It’s a day every mother yearns for and Mozelle Jackson was no different. She just had to wait a little bit longer for that day to arrive with her son, Jared. But she had high hopes that it would come thanks to Achievement Centers for Children.
Jared is a twin, born with his sister, Kaela. But while Kaela grew up with little difficulty, Jared was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was about a year old. As the twins grew older, Jackson and her husband, Mike, wanted to send their kids to camp. But with each child having different needs, that proved difficult.
Difficult until they found Camp Cheerful. Operated by Achievement Centers, it’s a camp where children with disabilities can gain new experiences while “typical” youngsters help the counselors and work and learn right alongside them.
It was the Jacksons’ first encounter with Achievement Centers for Children and Executive Director Patricia W. Nobili. They learned that the nonprofit organization had a commitment to helping children with all types of challenges have positive experiences and realize potential that their parents thought never existed.
They also learned that Achievement Centers never gives up. Whether it’s a client having difficulty handling expenses or dealing with a case that requires intense planning, Achievement Centers doesn’t stop working. If it’s a service she can’t provide, Nobili is quite willing to refer clients to other providers who can.
So about that day. Jackson feared her son might never speak more than a couple of words. But then that day came when her son, home from a therapy session, walked into the family’s great room, sat on her lap, and said, “Mommy, I love you.”
“That was one of the most wonderful days of our lives,” said Jared’s mother.
How to reach: Achievement Centers for Children, (216) 292-9700 or www.achievementcenters.org
