When Xavier was two-years-old, he had his first individualized education program (IEP) to meet his unique needs. His mother, Tracey, remembers being totally overwhelmed and emotionally drained. It was then that Xavier started coming to Lekotek at The Arc NW.
As Lekotek member, Tracey met Michelle, an Arc NW Advocate. As Xavier was transitioning from preschool to kindergarten, the school recommended that he go to a special education class. Tracey believed an inclusive experience would best help Xavier grow, and Michelle was there to support them.
With Michelle’s guidance Xavier had supports like speech-to-text for writing assignments to show his content knowledge. Most important, Michelle helped the teaching team understand that Xavier’s challenging behavior was not a discipline problem, but him asking for help.
When Xavier started middle school this year, The Arc NW continued providing robust support through Lekotek and advocacy. With anxiety about starting over in a new environment, Tracey worried, “Would everyone see Xavier as I do – the smart, sweet, funny and kind little boy who lights up my life, or would they only see his struggles?”
A few months in, when Xavier struggled, The Arc NW’s advocacy helped his team of teachers come together to support him so he could learn from his mistakes in a positive way. Tracey says, “I can honestly say that the last few months of school have been the best of Xavier’s career. He is more independent…[he’s] making new friends. He is more confident… happier and more successful at school than ever before.”