Hillside Strong: Stories of Hillside

“It’s been an amazing journey for him”: Taylor Rapke, one of three fraternal triplets, has faced unique challenges compared to his brother and sister. His mom Beth recognized signs of developmental delays when Taylor was a child, and he was eventually diagnosed with autistic disorder. Today, 22-year-old Taylor has limited verbal acuity but “you can feel the love between both of us,” Beth says.

In 2021, Taylor moved to a Hillside group home in a Rochester suburb where Beth knew he’d receive specialized supports that would more fully meet his evolving needs. Along with a handful of young men facing a range of similar challenges, Taylor receives care and encouragement from the on-site Hillside team—and he enjoys weekly video calls and regular in-person visits with his mom, who joins him on outings and collaborates with staff on her son’s care goals.

Since coming to Hillside, Taylor’s communication skills have shown gradual improvement, and he’s made significant progress in basic life skills that point the way toward even greater achievements in the future. Beth credits Hillside’s staff for making the past four years “an amazing journey for him … he’s learned many skills that make me as a mom very proud.”