Become a Friend of HANDLE

Client Testimonials

ADD / ADHD

"My 10 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD. His performance in school was getting worse each year. He could not keep up with the class. By far the most alarming problem was he could not seem to get in gear. I would watch as the class was given an assignment or taught a lesson. All the kids would get out their materials and follow along. My son would fumble around, confused and scattered. I reached out to HANDLE like a lifeline. We did not want to regulate him with drugs. We wanted to fix the problems. Well, that was last year. We started the HANDLE activites before the school year began. I just received his report card. He had straight As and Bs and made the honor roll."
~ H. Salazar, parent

"What a difference a year makes! Kevin is far more relaxed at school and has not once gotten to the pint of frustrating himself to tears ad a meltdown. He is just so much better equipped to make it through the day intact. Since he started his HANDLE program he is more comfortable in his own body, less fidgetty and anxious, more balanced and focused. He no longer sets himself apart from the group and has become very involved in class projects and activities. His social success in groups is a big step."
~Steve, classroom teacher

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Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorders

"My 8-year-old granddaughter was diagnosed at three as severely autistic and developmentally delayed was mainstreamed in a regular classroom since kindergarten. After the Christmas vacation his teacher and teacher’s aide asked me, 'what happened over vacation.' He is much more involved in the classroom, more attentive, more social and has better communication. I tried to think of what had happened — the only thing different was his HANDLE activities."
~ C. Hunsinger

“Our child had been diagnosed Autistic/PDD/Hyperlexic. His expressive and receptive language skills were at half his chronological age. We received at HANDLE the most careful, specific, and individualized services we have yet experienced in 8 years of contact with professional providers. We saw results within two weeks’ time.”
~ T. Greer, parent

"My son was diagnosed with autism at 3 and we started a HANDLE program a year later at the recommendation of an Occupational Therapist. We could not believe now easy the activities were and we as parents could do them at home. The activities calmed him down. Over the past year we have noticed that he has better eye contact. He no longer squints all the time. He does not bump into people and things. At last he can see things and people in front of him. He responds faster to directions. He has begun speaking words and phrases. He dresses himself and drinks from a regular cup. He waits his turn. Because of HANDLE we now have hope that by the time Dylan is ready for school he will not need special services."
~ J. Keane, parent

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Learning Disabilities

"My son’s teacher and physicians were stumped by his inability to progress in school. He started to identify himself as stupid. After doing his HANDLE activities for seven weeks, not only has he begun to read, he was also tying his shoes. Now he is finishing second grade. His tests show that he is reading at the level of a student completing third grade."
~ K . Werth, parent

"We brought 16 year old daughter to HANDLE because we were worried with her lack of organizational skills.. her reading and some motor skills problems. When reading aloud, she lost her place and seemed not to pay attention to the text. Everything she did was in slow motion: she spoke slowly, she moved slowly. All of that is changing and in only two months. Her reading problem is gone. She moves and talks faster. Her grades have all come up (she is getting As and Bs). On her own initiative she is doing her own laundry, cleaning the cubboards and refridgerator- this a girl who had never organized anything before."
~S. Hatch, parent

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Brain Injury

Cerebral Palsy

"I am a 25 year old woman with Cerebral Palsy. In order to truly understand how miraculous HANDLE has been in my life, I must share with you my past then you will begin to understand my present. The initial reason I cam to HANDLE was because I was having trouble learning to drive using hand controls. I found myself in a traumatic situation when I attempted to do separate tasks. For example, when I wanted to turn the car I’d break into a cold sweat because it was so stressful trying to get my muscles to turn the wheel and press the accelerator at the same time,. To move one part of my body meant that all the other muscles were also working. Even when I talk I could feel the muscle tension in my legs skyrocket. Now I have the traditional driving challenges but I am not struggling with my muscle and brain connections. I have seen unimaginable changes in my body. My knees used to be extremely tight and stiff and now I can straighten them out completely. I couldn’t raise my arms above my head and now I can do it effortlessly. Just the other day I ordered a walker. I haven’t used one in 10 years. It is as if my joints have been oiled and now have the freedom to move as they were intended. My muscles have started to learn to work individually. The changes in my eyes are amazing, My eyes did not work together and I could physically feel the switching of my eyes. I no longer struggle to refocus my eyes every time I change my view. I have depth perception. I can’t believe how much easier life is."
~ E. Davis

“Before I was evaluated by HANDLE, I felt as though I were a square peg being put through a round hole.... As hard as I tried, I could not fit or achieve.... Typically, my difficulties were viewed as psychological in nature. It was as though I spoke a different language; and indeed that was the case. HANDLE was the ‘interpreter,’ and provided me with the key and the pathway toward becoming functional again. I am so eternally grateful to be out of the abyss, and for HANDLE’s expertise.”
~ M. Hern, a Traumatic Brain Injury survivor

Head Injury

“My visual distress is much improved. I can go into stores and classrooms with florescent lights without seizure effects. My noise sensitivity and sensory overload are also improving. My emotional equilibrium is better as I get enough rest now and my overall stamina has improved. My balance has improved and the HANDLE vestibular activities feel more comfortable and easier. I am convinced that the worst is over for me. It feels good to be stronger and productive again.”
~ Kate

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Tourette Syndrome

"Last summer it seemed at times that not a minute would go by without our son having a facial tic or a head tic. Three weeks into the HANDLE program he was having only 1-2 tics per week. Now after 4 months on the program we rarely, if ever see one."
~ J. Janofsky, parent

"I spent years on various medications that didn’t work and left me with overwhelmingly uncomfortable side effects. I was convinced by the medical community that there was no cure for Tourettes. Every time I do something now I feel like I am doing it for the first time. Simple things like going to the store, driving the car, talking to a friend – are all new to me since I don’t tic anymore. What a pleasure it is to carry on a conversation and not have to concentrate on my tics. I especially love the nighttime after I do my HANDLE activities and I can sleep solid until morning. Gone are the days of tossing and turning and never feeling like I got a good night’s sleep. I sleep like a rock! The amazing thing is that my HANDLE program has also improved my memory, concentration, temper and many other aspects of my life."
~S. Solimini , 36 year old client

"My son has made tremendous progress over the last few weeks. Some days he has only a couple of small tics. Some days he has more, but they are tiny-tiny-tiny compared to what he was having in the summer. Certain things that used to trigger tics consistently (like the telephone) no longer do so. He is making A’s in school without outside help. Except for his vitamins, a few diet restrictions and his Handle routine – for which we are eternally grateful – my son is living the life of a normal 12 year old boy. He is living proof that a holistic approach works for Tourettes. He is taking no prescription medication for Tourettes whatsoever and he is thriving – physically and emotionally."
~ Beth A, parent

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Mood Disorders

Oppositional Defiance Disorder

"My husband and I used to joke that if I said “white” my son would say “black”. He was so oppositional that if I offered him his favorite treat, he’d reject it and ask for a different one. Tantrums were the norm Social situations were extremely stressful. Taking away favorite toys or privileges for bad behavior had no effect. It has been exactly one year since out first visit with HANDLE and life has improved markedly for our son and our family. He gets along with most kids now. His behavior is well within the acceptable realm."
~ Isabella M

Anxiety/Panic Attacks

"I knew I had some sensory problems, but as an adult I thought I had learned to manage them. My biggest problem(s) related to my extreme anxiety. I had to stick to rigid routines and schedules to keep panic attacks at bay. All day I was on guard for that little unexpected thing that could tip me over the edge. It was exhausting. Since completing my HANDLE I wake up in the morning well rested. I can drive to unfamiliar places, my plans change, I respond instead of react, I enjoy my job and a richer social life."
~ J. Johnson

Depression

"I'm 53 and gone through life, working my tail off, to get by in my personal life,. But I never got a handle on it. My finances are terrible, unable to cope with anything. I feel as most of my life has been wasted. I've had failure after failure in my life. It has been very depressing. I have been my HANDLE program for two weeks. And a light switch has been turned on, in my brain. I don't know how to explain it, other than I am developing the ability to focus. My brain has been lifted out of the fog .Its amazing. Thank you all so much."
~ Greg B

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