Success Stories

Brian was a 10-year-old boy with developmental delays. His classroom consisted of him and one other student. He was isolated from the other elementary school children and felt this isolation deeply. He eventually graduated to middle school where he was placed in a large classroom with little adult support. Brian essentially went from having a 1:1 teacher to being one of 25 students in a classroom with two teachers. It was clear he was struggling.

His Children’s Friend clinician connected with an organization that funded an educational advocate for him and this clinician helped Brian’s mother navigate the complicated educational system. Still, the public school district kept refusing to hire an aide for Brian. As a result, the case went to mediation before the Department of Education. Ultimately, Brian received an aide. He then began to thrive in school and is now a successful high school student. Had his therapist not advocated for him and helped him work through this, Brian would not have achieved the success he enjoys today.