One of the most important things we teach our students is how to ask for help when they need it. Seemingly small things build the foundation for students to ask for help with the big things. We work with our students to make them feel comfortable asking for help for almost everything—including when they may feel unsafe or in pain. One of our students, Zach, had major success in this area.
Zach’s most recent school photo—how handsome!
Recently, Zach’s father brought him home early from a family outing, saying that he just didn’t seem like himself. Soon after returning home, Zach guided his mother’s hand near his mouth and was able to tell her a single word: hurt.
For many families, having a teenager raise concerns about a toothache might not be a big deal. For Zach’s family, this was the first time in 17 and a half years that he was able to let his mom know not only that he was hurt, but where he was hurt.
Zach went to the dentist, successfully took an x-ray, and had an injection in his mouth. He even thanked the dentist afterward! After that, he tolerated yet another trip to the prosthodontist when the tooth later cracked, and a trip to the oral surgeon to get an implant placed. He navigated all of those appointments like an absolute gentleman—calm, cool, and collected—and made all of us beam with pride.
#Throwback Zach circa 2014
“Ultimately, Garden played a role in this.” says Julie, Zach’s mom, “It's really about trust. I don't ever worry over who his teacher is or what room he's in, because I know the level of teaching that goes on at Garden. Zachary knows he's safe, cared for, and valued which has everything to do with how he handles ‘the world’ at large.”
We’re dedicated to helping our students learn the skills they need to navigate the world. We’re with our students every step of the way—from learning to communicate to tolerating complex dental procedures.