Success Story

As their infant son grew, Marcus’ parents noticed he wasn’t hitting the same developmental milestones as his twin sister. It was at an appointment with a pediatric neurologist that they heard the words, “He’s definitely on the autism spectrum, but I can’t tell you where.”

During their exhaustive search for services, they found The Bay School, a May Center School located in Santa Cruz, California. Immediately, a custom-tailored program was developed just for Marcus. The staff at The Bay School was instrumental in turning despair into hope.

The family realized they needed more support, and made the decision to move to Massachusetts to be near May Institute’s network of schools and residential services.

When Marcus was 10 years old, he entered the May Center School as one of their youngest residential students. With a coordinated treatment, behavior, and educational plan, teachers and direct care staff encouraged Marcus to hit goals that previously seemed out of reach. They only saw possibilities, not limitations. They expected more of him, and he rose to the challenge.

Now a teenager, Marcus has been a residential student for six years. He uses an iPad for communication and, according to his mother, “Now eats practically anything.”

“We no longer worry about what the future may or may not hold for Marcus. We know there are great programs with caring people, like May Institute, that are there to support him."