A New Hope: A Family’s Journey for Their Son’s Future

The Vandiver family, consisting of Richard, Anya and their 13-year-old son Jacob, first discovered the Y in 2012 after a friend recommended it for swim lessons. The year before, they had relocated to New Hampshire from Ukraine, where Anya is originally from. Richard, an American, and Anya met through charity work and eventually had Jacob, who was born with Down syndrome and other physical and developmental disabilities. Realizing the challenges of raising Jacob in Ukraine due to the lack of services and the negative stigma surrounding disabilities, they made the difficult decision to move to the United States, despite having no family here and only a few friends. Anya was amazed by the services and benefits available to individuals with disabilities in New Hampshire and quickly noticed the more accommodating and accepting attitude toward her son.

In their first year in America, Anya stayed home with Jacob and was impressed by all the Y had to offer. She saw it as more than just a place for swim lessons—it was a comprehensive support system. Anya enrolled Jacob in Kids Stop, a program she felt would provide him with valuable exposure to other children, especially since he has no siblings.

After a period of full-time work for Anya and school for Richard, the family found themselves unable to continue their Y membership due to time and financial constraints. However, they returned as members about four years ago, seeking new ways to engage Jacob as he grew older. Jacob began participating in physical activities like basketball and running, with the encouragement of his Occupational Therapist. Anya explained that they wanted to involve Jacob in as many activities as possible, recognizing the benefits for his development.  “Whatever we could get him involved in will be beneficial for him.”  Since coming back Jacob has utilized the Y for physical activities and continued in Kids Stop.  Anya expressed that the Y is not just for her son, it’s for the whole family “It’s something for our health too so that we can take care of ourselves and then be able to care for Jacob.”  Anya shared that they returned to the Y because of their previous positive experiences stating “It was one of the best financial and wellness decisions.”

Since returning to the Y, Jacob has continued to participate in physical activities and the Kids Stop program, which remains his favorite activity. Although 13 is the cutoff age for Kids Stop, his parents worked with the program’s leadership to allow him to continue attending, recognizing the importance of this environment for his social-emotional wellness and relationship building. Jacob has formed positive relationships with both staff and other children, and the Y has become a crucial part of the Vandiver family’s daily life. Anya emphasized the impact the Y has had on their family, stating, and “It’s been a great blessing for us. I don’t think you realize the impact the Y has on people, especially families.”

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