3 years ago I made the decision to save my son.

My son was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD at age 5, he was then diagnosed with Autism at age 10. We had worked with
the public school system, to no avail on behavior goals. His ability to work at or above grade level, but not at the pace of the classes, proved to also be an issue in public school. At the end of 5th grade, we had come to a cross roads – my son no longer wanted to attend school, was depressed and combative. Middle school and his IEP did not look promising. As a single mom, I was out of options….and then we found Embark.

The first year was TOUGH. My son was 10-11 and relying on coping and trauma behavior that worked in public school, but no longer worked in a loving and supportive environment where the responsibility fell on him. The teachers at Embark helped us navigate this first year, make adjustments to my son’s class schedule and I got Seamus enrolled in therapy. That de-schooling year was hard, but lessons were learned and my son realized that he was no longer on the defensive – he did however struggle with the taking ownership of himself, his day, and his actions. He was told that he was wanted at Embark, but maybe he wasn’t ready for Embark, but that he would always be welcome when he was ready. This made a BIG impact on my son, the fact that he wasn’t being told he was a “bad kid” but that he would need to be READY for Embark. He decided he wanted to do that work to be ready and attend.

The following year was COVID and my son continued with Embark online – which he enjoyed. We continued therapy and added social skills groups (available throughout the year at The Arc of Loudoun). He went from 12-13 and was gaining more access to parts of his developing brain. He missed going to the physical building and as Embark opened back up for in person classes, the team at Embark helped my son create a plan that would allow him to return, be a great community member, and also the steps to take when he felt triggers for his behavior.
This year at 13 turning 14 this winter – all the love, support, therapy and growing up is paying off for him. He is
confident of his place as a community member at Embark, and that mistakes or behavior, will not have him “hated” or “pulled out of class” like in public school – but rather prompt a discussion, a plan, and decisions HE will have to make.

Through the efforts of the teachers at Embark and his therapists at The Arc of Loudoun, he is growing into this year as a responsible, kind, participating member of Embark. He knows that there will always be moments of failure, but that they are ok, and an opportunity to reflect and fine tune his tactics for staying at Embark. Through naturally growing up, Embark and therapy – my son is on a track that I couldn’t have imagined 3 years ago.
He’s on his way to becoming an incredible human and part of our overall human community. He has proven in the last three years that he wants to, and is capable, of doing the work to become a great human. I firmly believe that if he was still in public school, he would not have had the space, support and love to WANT to do the work. #EmbarkRules

~Mom of a GREAT kiddo, Leesburg, VA