Piper’s Big Catch: A Year of Courageous Steps “I was just going to watch… but then I tried it!”

In past years, Piper would not attend outings at a therapeutic horse-riding facility or a local fishing trip as stepping into the unknown and uncertainty of these events was an overwhelmingly daunting feat for her. It was a very clear and strong, “No!” when Piper was asked if she would like to do these activities. However, this year, everything changed! With support from her Learning Guides and some familiarity based on photos and hearing other learners share their experiences, Piper was ready to try. She created a plan that helped her feel safe and confident—her “just right challenge.”

When the class visited SMILES Therapeutic Riding, Piper stuck to her plan. She kept a comfortable distance from the horses but still took part in the day: watching her classmates ride and walk the horses, helping make peanut butter treats for the horses, and exploring the sensory garden. Simply choosing to go—and engaging in the ways that felt right for her—was an important step forward.

That step opened the door to an even bigger one. A month later, Piper not only agreed to attend the fishing trip with the M.A. Dailey Foundation at Jim Dailey’s beautiful pond, she ended up fully participating and enjoying it! After completing a nature scavenger hunt and watching her classmates, Piper felt brave enough to let a volunteer show her how the fishing pole worked. Minutes later, Piper was casting her line, reeling in fish, and showing off her catch—careful not to touch it, but smiling from ear to ear. She felt proud for stretching outside her comfort zone and trying something new.

“We couldn’t believe it— Piper came home beaming and couldn’t stop talking about how much fun she had fishing. Seeing her say ‘yes’ to something new means the world to us.” – Piper’s mom

Your support makes these moments possible, turning refusal into readiness, and readiness into joy. 

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