If I had to sum up Jack’s Miriam journey, it would be that it has truly been life changing for our entire family.

Jack’s journey at Miriam just began in August 2023, in fifth grade. This was his first school year, but it has already made such a difference in his schooling and his life.

Jack’s challenges are largely social and emotional. He struggles to engage with peers and would often attempt to get their attention in odd ways. He needed explicit instruction regarding how to interact with others, and he just wasn’t getting it. His lack of friends bothered him, and it was heartbreaking.

Those challenges started to also affect Jack’s academics. He had accommodations in place at school, but he wasn’t making progress toward his goals. It became evident that his teachers didn’t have an accurate picture of what Jack was capable of - largely based on his refusals to read aloud or attempt to answer questions. He did not feel comfortable taking any risks.

Jack hated school - with a passion. He would do just about anything he could think of to get out of going. Throughout fourth grade, there were lots of tears, and days when they had to physically remove him from the car in the morning. Jack’s lack of progress both social-emotionally and academically led us to consider sending him to Miriam. We had actually looked into it before fourth grade, but decided to give his school one more chance.

In hindsight, I wish we hadn’t waited. Jack shadowed at Miriam last year and had an amazing day. When he brought up at dinner that he wished he could have gone to a school where they understand him sooner - referring to Miriam - I signed our contract the next day. We haven’t looked back since.

For the first time in a long time, Jack is happy. He is comfortable in his own skin and is willing to try new things. We have seen a private psychologist for several years, and she, too, is blown away by the changes she has seen in Jack’s demeanor.

Jack is now able to articulate his emotions and can often tell me what he needs. Previously, he would just have meltdowns. The whole family felt like we had to walk on eggshells around him. Now, he can manage his emotions.

Jack knows the staff is there to support him, and he truly believes he can do the work. The small classes have been a game changer, because he can no longer fly under the radar. His amazing teachers meet him where he is and show him that he can do things. He can take risks in his learning. 

I would never have thought of Jack as a sensory seeking kiddo, but he absolutely loves OT. Starting his day with a sensory diet has shown him what an impact movement has on his ability to learn. He is engaged in his education for the first time ever - and it’s beautiful to see. Also, having all of Jack’s therapies, like speech and OT, taken care of at school has given us back family time in the evenings.

The school counselor has also been a huge factor in Jack’s progress. From the very beginning, I could tell that her social skills lessons were actually making an impact. She makes abstract concepts concrete. Rather than watching YouTube videos on cooperation, like he was at his prior school, Jack is participating in lessons that are actually teaching him the skills he needs. 

The growth we have seen in Jack has just been beyond our wildest dreams. This was especially evident when we had a family emergency in March. My husband had a major heart attack, and it was very scary. Jack was flexible when his grandma had to get him to and from school. He was understanding when we had to cancel our spring break plans. He was willing to do anything we asked him to help our family. He was also willing to talk about his feelings about the whole situation. 

Knowing Jack was in school each day with people who cared for him as a person, not just a student, made it possible for me to focus on Brian and his recovery. He felt safe and cared for, and it made all the difference. 

Jack even went to a sleep-away camp this summer! He tried everything at camp, including horseback riding, archery and a zipline, and there is no way he would have gone before his year at Miriam.

Jack is a valuable member the Miriam School community, and he feels it.

- Sarah Dull, Jack’s mother