Nine-year-old Mila is a bright girl living with cerebral palsy affecting all four of her limbs. She’s non-verbal and experiences challenges with fine motor skills and learning, but none of that has stopped her from finding joy in expressing herself with the help of Guided Hands®.
Before Mila discovered Guided Hands®, holding a pencil was a challenge. She could only manage to hold it for a few seconds and needed hand-over-hand assistance for any activity. With no wrist rotation and limited grip control, creative activities like drawing or writing felt out of reach. Communication only happened through using her eye gaze device. When it came to expressing herself creatively, there were always limits.
Everything changed the day she tried Guided Hands® at Smile Therapy for Kids. “She immediately was able to control the pen,” said Mila’s mom, Kerry.
Smile Therapy shared an Instagram reel of Mila using Guided Hands® during an occupational therapy session. That reel caught the attention of Lianna Genovese, inventor of Guided Hands®, who reached out to Kerry to assist in getting Mila her own device for home.
From there, everything shifted.
“To see her have independence, something we have worked on for so long, was so lovely,” Kerry says. “Mila picks her own colours now and is so proud of that.”
Before Guided Hands®, Mila couldn’t sign birthday cards on her own. Now, she’s doing it with pride. One of the most meaningful moments came when Mila, with help from her OT, used Guided Hands® to make her first birthday card for her mom.
“It was the first time she was able to do that,” Kerry shares, “It meant so much.”
Moments like these have become cherished by friends and family alike. Cards Mila has signed are now keepsakes, made extra special because they are made with her own choices, movements, and love.
For Mila, Guided Hands® is more than a device, it’s a path to independence. She can grab and release the handpiece herself, reducing frustration and building confidence. It has helped her feel more in control, more engaged, and more expressive.
Kerry adds, “Being able to grab hold and let go of the handpiece on her own has really helped with her frustration. It’s brought her so much independence and joy.”
Sometimes, Mila brings Guided Hands® to school, where she can participate more actively in classroom activities. At home, her favourite thing to do is colour, especially with the printable art sheets from the Imaginable Solutions website featuring inclusive illustrations.
“Mila loves seeing the colours she chooses come to life on paper,” Kerry says. “She uses her eye gaze to pick the colours. It’s helped with her communication too.”
Mila’s journey with Guided Hands® is a powerful reminder that with the right tools, creativity and communication can be accessible to everyone.
For Mila, this is just the beginning of what’s possible.
You can follow Mila's journey on Instagram.
