Bryce Waited for His Chance… and Now He’s Thriving!

October 26, 2026

“We held out for you for 18 months!” shares Julia, Bryce’s mom.

After Bryce’s home school district determined they could no longer meet his needs, he spent a year and a half at home, waiting for an opening at Elim. One of his friends had recently transferred to our school, and his parents knew it was the place Bryce needed to be as well. So, they waited for 18 months, until the call finally came – Bryce was going to attend Elim.

Now, as he enters his sophomore year, Bryce has found his place where he is truly starting to thrive.

Before coming to Elim, Bryce had an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device that was not being utilized, and his parents frequently left IEP meetings feeling defeated and unheard. Diagnosed with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), he was nonverbal, and without the use of an AAC device, he could not communicate with his family.

“We did not believe that Bryce’s education was a priority,” Julia says. “At Elim, though, we feel like we’re a part of a team, and we’re all working together towards Bryce’s success!”

The partnership between Elim staff and Bryce’s family has made all of the difference.

“I am so, so happy and incredibly excited to say that Bryce’s verbal communication has exploded since being at Elim,” Julia excitedly shares. “As a parent of a child who has never been able to tell you anything for years, and now he’s talking to you about things that happen during school… it’s amazing.”

Not only does he use his communication device to express himself, but he also uses it to learn new words, practice his spelling, and even talk to their Alexa machine! His communication skills have grown so much that his family no longer uses after-school private speech therapy for Bryce.

As a loving and energetic teenager, Bryce is really connecting with Elim staff members and his classmates. He enjoys participating in drama and music and is prepared to put on an all-star show at Elim’s upcoming Lip Sync battle! “He is a happier person, and we are a happier family,” Julia says. “And one of my favorite things now is that he has friends!”

Bryce’s parents see possibilities for his future that, at one point, they couldn’t imagine.

“We see so much more potential in Bryce since he started attending Elim.” Looking back on the time it took to get to Elim, Julia says, “This is where God wants Bryce to be. It wasn’t an easy journey, but we are so thankful we are here.”

Because of you, our faithful supporters, more students and adults like Bryce can discover their voice and grow in their talents. Your generosity allows families like Bryce’s to experience the life-changing impact Elim can offer.

“Elim has made such a positive difference not only for Bryce, but for our family. For us, Elim has been a Godsend. Please support Elim so that other students and adults can be a part of this amazing community.”

Will you make a gift today and help more students and adults thrive at Elim, just like Bryce?