Caregiving
Center Update!
After 30 incredible years, our Founder and Executive Director, Patti Herbst, will be retiring on November 1, 2025. Please join us in celebrating Patti and learn more about our incoming Executive Director!
A Message from Patti Herbst
Center for Independence Founder & Executive Director
Dear Friends of the Center,
On November 1st, I will retire as the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Independence. Serving the Center over the past 30 years has been the honor of a lifetime. I’m deeply grateful to the families who have trusted us with their children—we’ve witnessed countless milestones: first steps, first words, first time sitting independently, driving a power wheelchair, graduating, and landing a first job. These moments are the heartbeat of the Center.
Many of you know that my husband, Chuck, and I founded the Center because of our son, Justin. Born 10 weeks early and diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, Justin changed our lives forever. In those uncertain early days, we were scared of the unknown. We had no roadmap and no role models. But we had hope, and we believed in him.
We built the Center to create that roadmap—for Justin and every child like him. We believed in a future where children with disabilities could be strong, independent, and full of possibilities. We believed in building a place for the community, by the community. Thirty years later, I’m proud to say that’s exactly what we’ve done. The Center is thriving, with a skilled staff, strong leadership, and a vibrant community committed to the “I Can!” spirit that defines our work.
Today, Justin lives independently with the help of personal assistants, has a close circle of friends, works in the community, and enjoys his life. As parents, that’s all we ever hoped for.
To our amazing staff—thank you for the skill, heart, and dedication you bring every day. You have made a difference not just in Justin’s life, but in the lives of so many.
To Chuck—thank you for being the quiet strength behind every success.
To our Board—thank you for your vision, support, and partnership through every season.
To our Donors—thank you for opening doors. Your generosity has changed lives.
I am thrilled to share that Josephine Boggs will become our next Executive Director. For more than 20 years, Josephine has served as an Occupational Therapist and our Clinical Director. She brings deep experience, compassion, and leadership to the role. I have complete confidence in her and know the Center will continue to thrive under her guidance.
While I’m stepping away from day-to-day leadership, I’ll remain closely connected. I’ll continue part-time as Chief Financial Officer for the next two years and will lead our free parent workshops on financial planning, advocacy, and wellness.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your belief in what’s possible has made all the difference.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Patti Herbst
Founder and Executive Director
A Message from the Board of Directors
Honoring Patti Herbst’s Retirement
When the Center for Independence opened nearly 30 years ago, its mission was simple and bold: to empower children with physical disabilities to gain lifelong skills and independence. Today, that mission remains strong—and the organization is thriving.
Over the years, the Center has expanded its reach, adapted to the needs of our community, and launched new programs such as Working Together Chicago, supporting young adults with disabilities as they enter the workforce.
As a parent of a child who has grown up at the Center, I’ve seen the power of this mission firsthand. My son Evan began attending as an infant and has blossomed into a confident, hard-working young adult preparing for college. I know this was made possible because of the Center’s support.
In addition to being a parent, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the Board for nearly 15 years. Through every chapter—growth, challenge, and triumph—the Center has been guided by the extraordinary leadership of Patti Herbst. Her vision, passion, and fierce commitment have built an organization that is financially strong, programmatically innovative, and deeply trusted.
Last year, Patti shared her plans to retire. In preparation, the Board launched a comprehensive succession planning process. We formed an Executive Director Search Committee and partnered with a national human resources firm specializing in nonprofit leadership. After months of thoughtful planning and with full confidence, the committee selected an exceptional internal candidate, Josephine Boggs, our longtime Clinical Director. Josephine has more than two decades of experience at the Center and is deeply respected for her clinical insight, compassion, and leadership. She will officially step into the Executive Director role on November 1st.
On behalf of the Board, I thank Patti for her lifetime of service, her tireless advocacy, and the legacy she leaves. We are grateful she will remain connected to the organization in a new role, continuing to mentor, support, and guide the Center she built.
With deep appreciation,
Clay Kalweit
President, Board of Directors
CFI Family Featured in Magazine
Jared and Kathleen, along with their daughters Margot and Grace are featured in this July’s Greet Western Springs magazine.
Kathleen recently published a children’s book, “Stinky Mama,” promoting disability awareness and inclusion. Their favorite part of living in Western Springs is the friendly, supportive community, especially for Margot, who has cerebral palsy.
Read all about the Marcell Family’s journey in the July issue of Greet Western Springs Magazine!
Etienne’s story
Etienne was evaluated at the Center for Independence through Conductive Education in 2021 and joined us for the 4 weeks individualized motor learning summer intensive program. He enjoyed time with his peers, and after summer, life happened. He had major hip surgery and moved houses, which meant he had to stop coming to the Center.
In 2023, Etienne ‘s mom decided to try the Center’s summer intensive again and Etienne was placed in a group with his similarly abled peers for 3 days a week, 6 hours a day.
He drove in his power chair on the first day of summer camp using a special joystick to drive, with a big, shy smile!
The students in his group were a bit older than him, but they all relate to the feeling of coming in and seeing the therapy rooms after a long time!
Like everyone else, Etienne started using elbow supports, in addition to his Benik hand brace, and after the initial tears, it started to feel better! He began reaching with his arms forward. Etienne wanted to sit with his peers at the plinth table for games, art and fun!
He got so very brave sitting on a stool with a walker behind him for safety around his trunk. Once the game started, he was part of the group with his voice and his smile. The fear of sitting with less support and more independence was gone!
By the end of the Center’s summer intensive program:
- Etienne was sitting on a Rifton toilet seat every day he came. He even asked to be left alone to get some privacy!
- He sat at the plinth with his peers for 45 minutes without any complaint about wearing his elbow supports
- He ambulated inside/outside with the Rifton Gait trainer for 150 feet daily with assistance and a smile! He has not been in a walker for over 2 years due to his previous hip surgery!
- His mom now uses the same Rifton toilet seat at home for showers.
- Etienne is now using his home bike, after practicing at the Center with his peers outside in the parking lot.
The Center is looking forward to discovering more of Etienne’s skills when he continues attending the program on a regular basis!
Story by Gabi Molnar, Conductive Education Teacher
Alleviating Stressors for Caregivers
Being a parent or caregiver to an individual with motor impairments can be a challenging journey, requiring immense dedication, love, and support. This parenting and caregiving journey can become overwhelming, often accompanied by emotional and physical strain. The Center strives to alleviate these hardships by both empowering and supporting both individuals with disabilities AND their caregivers.
The demands of caregiving, medical appointments, therapy sessions, and the uncertainties of a child’s future can significantly impact parents’ physical, emotional, and financial well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life. Recognizing and addressing this burden is crucial for creating a supportive environment for both the individual with a disability and their family.
The Intensive Motor Therapy approach used at the Center, is a comprehensive and transdisciplinary treatment approach that focuses on enhancing motor skills and maximizing functional independence. Unlike traditional outpatient therapy, which typically involves shorter and less frequent sessions, our intensive therapy programming offers high frequency and high intensity therapy optimizing the participant’s motor development. Our research based intensive therapy programming is grounded in multi-sensory peer driven learning and principles of Neuroplasticity to make neurological and functional changes for individuals with physical disabilities.
Benefits of the Center’s Intensive Motor Therapy for Parents!
- Expert Guidance and Support: Our therapeutic programs are led by skilled physical and occupational therapists and conductive education teachers who provide specialized care and guidance. Parents/Caregivers can benefit from the expertise and knowledge of these professionals, gaining a deeper understanding of their child’s condition and receiving personalized recommendations to support their child’s progress.
- Empowerment and Skill Acquisition: Through our intensive therapy programs, parents/caregivers are actively involved in their child’s therapy and developing their care plan. Parents and participants are involved in setting their goals and developing their therapy plans of care. The skills learned in therapy can then be incorporated into daily routines to maximize independence.
- Emotional Support and Networking: Participating in Center’s intensive therapy programs provides parents and participants with opportunities to connect with others facing similar challenges. Sharing experiences, challenges, and triumphs can offer emotional support, encouragement, and a sense of community, reducing feelings of isolation that may stem from caring for a person or growing up as a person with special needs.
- Holistic Development: Our intensive therapy programs focus on the overall development of the child, not just their motor skills. As parents witness progress in their child’s physical abilities, they often observe improvements in other areas, such as cognition, communication, and social interactions. This holistic development can alleviate parental concerns about their child’s future and enhance their overall well-being.
- Time Management and Convenience: While our programming does require a more intensive commitment during the therapy period, it can be more time-efficient for parents in the long run. By receiving care from our transdisciplinary staff, participants receive physical and occupational therapy in the same session, decreasing the burden of scheduling separate sessions with multiple practitioners. This decreases mental load of scheduling, transportation, and communication with various practitioners! Caregivers and parents can dedicate more time for work, personal activities, or spending quality time with their families.
CONCLUSION
The Center’s intensive motor therapy programs offer a range of benefits for individuals with motor impairments and their parents/caregivers. By actively involving caregivers in the individual’s therapy journey, the Center helps alleviate parental stressors by providing expert guidance, emotional support, skill acquisition, and fostering a sense of empowerment. As the individual progresses in their motor skills, caregivers witness growth in multiple domains, enhancing overall well-being and optimism for the future. The Center strives to support individuals with physical disabilities in addition to their families to maximize independence throughout the lifespan!