For families with a child who has a disability, medical equipment costs can be astronomical. Additionally, with children growing out of old equipment at a sometimes rapid rate, parents can end up having to continue purchasing new pieces.

Program Coordinator Connor McGough provided a tour of Arise in Syracuse to show how its Adaptive Design workshop uses household tools and items to help families who are struggling to keep up with the equipment demands.

“A lot of times, people are coming to us because the medical equipment that is needed by children with disabilities has a very high price tag, which is why they aren’t able to get the equipment they need,” McGough said.

Arise was preparing to unveil a special piece for a 10-year-old girl named Ti ‘Ari, who comes from Auburn. She has been through a lot in her 7 years of life.

“She was hospitalized for having seizures,” her mom, Tiara Tillmon, said. “They basically put her into two medically induced comas. After the second one, they were able to get the seizures to stop.”

Tillman and grandma, Tia Gilliam, said that was only the beginning.

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 8 months, she has struggled, but she’s also broke barriers. Already defying doctors' expectations in speech and mobility, she’s now working toward an important goal.

“We know one day she is going to walk. She is going to walk,” Gilliam said.

Part of getting there is strengthening the leg muscles, and part of that process involves using a stander. Ti ‘Ari’s is custom made, painted with her name and designed to reflect her love of music and dancing.

“From all the websites that have all the equipment for disabled children, that thing cost $4,000,” Gilliam said.

That’s where the adaptive design team at Arise came in.

“I said you’re not gonna believe this,” Gilliam recalled telling her daughter. “I found this place in Syracuse that actually designs and creates all kinds of things for kids with disabilities, and guess what? One of them is a stander.”

In addition to adaptive design, Arise also provides a sense of community for families who participate, and Tia and Tiara are already paying it forward by donating a wheelchair to another child who needed one.

“We had an extra one at home and he needed one,” Tillmon said. “So we basically connected with them through Facebook and we delivered it to him and they sent us results. We hope that people find out about adaptive design so that they have the opportunity like Ti ‘Ari does.”

If you’re in need of equipment or would like to volunteer, contact Arise directly.