Benjamin* grew tired of playtime easily for a boy his age. He always started with excitement, but it faded as he watched siblings and peers move their bodies with an ease that felt out of reach for him. They dribbled balls more easily than him, ran faster than him, and completed puzzles quickly. The differences between them felt glaring. He stopped playing, wondering why everything that looked so easy to everyone around him felt so difficult. He felt behind, but couldn’t say why, and he didn’t know how to fix it.
For children like Benjamin, access to therapies and knowing where to turn can be difficult. Not knowing what is available and economic barriers can hinder vulnerable children from connecting with the safe adults who can offer assistance. He didn’t need more time; he needed help understanding how to move his body in ways his peers did without thinking. His struggles would continue without intervention, making play and desk work difficult, making learning difficult, and enjoyment feel far off. But Benjamin had the right connections, and his story didn’t end with his struggles.
This change allowed DeeDee Orellana to be hired as the site’s first Occupational Therapy Practitioner. Your generosity allows medical professionals to be in the spaces they’re needed most, addressing needs as they arise, not after the fact. DeeDee’s goal is simple: offer access to therapies most families have never had before, allowing holistic healing for the entire child. As DeeDee became acquainted with each child, understanding their needs and areas of struggle, she noticed very quickly what was holding Benjamin back.
“Benjamin struggled a lot with crossing midline,” shared DeeDee. “This is an important skill that helps support coordination, classroom participation, and social play. Because this skill typically develops at younger ages, everyday activities like sports, puzzles, reading, writing, and games that require reaching across his body are especially troublesome.”
His challenges extended beyond the classroom; he became frustrated while playing with his siblings. He was the eldest, but he watched his siblings move in ways he just couldn’t. His confidence declined, and he withdrew.
DeeDee and Benjamin meet regularly now. Purposeful and intentional play are key parts of his sessions. This work allows his body to move in new ways as he practices crossing midline on his own – a milestone he and DeeDee celebrated.
For many children and adults, reaching across their bodies doesn’t require focus; it is a natural movement learned early in childhood. But for Benjamin, and children like him, who struggle in ways their peers don’t, they need someone to step in. DeeDee ensures he doesn’t fall further behind and that his life will no longer be built around what his body cannot do. This work ensures he won’t face daily struggles for the rest of his life.
While therapy wasn’t always accessible to Benjamin, today it is. For him, and children like him in one of Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods, help is not only available, it comes after them. This is the power of your generosity.
A child’s circumstances shouldn’t decide what is available to them. And thanks to dedicated staff who are trained and equipped, children like Benjamin are surrounded by safe adults who can help change trajectories.
When DeeDee met Benjamin, he lacked confidence and a childlike desire to play, because his discomfort overrode everything. Since their regular OT appointments, Benjamin has increased ability to attend classroom instruction and participate in group activities with peers. He participates more in classes thanks to his improvement, has grown more communicative, and is learning to use words to identify and express his feelings. His reading, writing, and participation skills have blossomed, and he has improved gross motor skills through obstacle courses and puzzles.
If occupational therapy had not been available to Benjamin, he would still be struggling, still feeling like he didn’t fit or that something was wrong with him. But he is no longer there, no longer wondering why he couldn’t figure something simple out. His access to OT and a professional like DeeDee, currently provided from a modest office space, is made possible by donors around the world who believe children like Benjamin deserve every chance to thrive. As Back2Back Cincinnati looks ahead, the hope is to expand this kind of care through 704 Elberon, a dedicated space that would bring all of their work under one roof and allow even more children and families to experience the same support Benjamin received. This is how, collectively, we don’t leave a child in distress.
His story is not a singular instance. There are children and teens right now who struggle in classrooms and enjoy play less than their peers. The difference between falling behind and rising to their potential just requires interruption.
Will you be the interruption?
