Club SMILE Mass Making a Difference in the Lives of Families Raising the Disabled

Clients like Sato and Rachael Share Their SMILE Mass Success Stories

July 26, 2024 (SUDBURY, Massachusetts)-SMILE Mass continues to provide immediate relief to the nearly 10,000 families in Massachusetts without the services they need through their Club SMILE Mass program and is making a positive impact on the 70-plus clients that they currently serve.

“Club SMILE Mass is our fastest growing program to date,” explained SMILE Mass president and co-founder Lotte Diomede. “We are providing much-needed daily activities with a focus on movement and are witnessing notable progress from many of our clients. There are no existing clubs for someone with disabilities, which is a huge problem, and this is why Club SMILE Mass has become so popular.”

Club SMILE Mass was launched in 2021 during Covid as services the state had previously provided all but dried up during the pandemic. Most of those programs never returned because of staffing shortages, leaving families raising children and adults with disabilities clamoring for a solution. The continued need for services has resulted in the unprecedented growth of Club SMILE Mass.

Club SMILE Mass consists of hybrid classes to stimulate clients mentally and physically. Classes include access to one-on-one training or small group classes, swimming classes at Atkinson Swimming Pool in Sudbury, and seven-day-per-week access to any LA Fitness in Massachusetts. The program also includes music therapy, storytime, Bingo games, small group workout classes via Zoom, and bike evaluations performed by a Physical Therapist. All trainers of Club SMILE Mass are fully trained and certified.

“When we launched Club SMILE Mass in 2021, we approached a national health club and secured the space to execute these activities. As the program became more well-established and more clients signed on, we have outgrown the health club and are now forced to have a waiting list. Our solution is to invest in our facility that offers children and adults even more activities. This is how “A Community within a Community was born.”

The state-of-the-art 8,000-square-foot activity center, also known as “A Place Like No Other,” will be customized using the Universal Design concept to deliver services to children and adults with severe disabilities. The proposed facility will be located on 30+ wooded acres on the Framingham/Sudbury line. It will include individual classrooms for one-on-one learning and activities with spaces that limit external and overwhelming stimuli.

Sato Motoyama and Rachael Garcia are two SMILE Mass clients who have greatly benefitted physically, emotionally, and socially through their involvement with CLUB SMILE Mass.

Nearly anyone who has been a part of Club SMILE Mass is familiar with the smiling face of Sato Motoyama.  Sato, age 25, has been a client of Club SMILE Mass since December 2022 after learning about the program from the mother of another client.

Sato has greatly benefitted from participating in Club SMILE Mass and when not enjoying his love of painting with watercolors, he keeps his days full by participating in two gym sessions each week, private swim lessons on Saturday, and Mr. Vic’s music classes on Zoom which he enjoys immensely.

Diagnosed with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a seizure disorder, and mild hearing loss, Sato thrives on the synergy of personalized coaching that challenges him and fosters new skills. His father, Toshi explains, “Sato benefits from the opportunity to build connections with coaches and fellow members in person and online. Since becoming a Club SMILE Mass client he has become more confident through the training and enjoys happier moments thanks to connections with other families and coaches.”

Sato enjoys many activities outside of Club SMILE Mass as well. He takes adaptive piano, dance, and weaving classes on weekends.

Toshi is a strong supporter of the Club SMILE Mass Community within a Community which SMILE Mass continues to raise funds for through their Capital Campaign.

“It would be wonderful if the facility could offer him consistent access as a home base since he stays home most of the time without regular day service. I believe this will be the future of what most day programs will eventually look like.”

Toshi continued, “SMILE Mass is a joy and relief for us as parents. The organization benefits the entire family. Seeing Sato develop friendships, a sense of belonging, and increased confidence to try new things is incredibly encouraging. It has helped us see his potential and inspires us to use similar approaches at home.”

Rachael Garcia has been a Club SMILE Mass client for three years after learning of the organization through Advocates Self Directed Services.

Rachael, 25, has non-verbal autism. Despite her inability to speak, Rachael expresses the emotion of pure joy every time she participates with her friends and coaches at Club SMILE Mass. Rachael’s list of activities is long, as she enjoys swimming, gym class, social and craft groups, Zoom music, and bingo. She never misses the Club SMILE Mass special activities as they arise.

Her mother Michelle shared the positive results that Rachael has experienced since she became a Club SMILE Mass client. “The independence, confidence, and resiliency it provides has been monumental. The social aspect is extremely important, especially post covid. Club SMILE Mass has helped to push Rachael to limits she didn’t know she could reach.”

In addition to her time at Club SMILE Mass, Rachael volunteers in her community at United Way and in an assisted living facility. She enjoys time at the YMCA twice a week and participates in social and recreational activities with Advocates weekly. She also belongs to a walking club.

Michelle continued, “The Club SMILE Mass Community within a Community can provide a cohesive delivery of services therefore providing a sense of community that is desperately important since many of these young adults left school.”

“Club SMILE Mass has provided our family with a sense of connectedness among other families that face the same or similar challenges. It has allowed us to feel more a part of a world that can often be very isolating,” added Michelle.

“This is our biggest undertaking yet,” continued Lotte. It is an opportunity for those who believe in equity and equality to resolve a national crisis following the pandemic. To build “A Community within a Community,” we have launched an exciting campaign to raise the necessary funds to take us through each project stage. We are relying on our existing donors, new donors, sponsors, and even selling bricks and coffee club memberships. There is a donation level for everyone, regardless of your financial means. SMILE Mass receives no state funding and therefore programs like Club SMILE Mass rely on grants, sponsorships and personal tax-deductible donations. We count on the kindness of the community.”

To donate to our Capital Campaign, visit our website at smilemass.org or call Lotte at 617-967-7755.