Bryce

Bryce enrolled in the Heartspring School on August 14, 2008 as a day only student from a school district that was 20 minutes away. Getting Bryce to even get into the van to come to school was a huge obstacle that Bryce and his team had to work through. He was transported alone with two aides. One aide was to keep him safe and the other one was the driver. There would be times that Bryce wouldn’t get to school until 10:30 a.m. Heartspring’s staff was flexible to work on Bryce’s schedule in the beginning, knowing that his transition to the school was not easy. Heartspring staff wanted to show Bryce they wanted to see him succeed in school.

Lisa Jones, the lead paraeducator in Bryce’s classroom said that in all of the years that she has worked at Heartspring she has always connected with students. Yet she couldn’t break down the wall that surrounded Bryce to find his humorous side and was concerned that she wouldn’t be able to bring that side out in him. Lisa almost gave up on her first student in 16 years. The wall that Bryce had up to protect himself from others was so thick. Weeks later, Lisa saw the wall that Bryce had surrounded himself with start to come down. With that first step, Heartspring staff members were able build a trusting relationship with him and focus on getting his behaviors and educational progress underway. Staff had to build this relationship differently then they had ever done before. They gave Bryce the choice of where he would work each day. For several weeks Bryce chose to work in a room by himself. At first he refused to eat in the cafeteria, even when he knew he would be eating alone. Staff relented and allowed Bryce to form a relationship with them on his timetable. This slowly built trust between Bryce and Heartspring staff.

Bryce’s last day at Heartspring was June 12. At that time he rode to school on a school bus with another student with no problems and was ready to learn by 8:00 a.m. each day. Learning, spending time with peers and staff, and going out on community outings is what Bryce looked forward to each day now. The mere fact that Bryce earned the opportunity to go out in the community was a big achievement. In the beginning, every time Bryce went out into the community he would have inappropriate behaviors that would result in bringing him back to school to be isolated. Heartspring staff worked through several behaviors in the community and Bryce quickly learned that he enjoyed these activities and having a life outside of his home and classroom. Bryce would go out into the community with several classmates for two hours at a time. He was even able to order for himself when he went out to eat. Before he left, he gave back to his community by being a volunteer through Meals on Wheels.

In less than a year, Bryce chose to work in a classroom setting with seven other classmates. He formed friendships with other students, even initiating a hand shake with someone that he was not familiar with. Bryce even enjoyed eating in the Heartspring cafeteria with several classrooms at a time.

Bryce accomplished so much in nine months…achievements that Lisa never would have imagined he would fulfill. She comments on what a smart student Bryce was. She considers him to be a very witty, funny, and loving young man. He left Heartspring a different student than the one Lisa started working with on August 14, 2008. It was a happy moment for all when Bryce joined in on his graduation and was surrounded by several on his graduation day. Bryce is now prepared to be in adult services and have the opportunity to be with peers having fun in the community.