Caring for Connor | A Family's Struggle for a Stair Glide

When Connor Shepherd was born eight years ago, there were no signs of the developmental challenges that he faces today. With multiple conditions and severe physical disabilities, Connor does not communicate verbally, has a weakened immune system, feeds through a tube, and cannot sit or stand on his own.

Connor lives in Drexel Hill with his mother, grandparents, and uncle in a small two-story house—the same one in which his mother and uncle grew up. He and his mother moved in when Connor was eleven months old, after his first grand mal seizure put him in intensive care.

As a single mother, Melissa is her son’s primary caregiver. She brings Connor downstairs once in the morning and takes him back up at night to go to bed. Melissa’s family provides her with a lot of support, especially her mother, Ann.

As Connor began to get older, carrying him up and down the stairs became more and more difficult. His mother and grandmother began to worry they would trip or drop him.

Three years ago, Melissa and Ann started to look into getting a stair glide. They sought help from government agencies, insurance companies, and hospitals. They made phone calls and left a lot of messages. No one could help.

Then, they found United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia & Vicinity (UCP).

Community Social Services Director Joe Scullin was not surprised to learn about the family’s long struggle. It is something he says he sees too often.

“UCP’s role was to coordinate the pieces of a complicated puzzle, bringing everyone together, so that Connor’s family could care for him at home safely,” Joe explained.

­He arranged to have the house evaluated and fitted with a stair glide by Koeck Associates. As a Funding Assistance Center for the PA Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), UCP helped Melissa and Ann secure a low interest loan for the stair glide. Through its Family Support Fund, which provides families with financial support for assistive technology, overwhelming medical expenses, or unexpected emergencies, UCP was also able to offset some of the cost.

With their new stair glide, Melissa and Ann no longer have concerns about Connor getting bigger as he gets older. Today, weighing close to 50 lbs., they are able to place him in the custom-fit seat, secure him with safety belts, and watch him take a smooth ride.

“We had been trying for three years to get this thing and within days of our call to UCP, we met Joe, someone measured for the stair glide, and we received help with financing. It’s still unbelievable to me,” said Ann.