Miles and Milestones: Ben Edwards Navigates His College Journey

In late August 2026, 20-year-old Ben Edwards left his home in Marquette, Michigan, and drove 800 miles to Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, for his freshman year.

“I’m looking forward to starting college,” he says. “While it will be new and exciting, it’s also a little scary.”

For Ben’s mom, Anna, the transition to college is definitely a daunting experience: “We are thrilled that Ben is excited about this journey. However, there are many challenges ahead—considering that Ben is moving 12 hours from home on his own—and in a wheelchair.”

She adds, “But thanks to Joelle Ruggeri in Craig’s Community Reintegration program, we have tons of support as Ben embarks on this thrilling adventure.”

Seizing the Opportunity

In August 2022, Ben was attending a family reunion in rural Minnesota. While at the gathering, he fell off a stand-up swing, breaking his C5 and C6 vertebrae. After spending several weeks at a hospital in Minneapolis, he transferred to Craig for his SCI neurorehabilitation.

“Ben had such a great experience at Craig,” recalls Anna. “When he first arrived, he couldn’t sit up, and he had a trach and a vent. He received phenomenal care and support at Craig, with the entire staff anticipating his every need. Not only was each day packed with therapies, but the School Program helped Ben stay connected and on-track with his learning.”

Ben adds, “My care team helped push me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to do things that I wouldn’t have otherwise done, such as participating in Craig’s Adolescent Program [formerly Teen Rehabilitation at Craig, or TRAC]. I felt very lucky to be at Craig, so I decided not to waste the opportunity. If I was not taking advantage of everything that Craig had to offer, it meant I was taking a spot someone else might need.”

Once Ben returned home to Michigan, he went back to school on a hybrid schedule with a shortened school day. “Going back to school was challenging, especially navigating the bus,” Ben says. “But I figured it out after a while.”

Because he was unable to take all of the classes he needed for college, Ben decided to take a fifth year and dual enroll at Northern Michigan University, several blocks from his home. “Taking classes at Northern Michigan was helpful in teaching me how college works, while still being close to home,” Ben explains.

When it came time to think about applying to college, Ben insisted that he wanted to leave home. “We looked at numerous schools before deciding on Benedictine College,” Anna says. “The school was not only located in a city with a lot less snow than the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but the students and staff were so welcoming and the campus was small and accessible. It checked all the boxes.”

Ben adds, “Benedictine also has a nursing program, which we thought would be helpful for hiring caregivers.”

Finding Independence

Before heading off to Kansas, Ben is planning ahead to ensure he has the necessary housing and classroom accommodations in place: “We recently met with Joelle in Craig Community Reintegration to discuss everything I need to request from Benedictine’s disability office, including a dorm room with enough space for a hospital bed, a wide door, a roll-in bathroom sink, and an electric door opener.”

Additionally, Ben says that having access to all campus buildings and classrooms—as well as a scribe for note-taking and extra time for exams—will be extremely important to his success.

“It’s vital to plan ahead in order to tackle the many unknowns,” Joelle says. “Advocating for oneself is necessary when it comes to creating a comfortable and safe learning environment at school.”

Ben hopes to be able to move into his dorm room early to be sure his accommodations are all in place before classes start.

“I am planning to stay close by for the first few weeks, so Ben has everything he needs before I leave, including an established emergency plan and caregivers in place to help with Ben’s morning and evening routines,” Anna says. “Our intention is to continue to work with Craig’s Community Reintegration team on an as-needed basis. Having Joelle as an ongoing resource is extremely helpful.”

When asked about this new adventure, Ben says he is proud of himself for leaving home: “I think it’s important to get out of your comfort zone and try new things, even if they feel scary.”

Anna adds, “Ben is our oldest of four boys, and he’s the first to leave the nest. While this will be challenging for all of us, it’s a wonderful experience for Ben, and a time of great personal growth and independence.”

 To learn more or donate to help Craig grads like Ben, please visit craighospital.org/foundation/donate.