Courage Center is filled with highly professional and deeply caring staff who understand the challenges faced by those with disabilities and work tirelessly to ensure that a person's disability doesn't get in the way of his/her ability to realize their dreams. My son started at Courage Center doing warm water swimming and therapy as a 6 year old. With the love, support, guidance and opportunities provided by Courage Center he has become a 19 year old internationally ranked athlete and just won a gold medal with Team USA at the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships. I can state unequivocally that he would not be where he is today as an athlete (and as a college student) if it hadn't been for Courage Center. His experience at Courage was life changing in a truly fundamental way - he is who he is because of Courage Center.
I used several services including aquatics for fibromyalgia, physical therapy on land and in water, and counseling. In 2007 my 14yr relationship ended, he sued me, I broke my foot, my diabeties got worse, my disabled son had hurt his back and my self esteem and losses both emotional and financial were rocky. The services received were fantastic; very caring and well trained therapists in all areas. I soon walked again, my self esteem got better and life became brighter. Courage Center is there for those in need.
My family & I are all involved with the Courage Center's Ski & Snow Board program. My Son is a client in the program. I am a volunteer instructor/trainer and my daughter volunteers as a Ski Buddy. My wife gets everyone where they need to be, when they need to be there. Our involvement with the program has provided a couple of things that I am not sure we could get anywhere else. It's a fun family volunteer activity that we all feel is valuable and contributes to the health and well being of others. It teaches my children the value of volunteerism. It helps my son to realize that, even with a diasbility, he can achieve whatever he wants to do in life. As the DSUSA race team slogan says. "If I can do this, I can do anything". Michael Dertinger
I have been attending Arthritis Stretch classes twice a week in the Golden Valley Courage Center Pool for several years. Initially, I was not self-motivated to attend because I had a slight fear of water and was apprehensive about entering what I envisioned an alien environment. However, my Rheumatologist insisted I do so and I soon realized he'd prescribed exactly what I needed. The classes were excellent. The instructors were highly skilled and empathetic and quickly helped me overcame my initial reservations. Since then I have made great gains in strength and balance in the water and found good friends among my classmates. Courage Center has provided one of the most positive therapies I've ever undertaken.
Courage Center has provided excellent opportunites for our son who has Spina Bifida. Without Courage Center he would have never been able to have access to participate in water skiing and downhill skiing. These have been great experiences for our son and he has enjoyed these new sports with a new appreciation - and so have we. It has been very rewarding for us to see our son be able to have these opportunities and we are so thankful for Courage Center, their volunteers and all they do.
I'm permanate3ly disabled and relay on the brain specialist and ILS workers that come to home twice a week. They are helping tremendouly. I couyldn ';t live without them. I highly recommend Courage Center to all my friewnds throught this world as an outstanding place. Bravo to Courage Center!
I always look Forward to going for physical therapy in the pool. The pool water at Courage center is always warm. The therapists are helpful and encourage me to use an exercise program at a local gym. I wish I had listen to them as my joint pains are coming back. I am almost certain that my Physical Medicine physician will recommend therapy for me again.
My son Ben, began speech therapy with Meri at age 3. He is now 7. Ben loves to go to speech and has progressed emensely over the years! Meri has been wonderful with Ben. Meri has made learning fun for Ben and has shown great care and concern for him! IMy husband and I could not be happier with the service Ben has recieved through Courage Center and Meri. I have recommended Courage to my friends. Our family is very greatful. When Ben is finished with speech, Meri will be dearly missed!
I learned skills for life that I could not find any where else that helped me and all of my friends and family that I have shared the information with. I took the CRP Program with Nicole, Jo, Mark, the neuro scientist, Molly, and the friends I met that were in the program I learned something unique from each indevidual.