Tony's Story

"Tony is Tony," says Linda Rinaldi, who smiles broadly as her affectionate five-year-old literally showers her with hugs. Tony Rinaldi has been a student at the Helping Hands School since he was six-months-old. Located in New York State's southern Saratoga County, Helping Hands provides education and special services to developmentally disabled preschoolers. Tony was born with down syndrome, a chromosomal birth defect. "I was devastated at first," says Linda. "But after the shock wore off, we did what we needed to do, and just moved on." Almost immediately, Linda received support from many different sources. One of the most memorable gestures -- a poem called "Heaven's Special Child" -- came from a nurse in a Saratoga hospital where Tony was born.

As an infant, Tony's primary challenges were medical. He was born with two holes in his heart that required surgery when he was only eleven-months-old. Once Tony's medical problems were solved, he faced other developmental challenges; he needed to learn to talk, walk, and strengthen his muscles, especially those in his mouth. From the time he was six months until he was two years old, a team of teachers from the Helping Hands School came to Tony's Stillwater, N.Y. home three times a week to give him occupational, physical, and speech therapy, and special education.

When he turned two, Tony started attending class year-round at the Helping Hands campus, located on 60 idyllic acres on the site of an old dairy farm in Halfmoon, N.Y. The 62-member staff at Helping Hands includes school psychologists, social workers, physical, speech, and occupational therapists, and special education teachers who customized a special instructional program for Tony.

Today, he can count to ten, knows his colors, and can sign as much as he can speak. He's "classroom savvy" too, according to Helping Hands social Worker, Dianne Burke, which means he's familiar with school routines and ready for a longer day in kindergarten this September. "Tony has learned a lot at Helping Hands," says his mom. "His first summer he walked, and his second summer he worked on his speech. If he didn't go to Helping Hands he wouldn't be where he is today--ready to go on to a new school. He has a true chance to be mainstreamed now," says Linda.

Even more precious then the direct care and instruction Tony received at Helping Hands, was the education and support given to his parents, Thomas and Linda. "We had all the support we needed," says Linda. And that's what sets Helping Hands apart from other schools--it's family-based. "Parents are the true experts on their children," says Diane, Tony's social worker. "Our job is to give parents the tools and empower them to use their owns skills and expertise. We help parents learn to advocate for their children, which is a lifelong task," says Diane.

Linda Rinaldi has grown to not only advocate for her son Tony, but to help other parents, relatives, and siblings deal with the special challenges of raising a downs child. "I know what to say to them. I tell them things will get better. It's a lot of work but it's a joy and a God send, too. Tony is so lovable that when people meet him, they realize there is hope," says Linda.

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