Healing
The world gathering of families of paralyzed children.
27, 28, 29 and 30 September 2024 — Lake Ontario, New York.
Your journey in the cloud
The world gathering of families of paralyzed children is organized by the Montessori Foundation for children with special needs since 2019. We have organized gatherings at music, book and nature festivals. Over the past six years, these gatherings have brought together 200 to 400 families.
They are a journey through time, every year, so that families of paralyzed children from all over the world can meet and exchange with kindness about their culture and experience. This annual weekend is an unforgettable moment that gives a different perspective on the disease. We are the world's eyes on paralyzed children. Paralyzed children have so much empathy and kindness to bring to the world.
From dream to reality
The team is nine people: the organizer (mother of a paralyzed child), four coordinators, and two cooks on site for the management of the stay and the campfire dinner for the fire ceremony with the Native Americans among their tribe.
A certified therapist leads open-air mindfulness activities. Under the fir trees facing the majestic Lake Ontario, you will learn new techniques to gently massage your child. Compassion meditation is used with people suffering from PTSD, such as veterans or parents of paralyzed children. The technique is liberating and helps release grief.
A certified photographer captures the photo shoot. Children are photographed without their support equipment such as a wheelchair — the results are stunning. This shoot is militant: it offers the world another perspective on illness.
Come live this experience with us
Four restorative days that include:
- Stay in a Bed & Breakfast on Lake Ontario, New York. Transportation from the hotel to the Iroquois Wildlife Natural Reserve in the NY region.
- Breakfasts, lunches and dinners in nature, depending on the weather.
- Activities with professionals — Reiki sessions with a therapist graduated in Barcelona.
- A photo shoot with a New York-graduated photographer.
- A live country show, a live jazz evening, and an evening with the Native Americans.
In partnership with
- Montessori Foundation
- IMSD
- AMI
- American Disabled Organization