Kennady just graduated from High School.  Class of 2020!  We never dreamed that this day would come.

Fifteen years ago, at age 3, she started pre-K at Carver Elementary in Lockhart, TX.  The school bus would roll up to our house before the sun was up.  We would load her up and send her off.  Since then, we have changed schools five times in two districts.  She has been taught and loved on by some of the finest humans to walk the planet.  Mrs. Lucas, Ms. Williams, Mrs. Cato, Mrs. Travis, Mrs. Opiela, and Mrs. Noble loved our daughter.  They would push her to the limits with therapy and strategies for her level of learning.  For years, they worked with her to communicate via a computer and eye tracking system.  She started making decisions and choices with her eye gaze. Every year we had ARD meetings where a group of teachers and faculty would assemble and discuss her status. They would propose goals for Kennady and discuss their plans to help her accomplish the goals.  These meeting would always wreck us emotionally.  It blew our minds to have these professionals speak such hope and positivity into Kennady.

One of our favorite parts of school was Kennady’s interaction with other, “normal” kids.  Throughout the years, she would be mainlined with PE, band, or other classes.  For several years, she had peers assigned to help her in class.  It was a buddy system where they would help her interact with the class content or they would wheel her around the halls.  One year in elementary, we (the parents) wept as we saw a group of “normal” girls push Kennady’s wheelchair during a field day relay race.  They bounced down the grassy track, laughing all the way.  Kennady was laughing the most.  It was an incredible feeling to have others love and accept our daughter without reservation.

Kennady Steele graduates!

To be honest, there were many times when we wrestled with her being in school.  Is it worth it?  Is she taking up the spot of someone else that needs to be there more?  It takes so much work to get her ready, on the bus, and through the day.  She often slept in school.  In fact, one year at the ARD, one of the teacher’s goals was for her to stay awake during class.  Ha! I think she accomplished that one!

Now, we look back on 15 years and think about all the people that interacted with Kennady.  Hundreds of people talked with her, helped her, walked with her, listened to her.  What kind of impact has she made on them? How will their lives be different because of Kennady’s still, calm presence?  Kennady never made fun of people at school. She never judged anyone or intentionally made anyone feel left behind.  Quite the opposite is the case. Kennady makes people feel important and valuable.  This past Sunday, we honored all the high school graduates at our church.  We listed everyone’s accomplishments at school, stuff they were involved in, and their future plans. Here is what we stated for Kennady’s future: