Grade Level: 9th-12th grades

The Success: He joined us with severe social and academic anxiety, ADHD, brain fog and visual challenges—and in the first months of a medical crisis that would threaten his life. Five years later, he’d become our 1st graduate, and went on to study architecture at the college of his dreams, where he’s thriving academically, quickly built himself a strong group of friends and is managing even his complex medical needs independently.

The Strategies: This one took everything we’ve got! Our physical therapists supported him through the long months on the way to diagnosis of a tethered spinal cord, patiently teaching him how to monitor and report his symptoms so he could meaningfully participate in his medical care. Post corrective surgery, they quarterbacked his physical recovery while his academic team quarterbacked recovery of lost learning time—and our neuropsychologist kept the physical and academic recoveries in balance with his social-emotional recovery as well. By the time he graduated, the communication, organizational and social difficulties were no longer discernable, leaving a confident and resilient young man ready for new adventures defined by his gifts, not his challenges.

Favorite Project: “How can we envision a democratic community in the years 1202-1204, in Normandie, France?”

Read more of his story on our blog!