Young Luis is big for his age—tall, sturdy, and full of energy. Regular strollers? Too small, too cramped. Outings were a struggle.
Enter Concrete Goods.
Luis, right, and his sister enjoy the foldable wagon provided by Concrete Goods
They provided Luis with the perfect solution: a spacious, foldable wagon. Now? He rides comfortably and securely, often not wanting to get out!
The wagon folds compactly, making it easy to load into the car and transport.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF)’s Concrete Goods initiative is a short-term assistance program for families enrolled in birth-to-3 services that provides essentials to ease material hardship, promote child safety, support stability, and connect to community resources.
Luis’s providers at Holly Ridge Center, through the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program, recognizing the need, connected the family to Concrete Goods. Instead of a traditional stroller, the team secured a sturdy, spacious wagon perfectly suited to Luis’s build.
The result? A game-changer.
Luis loves his new wagon and what was once a daily struggle for the family has become an enjoyable part of their routine.
Regarding this photo of Luis in his wagon, his mom Angelica, said: “He doesn’t want to get out 😊.”
In the photo, Luis also has his AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device beside him, which he is learning to use to communicate and will continue using when he begins preschool after his third birthday.
Luis sits in his wagon with the AAC device, which helps him communicate
According to Luis’s speech-language pathologist, Andrea “Drea” Kantor, increasing Luis’s social communication and engagement with others has been a central focus of therapy.
“One of the priorities in our therapy with Luis has been increasing his social communication and interaction with others. A major barrier to Luis’s socialization has been the logistics of getting him to places in the community, since he does not like to walk and is too heavy to carry for long periods. We have invited the family to join our Playful Learners Playgroup and Park Visits, but the family declined due to these challenges. I’m confident that having an easier way to transport Luis will help support his continued growth in social engagement.”
Developmental Associate Mason Buchanan also noted how much Luis and his family valued the co-treatment sessions held in their home with both providers.
“Mom would frequently state how much she appreciated co-treat sessions and would highlight how much she believed Luis enjoyed Drea and I coming to the sessions together.”
This one thoughtful item from Concrete Goods didn’t just solve a mobility issue—it removed a key barrier to socialization, and has become a pathway to greater independence, connection, and participation in the community.