Your annual Community Service Assessment (CSA) donation in December allows our club to do great things in the community. Student Advocacy Center Executive Director Peri Stone-Palmquist sent this note of thanks for our Community Allocations Grant:

This past year was particularly challenging for youth with disabilities — but can you imagine navigating all of this with a history of trauma and a language barrier?

We had a 9 year old doing just that.

This young boy, whose family had recently immigrated to the U.S., was referred to SAC by his school due to concerns about attendance and behavior. The student was struggling at home, too, with nightmares and bedwetting. At school, he would push students to initiate play (likely due to the language barrier) and a fight would ensue.

Thankfully, our Spanish-speaking mentor got to work, slowly building a trusting relationship with the student and his family. They met 1-2 times a week, sometimes practicing English; other times working through the social challenges.

The student’s parents reported that he has been doing significantly better at home. He isn’t having nightmares, soiling himself, and is interacting more positively with his siblings. Academically, he has been making progress, too.

The family has noted how important it has been for them to be able to communicate in their language. Before, the family felt largely excluded from the school environment. Working with a Spanish-speaking mentor has helped the family feel seen, heard, and supported as they re-engage in their child’s learning. Additionally, through the trusting relationship, the mentor has been able to build a team of supports for the student.

We know this kind of success story wouldn’t be possible without the support of donors like YOU. Thank you for caring about children and their education. We couldn’t be more grateful.