Who we are
The Independent Steps Foundation has a twofold mission — and one heart.
We help from lived experience — and from lived experience, we want to change the world that people with cerebral palsy live in.
Our mission
A twofold mission, one heart
Mission 1
Tangible help
For Zéti and other children and adults living with cerebral palsy. Therapies, development programs, equipment, community support and advocacy.
Mission 2
Awareness
Toward a more inclusive world. So that children with CP and their parents can go anywhere with their heads held high — without fear or shame.
Zéti's story
A little boy's journey — from the very beginning to today
Zéti's story doesn't begin with his birth. It starts four years earlier. Uterine rupture, oxygen deprivation, intensive care — and ever since: Katona therapy, treatments, progress, milestones.
26 September 2021
Uterine rupture — Zéti's birth
At 1 a.m. the uterine wall ruptured. A life-saving C-section; both mother and child had to be resuscitated. It became their shared birthday.
First week
NICU — cooling therapy, HIE diagnosis
72 hours of cooling therapy. Seizures. A devastating prognosis: he would never walk, eat or breathe on his own. The exercises began.
Infancy
Katona therapy, Dévény, West syndrome
Katona exercises five times a day, 35 minutes each. Dévény therapy four times a week. At six months, a West syndrome diagnosis — and still, they kept making progress.
Today
He rolls, crawls, rides a bike, takes steps
The Pető Institute, stem cell treatment in Belgrade, plans for Barcelona. He fights every day — and keeps growing stronger.
Nearly 20 years of corporate experience — and the lived reality of a parent
The foundation's founder spent almost 20 years in multinational and corporate environments, leading recruitment, talent acquisition, employer branding and HR functions. This means our corporate partners never have to translate the way they work for the sake of a nonprofit. What emerges is a partnership where both sides speak the same language.
Latest
Fresh from the blog
„Cerebral palsy is not something to be ashamed of. It is not a tragedy. It is a journey — and no one should walk it alone.”
Every single forint brings a child with CP one step closer to setting out in life on their own. Thank you!