Real experiences. Meaningful progress. In their own words.
PARENTS' STORIES
I am writing this testimonial to share our family’s journey and express our deepest gratitude for the incredible impact Nicole Hanna has had on our son’s life.
When our son was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of six, we were determined to give him every opportunity to succeed. At the time, he faced challenges that affected nearly every aspect of his life. Academically, he struggled tremendously with writing. He could barely form letters, much less write a complete sentence. Expressing his thoughts on paper seemed almost impossible, and his confidence suffered because of it.
The struggles extended beyond the classroom. On the soccer field, he lacked coordination, balance, and body awareness. He would run stiffly, almost like a robot, and had difficulty performing movements that came naturally to many other children. As parents, it was difficult to watch because we knew how badly he wanted to succeed.
Meeting Nicole Hanna changed everything.
Nicole didn’t just see a diagnosis; she saw our son’s potential. Through her expertise, patience, encouragement, and unwavering belief in him, she helped him develop the foundational skills he was missing. She understood that real progress comes from addressing the root cause of a child’s challenges rather than simply practicing the same skills repeatedly.
Today, our son is ten years old, and the transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary. Academically, he has flourished. The little boy who once struggled to write now excels in school and has earned both Honor Roll and Principal’s Honor Roll. More importantly, he has gained confidence in his own abilities and approaches learning with pride.
Athletically, his growth has been equally remarkable. He is now a member of an elite competitive soccer team, where he has earned the honor of being named team captain. Watching him run, compete, and lead his teammates with confidence is something we once could only dream about.
We truly cannot thank Nicole Hanna enough. She has helped make our little boy’s dreams come true. Nicole is not only an exceptional occupational therapist. She is also his personal trainer. Her knowledge of child development, movement, coordination, and athletic performance is unlike anything we have experienced. She knows exactly what to work on with children who want to level up in sports because she understands that athletic success starts with a strong foundation.
One of the greatest lessons she has taught us is that success is not achieved simply through extra repetitions or countless hours of practice. If you don’t address the root of the problem, lasting improvement will never happen. Once those foundational skills are developed, everything else begins to fall into place.
What makes Nicole’s approach so special is that this philosophy doesn’t only apply to children with ADHD. It applies to every child. Whether a child is facing developmental challenges or simply wants to become a stronger, faster, more coordinated athlete, building the right foundation is what allows them to reach their full potential.
Our son still has ADHD, but it no longer defines what he can accomplish. Instead, it has become just one small part of his story. Because of Nicole’s dedication, expertise, and belief in him, he has grown into a confident student, an accomplished athlete, and a leader among his peers.
There are very few people who leave such a lasting impact on a child’s life. Nicole Hanna is one of those rare individuals. She has forever changed our son’s future, and for that, our family will be forever grateful.
The Sanchez Family!
When Alexander was two years old, he was not speaking at all. We feared he had a significant developmental disorder, but after his evaluation, we learned he had an oral motor issue that left the area from his nose to his chin with very little sensation, making speech extremely difficult. We were advised to begin both speech-language and occupational therapy.
Although this was 17 years ago, I remember it vividly. It was a difficult time, but Alexander absolutely loved going to therapy with Nicole. To him, it never felt like therapy. It felt like fun, which made it easier on us too.
We saw progress almost immediately. He began saying single-syllable words, and Nicole explained how everything started with building his core strength, which in turn helped strengthen the muscles needed for speech. Watching those first words emerge was incredible.
Everything was individualized to Alexander. The therapists never made him feel like something was "wrong" with him or that he needed to be fixed. Helping Hands was a warm, happy environment filled with people who genuinely cared about helping children succeed.
One moment I will never forget was receiving a call after about a year of therapy. Nicole simply said, "Mom, he's done." I was shocked. She explained that he had accomplished everything occupational therapy could offer and was ready to continue only with speech therapy. That honesty meant so much to me. It showed me that they were focused on what was best for my child, not on keeping him in therapy longer than necessary.
Seventeen years later, Alexander is a student at the University of Florida. He started college with more than 35 credits already completed, and I often think back to those early therapy sessions and how much they changed the course of his life.
Whenever someone asks me for an occupational therapy recommendation, I immediately tell them to call Nicole at Helping Hands for Kids.
I remember some people thinking I was being silly for seeking help when Alexander was so young, but as his parents, we could tell that something was not right. My advice to other parents is to trust your instincts. There is no harm in asking questions or having your child evaluated. Getting help early can make all the difference.
Helping Hands for Kids truly changed his life and ours.
Cristina Raeke