Sophia Monte, age 11
Photograph by Amy Keely (2021)
When you meet Sophia, you will meet a happy, outgoing girl—and an athlete. Sophia is a great basketball and soccer player and has been on a swim team for six summers.
Sophia is doing well in school too, especially in English, reading, and social studies. She has developmental delays, ADHD, and ‘apraxia of speech’–a motor speech delay that makes it hard to speak. Sophia tries very hard and has made great progress with her speech therapy which makes her mom, Rachel, very proud. She says, “I can understand every word she says now, which is huge!”
Sophia has a big smile and a big heart. Rachel says, “She gives big hugs too. She’s a LOVE. She is amazing!”
Family Connection of South Carolina provides services and resources to families who have a child with a disability or specialized healthcare need. Since 1990 we have served more than 100,000 families and today our services are needed more than ever. We focus on parent-to-parent support, guidance with navigating the complex healthcare system, and assistance with school meetings and special education plans.
Alexia Hall, age 10
Photograph by xxxxxxx (2021)
Alexia’s journey started in the womb. Expected not to survive, Alexia had other plans. She showed the world she was a fighter even before the moment of her birth. Born with a very rare and unique chromosome abnormality, she has been through brain surgeries, infections, heart surgery, countless medical treatments, and therapies.
Alexia Hall loves listening to music and reading non-fiction books! She is super spunky and totally her own person. She encourages others despite having to deal with countless medical challenges.
Alexia’s journey started in the womb, expected not to survive, but Alexia had other plans! Diagnosed with mosaic trisomy 22, Dandy-Walker malformation, ventricular septal defect, autism spectrum disorder, and hydrocephalus, she has survived heart surgery, multiple brain surgeries, countless medical treatments and therapies.
One day, Alexia says she may be an artist or maybe a historian. Alexia says, “my mom is my role model because she is good at listening to my feelings, always makes time for me, and makes good mac and cheese!”
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Family Connection of South Carolina provides services and resources to families who have a child with a disability or specialized healthcare need. Since 1990 we have served more than 100,000 families and today our services are needed more than ever. We focus on parent-to-parent support, guidance with navigating the complex healthcare system, and assistance with school meetings and special education plans.