In December 2015, Christopher Rogers-Pilla...

InDecember2015,ChristopherRogers-PillasuccessfullygraduatedfromtheLaSaQuikprogram.Chris’graduationwasnotjustanachievementforhimbutformultiplepeopleandorganizationsthatcametogethertoprovideChriswiththisopportunity.Chris’journeywasauniqueexperiencebecausehewasthefirstvisuallyimpairedyouthtoattendandgraduatefromtheLaSaQuikprogram.

Chrisandhistwinbrotherbothbecameblindduetocomplicationsshortlyafterbirth.ThroughouthislifeChrismadeacommitmenttoneverlethisvisualimpairmentholdhimback.Hisfamilydescribedhimasan“AmbassadortotheSeeingWorld”asheoftengave

talksaboutthechallengesandtriumphsthatsomanypeoplewereunawareof.Chrisstatedthathereallywantedtohelpotherhaveagreaterawarenessandunderstandingofindividualswithvisualdisabilities.Likemanyteenshowever,Chrisexperiencedbumpsintheroadwithhisadolescentdevelopmentandmadeunhealthychoicesthatledtohisneedforspecializedresidentialplacementandtreatment.

WhenChriswasfirstadmitted,hisfutureandtheabilitytoprovidehimtheappropriatetreatmentwasuncertain.WiththehelpfromMontgomeryCountyJPO,TheSierragroupcasemanagement,theConnectionsAcademyCyberSchool,theBLaSTIU#17on-siteclassroom,thestaffandpeersatLaSaQuik,thelovingsupportofhisfamilyandChris’ownunwaveringdetermination;hewasabletofullyparticipateinalltheservicesofferedintheprogram.

DuringhisplacementaLaSaQuik,Chriswasabletobenefitfromstateofthearttools.HehadtheassistanceofaspecializedpublishingcompanythattranscribedallofChris’treatmenttextsintoBraille.MosthelpfulwasChris’“BrailleNote”.Similartoalaptopcomputer,themachinewasabletoconvertanythingChriswroteinBrailletotheMicrosoftWordformatandviceversa.

WithtimeandsupportChriswasabletonavigatetheentirefacilityindependentlywiththeuseofhiscaneandalsoparticipatedintheAdventureBasedRopesCourseoverthesummer.Duringthefall,withthehelpofatandembike,ChriswasabletoparticipateintheannualLSQBikeTrip.ChrisdevelopedanumberofmeaningfulbondswiththepeersandstaffandwiththehelpofhisCaseWorkerJamesLovcikhecompletedalloftheclinicalrequirementsnecessarytofinishtheprogram.

ChrisissucharemarkableyoungmanandsharedsomanytalentswhileatLaSaQuik.Heservedasanupperlevelinassistingotheryouthnewtotheprogram,sharpenedhisguitarandpianoplayingskillsandsupportedahealthytreatmentcommunitybyparcipatingintheSanctuaryModelprograming.MostevidentwasthepositiveexamplethatChrissetforcurrentandfutureyouthintheprogram.Hedemonstratedthathealingandrecoveryispossiblenomatterwhatchallengesapersonmayfaceinlife.

WewouldliketocongratulateChris,hisfamilyandalltheindividualsthathelpedChriswithhistreatment.WewishChrisandhisfamilytheverybestastheyembarkonthenextstageofhisamazingjourney.