Student Spotlight BEST Academy: Eriel’s Growth

Building Foundations Through Support and Collaboration

Eriel, a 6th grader at B.E.S.T. Academy, joined the school community in 2019. When he first arrived, he faced significant challenges with completing tasks and required substantial prompting to participate in activities. He experienced difficulty with joint attention and play skills and was not yet able to communicate his needs effectively. These challenges contributed to notable behavioral difficulties in the classroom setting.

Through consistent support and ongoing collaboration between the school team and his family, Eriel gradually began to engage more fully in his learning environment. With adult assistance, he started to develop the ability to express his wants and needs. Over time, his capacity to focus on tasks improved, allowing him to participate more meaningfully in classroom activities. While he continued to experience some challenges with behavior regulation, the team worked closely with his family and outside resources to provide targeted support.

Continued Progress and Meaningful Participation

As Eriel has continued his journey at B.E.S.T. Academy, his growth has been significant. He is now able to consistently attend to tasks and has developed a preference for activities that involve movement. His communication skills are steadily improving through the use of an AAC device along with total body communication methods.

Eriel actively participates in all classroom rotations and demonstrates increased independence by requesting breaks when needed. He effectively utilizes sensory tools to support his learning and regulation, and he has built strong, positive relationships with multiple staff members.

Eriel’s progress reflects the impact of consistent support, collaboration, and perseverance. The BEST Academy community is proud of the growth he has demonstrated and the strides he continues to make each day.