Support Through Challenges Brings Confidence
Cheyenne Hancock, Direct Support Professional, joined the Rainbows’ team in June of 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. “It was all very new and nerve-racking to me,” said Cheyenne. “Everyone was having a hard time adjusting to the change, especially the kids, but during that first summer I got a lot of compliments […]
Building Meaningful Relationships
In May 2022, Ashley Burris graduated with her Master of Arts in teaching degree from Kansas State University. She also holds an undergraduate degree from Sterling College in Business Ministry (2019). Ashley joined Rainbows in June as a Camp Woodchuck direct support professional. “I truly just love the work Rainbows does and was excited to […]
Meet Carrie, a social butterfly
Carrie and her twin-sister Abigail were born at 29 weeks and due to their rough delivery, both had Grade II Bi-Lateral bleeds. Abigail’s corrected itself, but Carrie’s graduated to a Grade IV and caused her to develop Hydrocephalus which led to a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. A very happy, almost 16-year-old teenager, Carrie (who has […]
Pete’s Got a Good Life
Peter, the third son born to Nancy and Ed Hampel was not progressing like their older boys. When he was 3 months old, their doctor diagnosed Peter with cerebral palsy and multiple severe developmental delays. Peter began receiving speech, physical and occupational therapies through St. Francis hospital. Nancy’s sister, Connie, had worked at Rainbows United […]
Work experience helps granddaughter with autism
When Yolanda Castillo started working at Rainbows in 2000, she didn’t consider the possibility that her experience with children with special needs would someday help her in her family life. “When my granddaughter, Micah Luna, was diagnosed with autism, my experience working with children similar to her allowed me to help her and my son […]
Life changing, self-care strategies
Whether you are welcoming a newborn into the world, or are the parent(s) of a young child(ren), it is safe to say you are or have been dealing with quite a few changes and adjustments in your day-to-day life; such as changes in your sleep patterns, emotions and stress level, and overall changes in your […]
A whole new world of compassion
“When I first met with Jamee Funk, Rainbows’ Physical Therapist, she congratulated me on having a child with Down Syndrome,” said Stevie, William’s mother. “I didn’t get it. I didn’t understand at that time.” Will was an after birth diagnosis, nothing was caught on screenings, the pregnancy was normal, labor was progressing normally and then […]
Campers Celebrate All Summer Long
Camp Woodchuck’s theme for summer of 2022 is a birthday party theme in celebration of Rainbow’s 50th Birthday! Camp Woodchuck began providing a fun, summer experience for children with special needs in 1997. This summer, 38 campers ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old will be treated to an in-home camp experience like […]
DiGiovanni Family Celebrates
“The path, the journey we’ve been on, it all started at one place -Rainbows.” As a 10-year-old volunteering with her mother at Blarney Breakfast, Gretchen DiGiovanni had no idea the impact Rainbows United would someday have on her family. Gretchen’s parents, Dick and Carol Rohloff, are long-time supporters of Rainbows. Gretchen continued to be a […]
Calming Down with a Social Story
When a child gets upset, our first instinct is to quickly get the child to calm down. Sometimes when we do this, it escalates the situation. We should find other ways that will take time, to help the child calm down. One thing we should do is sympathize with the child by saying, “You look […]
