A PATH TO POSSIBILITY: Joining families in exploring a child's potential

It’s little things in young lives that often create the biggest moments. For Julie Neal, finding the right equipment to empower her daughter Tenley to join in a family dance party was a big moment.

“If she's in her stander, we can move the stander around and dance with her,” Neal said. “There’s little things like that, that most people probably don’t even think about.”

There were countless questions and few answers for Julie and family when their journey started. At just nine and a half months old, Tenley was diagnosed with lissencephaly, a condition where a person’s brain doesn’t have the same folds and ridges that one normally sees. As a result of her condition, Tenley has global developmental delays, as well as seizures and epilepsy.

When Tenley was connected with Lansdowne Children’s Centre in Brantford, the family started to find their way. “I don't know how to describe it; it’s a relief,” Neal said.

Every year, Lansdowne supports thousands of babies, kids and teens who have physical, communication and/or developmental needs; it offers resources, services and supports to clients and their families.

“Lansdowne holds a very special place in my heart,” Neal said. “We would have been completely lost without them.”

Sometimes, exploring a child’s potential reveals that they could go even further with the support of specialized equipment, like walkers, adaptive seating, or communication devices. Yet for many families, access to these items can be delayed due to long wait times, funding gaps, or the challenge of finding the right fit.

At Lansdowne, the Equipment Loan Program helps bridge the gap by offering temporary access to customized devices that support children in moving safely, expressing themselves, and participating more fully in daily life. It’s a lifeline for families awaiting permanent solutions.

“Our goal is to make sure no family goes without the equipment they need to keep their child safe and active,” explained Tamie Aubin, Director of Client Services. “But we’re struggling to meet demand without more funding support for equipment and other needs.”

Neal praised the equipment loan program. “Any time we needed anything, they would help us with equipment,” she said. “They helped us a ton.”

Lansdowne also serves as a conduit for families to pass along equipment to others who need it. Neal said her family has donated a number of Tenley’s pieces, paying it forward to help future families in need.

“It feels good to be able to help other families, when they maybe can’t afford a piece of equipment or are waiting,” she said.

Even if a family borrows a piece of equipment from another source or is finally able to purchase an item on their own, Lansdowne staff support the transition, making fine-tuning adjustments to equipment to ensure it will work optimally for each unique client.

As life-changing as the equipment loan program is, Aubin noted that there are challenges.

“Loan periods are typically two to six weeks, but recently longer ... we are really struggling with trying to get funding for families,” she said.

Community support isn’t just helpful – it’s life-changing. Fundraising events like Tim Hortons Smile Cookies, Heroes Walk and Roll, and the Magic of Giving Holiday Market are more than just dates on a calendar; they’re moments where compassion turns into action, reminding all Lansdowne families that they are not alone in their journey.

The Magic of Giving Holiday Market, lovingly founded by Neal in 2024, returns this year to the Best Western in Brantford on November 15, bringing warmth, joy, and hope to families who need it most. Funds raised contribute support for programs and services at Lansdowne Children's Centre that go beyond clinical therapy and empower children and youth to explore their potential.

When you attend a fundraising event, make a donation, or simply share the message, you’re helping children like Tenley to break down barriers and discover limitless possibilities for their future. From first steps and first words, to exploring passions for the arts or sports, you are a part of every child's journey to become the best version of themselves.

Give today and explore the possible at www.lansdownecentre.ca