At Team IMPACT, we know that the heart of our work is about more than just matching children with college athletic teams—it’s about fostering meaningful relationships and supporting the whole child. This Child Life Specialist and Social Worker Month, we’re proud to highlight the invaluable work of our clinical team and the profound impact they have on the families, kids, and team in our program. One of those kids is Nadiya, matched with the Ohio State women’s artistic swimming team.
Nadiya is 15 years old and lives with a genetic disorder, blindness, and epilepsy. She joined the OSU artistic swimming team in November of last year, and since then, her journey has been one of resilience and transformation alongside her new teammates.
“I had heard about Team IMPACT from another parent who has a child with visual impairments. It made me want to apply since it seemed like a great opportunity for Nadiya to work on social skills and interpersonal relationships,” said Michelle, Nadya’s mom. Because Nadiya’s seizures are unresponsive to medication, Nadiya spent three-and-a-half years on a strict diet that stopped her seizures but also prevented her from participating in many experiences children without this condition have, often leaving Nadiya feeling isolated or excluded. “[Team IMPACT] also gave Nadiya the opportunity to experience things she missed out on when she was battling epilepsy and while on the ketogenic diet for epilepsy,” Michelle said. As soon as Nadiya joined the OSU artistic swimming team, things began to chance.
“Since joining the OSU synchronized swimming team, Nadiya has become more animated when talking about others, both teammates and classmates at school,” Michelle shared. “She also has become more willing to take risks to develop relationships with peers, and we hear from teachers she is interacting more with classmates at school.”
Behind every match like Nadiya’s is a dedicated team of child life specialists and social workers who provide critical support and guidance. For Erin Higgins, Nadiya’s Match Up Specialist, finding the right team for each child means understanding their unique needs and interests. Erin emphasizes that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to making matches at Team IMPACT. Each child and family bring their own story, and it’s the job of Team IMPACT staff to listen, adapt, and support every step of the way. “Nadiya and her team are a match made in heaven,” Erin said. “After learning that Nadiya loves to swim and has experience in the water, we thought, ‘Why not artistic swimming?’ The team and family both had incredible growth mindsets going into the experience.”
For Kayla McDaid, Nadiya’s Case Manager, working as a child life specialist is about addressing the emotional and social needs of children beyond their medical diagnosis. “At Team IMPACT, a match is made up of child, family, and team. What serves one should serve all,” Kayla said. “Our clinical model is in place for a reason. Because our program is made available to children with all different diagnoses, having the proper support in place to assist both families and teams during the two-year program is essential. So much can change, and having constant support makes a difference for our matches.”
Together, Kayla and Michelle collaborated to set goals for Nadiya to work toward alongside her teammates. Through this goal setting and frequent close communication with Nadiya’s family and team throughout the entirety of the two years in the program, Kayla has already witnessed remarkable progress Nadiya has made toward achieving those goals.
“The clinical goals we have for Nadiya is for her to gain confidence, increase self-advocacy and build relationships,” Michelle said. “We have noticed when out with her teammates from the OSU swimming team, Nadiya will sit with better posture (with her head up) and each time is more verbal in communications with them. She really has done well in small groups, which has helped her learn how to interject in a conversation with more than one person.”
“Through her time with the OSU team, Nadiya has grown her confidence by being around her teammates. Their support and encouragement have helped her feel more comfortable and empowered, both in and out of the water, and that has translated to her daily life,” Kayla said. “Being part of the team has given her a sense of belonging, and through their collaboration and positive reinforcement, she’s become more confident in her abilities and in herself.”
The team’s support extends beyond practice. They cheer her on at band performances, engage with her about school and her day-to-day life, and work with her one-on-one to better understand their sport. “Nadiya works in the water with one or two of her teammates on synchro skills, which helps her understand what the team is doing at their meets when she is not in the water with them,” Kayla shared. “This has been confidence boosting and provided her a true sense of team.” This holistic approach has given Nadiya a true sense of community and confidence, and Michelle feels this relationship wouldn’t be as deep, thoughtful, and life-changing if it weren’t for the child life specialists and social workers who help guide the match.
“It is nice to know we have a resource of the child life specialist who can help Nadiya grow as a whole person. For so long, goals were focused on medical needs, and often the emotional and other needs of a child were secondary,” Michelle said. “We believe certified child life specialists and social workers are important for helping children as whole people, facilitating their emotional and social needs.”
As Child Life Specialist and Social Worker Month comes to a close, we celebrate the compassion, dedication, and expertise of our clinical staff. Their work changes lives every day, creating relationships that transform futures for kids like Nadiya and teams like OSU artistic swimming. Together, we are building a future where every child can experience the power of belonging and the joy of being seen and supported by a team who always has their backs.
