletonavigatetheentirefacilityindependentlywiththeuseofhiscaneandalsoparticipatedintheAdventureBasedRopesCourseoverthesummer.Duringthefall,withthehelpofatandembike,ChriswasabletoparticipateintheannualLSQBikeTrip.ChrisdevelopedanumberofmeaningfulbondswiththepeersandstaffandwiththehelpofhisCaseWorkerJamesLovcikhecompletedalloftheclinicalrequirementsnecessarytofinishtheprogram.
ChrisissucharemarkableyoungmanandsharedsomanytalentswhileatLaSaQuik.Heservedasanupperlevelinassistingotheryouthnewtotheprogram,sharpenedhisguitarandpianoplayingskillsandsupportedahealthytreatmentcommunitybyparcipatingintheSanctuaryModelprograming.MostevidentwasthepositiveexamplethatChrissetforcurrentandfutureyouthintheprogram.Hedemonstratedthathealingandrecoveryispossiblenomatterwhatchallengesapersonmayfaceinlife.
WewouldliketocongratulateChris,hisfamilyandalltheindividualsthathelpedChriswithhistreatment.WewishChrisandhisfamilytheverybestastheyembarkonthenextstageofhisamazingjourney.