“For Tino, as far as exploring goes, that was a big hurdle,” Jenna D. shared with us when we met to talk about her family’s journey with Hattie Larlham’s Dahlberg Gibson Learning Center. It was our honor to sit with her as she shared all the wonderful things about Tino and the ways he’s progressed and thrived in his time at Dahlberg.
When Tino was about one year old, Jenna and her husband became concerned that Tino was not meeting his developmental milestones as he should have been. They immediately sought guidance and help to ensure Tino would thrive at his full potential. Eventually, their journey led them to Dahlberg- a lucky recommendation shared with Jenna from another parent in their neighborhood. ”We had an interview at the school and took a tour, and we were just like ‘This is absolutely what our son needs.’”
Since day one at Dahlberg, Tino has excelled at facing and overcoming challenges. As Jenna mentioned previously, exploration of new things was a hurdle for Tino, but one that he was ready to conquer. “He didn’t want to get his hands dirty. He didn’t want to get wet. He didn’t want those sensory experiences on his body. And the first week of school when painting was happening in the classroom, the goal was for him to just be there. We said ‘Just be around the table, you don’t have to participate,’ and by the end of the school year, he’s grabbing the paintbrush and making his strokes.”
The challenges Tino faced were largely physical, Jenna said, stating that he did not walk until he was two years old and said, “We were just constantly wondering ‘Where is he on the spectrum of development? Is he catching up is he still behind?’ and so for us to have teachers, and a team, and a school to step in…it’s been the most valuable experience for us.” She went on to say, glowing with pride, that Tino is now more mobile than ever. “He’s reached and surpassed his physical development goals. He’s walking, he’s working on running, and over the summer we were working on hopping and he’s bouncing around the room.” She went on, “He was also slow to talk. Now, he’s got some complete sentences, he knows all of his colors, all of his numbers, all of his shapes."
As they supported him every step of the way, Jenna and her husband were there to celebrate Tino’s journey- and are eager to keep cheering him on as he continues to explore and exceed new goals. “Looking at him a year ago- not able to walk, not able to talk, not developing appropriately to now, today? He’s a totally different kid.”
When we talk about outcomes and impact, so often our focus is on the finish line. On the victories that make all the challenges along the way worthwhile. But for Tino, and for his peers at Dahlberg, it is the journey that carries the most weight. Those challenges, met and overcome little by little, that are a true measure of success. Every day brings a new opportunity to explore the world, explore abilities, explore new ideas and explore what it means to be a kid, learning and growing every day. Your generosity today helps create those priceless opportunities to explore and we invite you to help us create brighter futures with a donation to the programs and services at Hattie Larlham today.
