Caregiver
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
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!