From “Impossible” to First Day of School

I remember sitting in our very first family session at Partners in Excellence, holding back tears and wondering if William would ever be able to attend school.

At the time, his only word was “eyago” (water). He couldn’t tell me when he was hurt. In fact, I once missed that he had a broken arm because he didn’t cry, gesture, or have the words to let me know. I wasn’t neglectful; I simply didn’t have the tools yet to understand what he needed. And that gap between what I knew and what he needed felt overwhelming.

School? That felt light years away. An impossible dream.

Fast forward 2½ years, and William is graduating from full-time therapy and walking into his first day at Spero Academy.

If you’ve ever been in the thick of therapy schedules, paperwork, meltdowns, and endless questions about the future, you know how hard it can be to imagine the “someday” moments. The truth is, progress is often so quiet you don’t notice it day by day.

It’s in the little wins, a new word, a successful transition, a skill that once seemed out of reach. These moments stack, slowly and quietly, until one day you look up and realize: they’ve had it in them all along.

If you’re sitting in therapy sessions right now wondering if your child will ever take that next big step, please know you are not alone. The milestones will come. They may not look exactly like you imagined, but they will be yours and they will be beautiful.

One day, you’ll find yourself packing a backpack, snapping first-day-of-school pictures, and realizing just how far you’ve both come.

As we step into this new school year, I’m holding on to the gratitude I feel for every therapist, teacher, friend, and supporter who has been part of our journey. And I’m excited for what’s next — not just for William, but for all the incredible kids in our community.

To every parent reading this: I see you. I celebrate with you. And I believe in the quiet progress happening in your home right now. 💫

Helpful Local Resources:

• Fraser - Autism services, therapy, and family support

• Family Achievement Center- Occupational, speech, and physical therapy

• Minnetonka Therapy Center - Counseling and therapy services

• Partners in Excellence - Early intervention and therapy programs

• We Rock the Spectrum- Inclusive play gym

• Special Olympics MN - Sports and activities for all abilities

• Best Buddies MN- Friendship and inclusion programs