May 28, 2015

by: Emily Hastings

Benjamin Cox – Boots Fisher Memorial Award Winner 2015

Every year, UCP of Greater Cleveland honors one client from each department who has made significant gains in community integration during the past year. These accolades, called the Boots Fisher Memorial Awards, are named after Elaine “Boots” Fisher, who is an instrumental member of the UCP of Greater Cleveland story and former member of the Women’s Committee. This year, 11-year-old Benjamin Cox was selected as the Boots Fisher winner for Children’s Services.

Ben is an easy going, yet persistent and humorous 11-year-old with an infectious laugh. He attends physical therapy twice a week and speech therapy once a week at UCP of Greater Cleveland. Ben started therapy services when he was three years old, due to developmental delay after numerous heart surgeries in his infant and toddler years. Ben had a hard time sitting up and could not crawl. He received therapy for many years to address overall muscle weakness and associated delay in fine motor, gross motor and oral motor skills.

Ben learned to crawl in a STEPS to Independence session in 2007. In 2009, Ben transitioned from a gait trainer to a reverse walker and by 2011 he could walk 10-25 feet independently. However, in April of 2011, Ben had hip surgery and then had to relearn how to walk. In the spring of 2013, Ben and his family had one major goal: to have Ben walk his first whole mile without assistance. In order to do that, Ben trained on the treadmill at home and at UCP of Greater Cleveland to build his endurance. Today, Ben is able to walk independently, push open heavy doors, go up and down the stairs using the rail, and up pick objects up from the ground without losing his balance.

Although Ben is non-verbal, he is able to communicate using sign language, gestures, a few words and an augmentative communication device. Ben loves talking about his family and his food preferences, as well as cars, trucks and buses. His therapists often use his passion for cars as a therapy reward, allowing him a 2-3 minute view of the bustling Euclid Avenue. He also makes sure his therapists give a full report to his family about how well he did in therapy!

Ben’s future looks brighter each day due to his hard work and his family’s support of his physical, social and emotional development.

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