Small steps are big miracles for participants in program

Children who would otherwise be limited by a wheelchair learn independence.
By SARAH WEBER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- For the average 4-year-old, taking a few small steps on wobbly legs is nothing special. For Connor Koopman, it's a miracle.
Connor has cerebral palsy, a neuromuscular disorder that limits his mobility. With his condition, Connor could be limited by a wheelchair and remain entirely dependent on his parents for the rest of his life. But Tammy Koopman, Connor's mom, wants him to reach his true potential.
Through conductive education at Miracles Unlimited, a nonprofit program in Boardman, Connor may be able to gain a certain amount of independence. He's been a part of the program for a year, where he is learning to brush his teeth, get out of bed, feed himself and walk.
Progress is slow, but even little advances make a huge difference in Connor's life. Something as simple as grasping a toy with his right hand is a big step.
"See how he's holding on [to the toy] with his right hand," Koopman, a North Lima resident, said. "I never thought I'd see him do that."
Eszter Takacs, a teacher -- also called a conductor -- at Miracles Unlimited, is a Hungarian native trained at The Peto Institute, the place conductive education was started. In her four years of training at the institute, she worked with children every day. She came to the United States specifically to work at Miracles Unlimited and now lives in Canfield. The focus of conductive education, she said, is to work from one exercise to the next, helping the children use all of their muscles.
"This is not therapy," Takacs said. "We are teaching the kids to be independent."
The program's beginning
Miracles Unlimited was founded by Tracey Tatar after she attended a conductive education program in Cleveland with her daughter Brittany, now 7 years old, who has cerebral palsy. Tatar said she knew she had to bring the program home to Youngstown. In 2004, the program opened with a pilot summer camp and now operates throughout the school year, with two summer camps. School-age children attend Miracles Unlimited for three hours in the afternoon while younger children go for three hours in the morning.
While the program is doing well, Tatar said she would still like to see it grow.
"I want a bigger building and a swimming pool the kids can get in," Tatar said. "We have big dreams."
Tatar said that two of the biggest obstacles are transporting the children to and from the program and funding.
"The parents have to work, and they can't always get the kids here," Tatar said.
The Community Foundation, the Heinz Foundation and other community organizations are helping financially, but Tatar said the program could always use more. She will be applying for some grants to help cover the costs that she does not want to burden parents with, she said.
"The goal is, every kid should be able to come do this," Tatar said.
Creating a local option
With the start of the new school year, Tatar said she anticipates more children with motor disorders will be enrolling in the program. Currently, Miracles Unlimited is serving parents and children in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties and western Pennsylvania's Shenango Valley. The nearest programs that also teach conductive education are in Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Koopman said she tried to get Connor enrolled in Cleveland but they would not take him because he is blind.
"I came here, and they said that we'd try it for a week," Koopman said. "I didn't think they would accept him."
Takacs said that Miracles Unlimited will teach any child who might benefit, whether they have cerebral palsy or any other neuromuscular disorder.
"If not this [program], they are strapped in a wheelchair, and they never learn how to do anything," Tatar said.
For more information about Miracles Unlimited, call Tatar at (330) 542-2854 or e-mail her at miraclesunlimited@fastmail.fm.