The journey of every individual with a learning disability is unique. The Promise Project has supported Sophia Paone’s family on their own journey.
Sharing the journey navigating life with a learning disability is something Sophia Paone knows very well. As the primary caregiver of two children who work with the Promise Project at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center to learn and develop life skills, Sophia shares the journey every day.
The Promise Project is a nonprofit organization that helps underserved children with learning disabilities get the necessary support they deserve. In partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian, Promise at Columbia provides children with state-of-the-art neuropsychological assessments, clinical recommendations, and necessary follow-up to support their success and that of their families. Sophia explains, “Promise is free of charge, making it accessible to families that could not afford the full cost of a neuropsych evaluation. That’s really huge for families like mine.”
Before being part of Promise, she and her family struggled to find adequate support that enriched their lives. The Paone family often encountered local services that couldn’t work with them at the level they needed and often operated on limited timelines, adding further strain to an already stressful situation. “Affording the full neuropsychological evaluation is expensive, and the wait is enormous. The therapists who work along with Promise are instrumental,” she shares.
As one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems, NYP can support not only a child’s difficulties with learning but also the related emotional, psychological, and behavioral impacts that affect the lives of our patients, their families, and their schools. “When you can fall back on an evaluation from Promise and say, ‘Look, they needed it; it’s recommended by child psychologists,’ it’s hard for schools to argue with that,” said Sophia.
Our multidisciplinary team was also able to partner with Sophia to get school-based accommodations and provide her with recommendations for working with her children at home. “They had someone who could attend meetings to help me and make sure the school was offering me what they were supposed to,” Sophia says, laughing. “What Promise provides, you really can’t argue with that. So that motivated me: Not everyone fits in one box in terms of learning—kids learn in different ways, and it’s important to meet them where they are and where they fit. Promise helped me teach my kids how to advocate for themselves.”
In partnership with Promise, NYP is committed to developing, within families, a mindful understanding of life with learning disabilities that encourages support, growth, and well-being for all. “From the first phone call I had to schedule an appointment, I felt like I was instantly supported: It was calm, caring, understanding—they really hold your hand through the process,” shares Sophia. “Once you understand what [the child has] you understand the why, and then you say, ‘We can go from here’—it’s empowering them to work with their diagnosis. Promise helped me and my family so much; they’re doing such an amazing job that provides support to families ... it’s transformational.”