August 24, 2018

Craig School Program Helps Patients Keep Up with Classes

For many, this is back-to-school season. For current or former patients at Craig, going back to school looks a lot different than they had expected.

Some students are entering their school hallways for the first time following a catastrophic injury. Others are able to keep up with their studies, while participating in Craig therapies, thanks to the School Program.

Ryan Joseph is one of these patient scholars. Ryan sustained a spinal cord injury in a high school wrestling match in January 2018 and came to Craig for inpatient therapy shortly after. Right away, Ryan was placed into the donor-funded School Program at Craig.

Meet Ryan Joseph – Recipient of Craig’s Culture of Care

As an inpatient and now an outpatient, Ryan is participating in Craig’ School Program, studying English and history with Craig school teachers Laura and Cory. They coordinated with Ryan’s teachers back home on curriculum. While at Craig, Ryan is earning physical education and science credits for his work in physical and occupational therapies and for his new understanding of his body and injuries.

Because of their help, Ryan is a junior this year, with the classmates he’s grown up with. This is more important than Ryan and his family could have imagined. It creates normalcy in a challenging time. It will allow Ryan to graduate on the timeline expected, be with his peers, and participate in activities that are important to him.

Laura and Cory as well as other people on Ryan’s care team are working with him and his family on a school transition plan. Laura was even able to visit Ryan’s school in California, talk with teachers and administrators, and help set Ryan up for success for when he completes his intensive outpatient therapy.

Craig is one of only four rehabilitation centers nationwide with credentialed school teachers on staff. Because of this, more than 50 students were helped by the program in the 2017-2018 academic year. Craig looks forward to another year of championing students as they head back to school and supporting them all year long!

Programs like the School Program this rely on donations to help patients with spinal cord and brain injuries.