Brandon’s Heartspring Success Story: In His Own Words

Brandon began his Heartspring journey nearly 30 years ago, when his parents decided he needed more support than what was available to him in his home state.

Brandon described how his self-esteem was dangerously low when he came to Heartspring as a 13-year-old in 1996. He was struggling to find his way in a frustrating world that he felt didn’t understand him.

“Too much emphasis was being placed on my behavioral issues, and too little was being placed on the academic areas where I excelled,” Brandon said. “This is not a criticism of my home school district. It is a statement of the reality that with limited resources, the emphasis was placed on my deficits, while my parents wanted a greater emphasis on my strengths.”

Brandon provided a different challenge for our teachers, as most students needed a higher level of support, but Brandon needed more room to grow academically. Staff worked to meet Brandon where he was at and made him an active participant and decision-maker in his educational experience. The following year, Heartspring arranged to have Brandon audit a college-level U.S. History class and an AP Biology class — attending lectures and taking tests at a local Wichita high school.

Ruth Heppel Werner, a former Heartspring Therapeutic School teacher, worked with Brandon for six years at Heartspring and continues to support him today.

“In Brandon’s case, we had to build trust, establish boundaries, hear what he wanted and needed, and reassure him that he was part of the team,” Ruth said. “This team approach is true for all of the children, regardless of their abilities and communication skills.”

Brandon continued to take classes at Wichita North High School as a Heartspring student and eventually earned high school diplomas from Wichita North High School and Springfield High School in his home state of Illinois. He was even awarded the Wichita Board of Education’s 99% Award, given to students who wouldn’t have been typically recognized, but who teachers and staff felt “gave that 99%” effort. Brandon even started at Lincoln Land Community College before leaving his studies in his sophomore year to focus on his volunteerism.

Brandon’s vocational opportunities through Heartspring at the Wichita Police Department, McConnell Air Force Base, and St. Francis Hospital helped prepare him for meaningful work and volunteer positions after graduation. For 22 years, he’s been a paid clerical assistant with SPARC, his home agency in Springfield. He also works as a page in the Illinois House of Representatives, connecting with people across the political spectrum to advocate for himself and others with disabilities.

Since moving home, Brandom lives in a community integrated living arrangement (CILA) residence less than a mile from his parents’ home. He also volunteers at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and Springfield Memorial Hospital, greeting tourists from around the world and guiding patients to their rooms. He said these opportunities help him feel engaged and connected to others, and he enjoys giving back to the community and making friends along the way.

“My path may not look like everyone else’s, but it shows what’s possible when people with disabilities get the right support,” Brandon said. “I’m deeply grateful to the staff, my peers, and my family for believing in me and supporting me every step of the way.”