fun-filled days at school,

football games as a teen,

a tassel and gown,

maybe even college?

Very soon I recognized that he was disabled.

My dreams did not die, they only altered slightly, for I was sure the world would look past his handicap to the wonderful person he was on the inside. And I waited hopefully.

During the elementary years my dreams were squashed and shrunk down to fit a boy with a disability. His friends were few, school was difficult, and people shook their heads at my son's weaknesses.

My dreams did not die, but they suffered malignant growths of doubt and negativism as my son's teen years loomed bleakly on the horizon of failures. And people clucked their tongues and rolled their eyes at my son's lack of normality.

My dreams did not die, but they began to seriously suffer from lack of oxygen and encouragement. And depression hit as my son's interest in school appeared to be gone and he had no friends his age to spend time with. I cried in despair at the downward, sucking spiral he seemed destined to live in.

Then my dreams lay beaten up, battered, crushed, and nearly destroyed. Now I knew that the world would always look at my son's disability first and all hope for his success lay gasping for its last breath.

Then the Star Center's staff came into my son's life and my dreams revived a little. I saw my son accepted for the person he was on the inside for the first time in his life. I saw his interest in education renewed. I saw him smile more and have a reason for getting up in the morning. I saw my son accomplish things because the staff made him feel special and successful.

I have been dreaming dreams again, dreams with fresh, new life:

some educational struggles, but with encouraging pats on the back,

some "different" ways of learning, but with a satisfied smile on my son's face,

and successful progress,

in the future, maybe even college?

But if not, I don't mind.

The Star Center's staff have already brought my dreams to a reality by giving my son an opportunity to succeed by learning in his own unique way!