Avery’s Journey at Quest

Avery spent her early years with a program that provided specialized support and resources during those crucial ages between 3 and 6. She received early intervention and therapies designed to give children with disabilities the best possible start, preparing them for the elementary school years ahead. We were incredibly grateful for that foundation.

But as Avery approached school age, we began looking ahead, and what we saw was deeply concerning. In the public system, Avery would have been placed in a typical classroom with 30-plus children, without dedicated aide support. It was, frankly, mind-blowing. We were told we had to send her, wait for her to fail, have an incident, or essentially be forced to withdraw her before more support might be considered.

I want to stress, this isn’t a unique scenario to our family. And since that time, the situation has only worsened for many others. As parents, we couldn’t accept that. How could we knowingly send her into an environment she wasn’t ready for and just watch her struggle from day one?

We knew she needed something different. Somewhere, she would be truly understood.

When Avery first started at Quest School, we were hopeful, but also scared. She was non-verbal, not yet toilet trained, and most days were a struggle. Transitions were overwhelming. Moving from one activity to the next, or even just arriving at school, could trigger full meltdowns. Being around other children was hard. She couldn’t yet sit in a group setting or follow along with structured learning. Her world felt unpredictable, and as a family, we were doing our best to navigate it all without a clear roadmap.

We knew Avery was bright. We knew she had so much to share. But without the right supports, it felt like her potential was locked away, and we were desperate to find the key.

Then we found Quest.

From the moment we stepped through the doors, we felt a shift. For the first time, we weren’t explaining or apologizing for Avery’s needs. We were surrounded by people who just got it. People who saw Avery not as a challenge, but as a whole, capable person. The team at Quest didn’t just support her, they believed in her. They saw who she was, and who she could become.

The change didn’t happen overnight, but it happened.

Avery learned to communicate. First through gestures, then with visuals, and eventually with words. Those first spoken words were nothing short of magical. She started using the toilet independently. She learned how to regulate her emotions, how to handle transitions with more ease, how to connect with her peers. Slowly, the walls came down.

And then she began to thrive.

Today, Avery is reading and writing. She’s doing basic math and learning all about the world around her, science, geography, even current events. She comes home excited to share facts she’s learned, or to show us a story she’s written. She’s curious, engaged, and proud of what she’s achieving.

She’s also gaining real-life skills. Through Quest’s Coffee Cart program, Avery is learning how to manage money, follow routines, and interact with “customers.” She’s practicing math in a real-world setting, learning responsibility, and building confidence through meaningful work. These are not just school lessons, they are life lessons.

And perhaps one of the most powerful moments of all: watching Avery perform on stage. In front of a crowd. With lights, music, and applause. Not long ago, the idea of sitting through a group activity was overwhelming—and now, here she was, smiling under the spotlight, showing the world her joy, her courage, and her voice. We get overwhelmed with emotion every time we see her perform with her class.

Quest hasn’t just changed Avery’s life, it’s transformed our family. It has given us tools, hope, and a deep sense of community. The staff walk alongside us with compassion, consistency, and belief in what’s possible. They’ve helped Avery find her voice, and, in many ways, they’ve helped us find ours too.

We don’t know exactly where Avery’s journey will take her, but because of Quest, we know it will be somewhere filled with opportunity, dignity, and purpose.

And for that, we will always be grateful.

-Rhonda Stone, Avery’s Mom