EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth article of an ongoing series about the Lake Washington Transition Academy, a unique, Redmond-based educational facility that assists developmentally disabled young people. To read the first five articles, go to www.redmond-reporter.com
In October 2009, the Redmond Reporter began a series about the Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD) Transition Academy. This unique learning center in downtown Redmond helps young adults with developmental disabilities gain experience and confidence through work partnerships with businesses and non-profit organizations.
Back then, we met a Transition Academy student named Bryan Groscost. This Redmond High School grad is an intern at the REI store at Redmond Town Center. And for nearly a year, he has also volunteered at the Redmond Regional Library.
A SOOTHING RETREAT
Groscost shelves magazines, DVDs and “hold” requests at the Redmond Regional Library.
Putting things in order seems to please him. Like many individuals with autism, Groscost enjoys familiar routines and attending to details.
“Bryan really likes the alphabetizing and has an interest in the magazines, as well,” said Kelsey Paasch, a graduate student from University of Washington’s low-incidence special education program and intern at the Transition Academy. Paasch goes with Bryan to his shifts at the library and offers support as needed.
“I’ve seen him especially looking at Billboard,” Paasch added, referring to the magazine that tracks music charts.
In fact, Bryan’s mom, Stacy Harper, told us he’s a diehard fan of ‘80s pop and rock, which he avidly studies on YouTube.
Bryan confirmed that information.
“My favorites are The Human League and Information Society,” he said.
Besides allowing him to read up on the music scene, the library’s quiet environment suits Bryan, said Paasch.
“He’s introverted, he likes keeping to himself — and he can do that here,” she pointed out.
Yet preparing Transition Academy students for “the real world” requires taking them out of their comfort zones, at least some of the time, so they can learn to adapt to all sorts of situations.
A WIDE WORLD WITHIN REDMOND
In addition to working with Bryan, Paasch accompanies other Transition Academy students to positions at Redmond Athletic Club and Hopelink. Comparing notes with other graduate students in the special education field, Paasch said she feels lucky to be involved with the LWSD’s transition program. The advantage is that disabled students who’ve met high school graduation requirements, with special needs accommodations, are then moved out of a high school setting and immersed in community life.
“I’m in awe of seeing the planning that goes into this … not on a high school campus, but seeing students go out into the Town Center,” said Paasch. “I’ve talked to people in other districts and they’re amazed by how many businesses are having the transition students come in. They have so many resources people didn’t know existed.”
DON’T STOP BELIEVING
Bryan was first diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified) at the age of 6. His diagnosis was changed to autism when he was 12.
“When he was 6, I was told a long list of things he would ‘never’ and ‘most likely would not’ be able to do when he was older,” said Harper. “From that moment on, I set out to prove them wrong … and I think I’ve done a good job of doing so. I have expected Bryan to go to the Transition Academy since I first heard about it when he was in junior high. It was never a question that he would be there. The program is one of the best I have seen in the country and I have researched many programs. There are not nearly enough of these types of programs.”
Harper was not always so hopeful about her oldest child’s future. Two of Bryan’s five siblings also have developmental disorders, by the way.
Children with developmental delays often “act out” in frustration, as was the case with Bryan, according to Harper.
“He was running off, would scream for no reason, would hit other kids, wouldn’t follow directions,” she recalled.
“What is somewhat manageable for a 5-year-old becomes dangerous for a 19-year-old. We spent many years driving to therapy (speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy) and that took a toll on the family,” Harper said. “The financial impact was huge,” as were disruptions to daily life, she added.
Harper recently went back to college after 18 years of putting her education on hold. It’s been a tough journey, getting Bryan to the point where he is today.
“But I wouldn’t change a thing, other than if people had been more aware of autism back then, things might be different,” she said.
Now a polite young man, Bryan still has some difficulties with communication. But the Transition Academy is “helping him learn to use his cell phone, to ride a bus, to take responsibility for himself as much as possible,” his mom said.
“What I love most about the academy is that they set the expectation bar at the top, then lower it as needed, rather than not expecting him to be able to do things and then raise it when he can,” she continued. “It can be a little scary at times, but our job as parents is no different than parents of ‘typical’ kids. We do our best to make them as independent as possible while being there when they stumble and fall, as they will do, just like anyone else.”
SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS
Besides his ‘80s music fandom, Bryan enjoys playing basketball and soccer through Redmond Parks and Recreation, said Harper.
“For his dream job, I think if he were able to work in a music store or a radio station that played ‘80s music, he would be in heaven,” she concluded.
For more information about the Lake Washington Transition Academy and its opportunities for developmentally disabled young adults, visit www.lwsd.org/school/ta or call (425) 861-3452.
