Somehow, our girl is 15 and graduating from 8th grade. High school is right around the corner, and honestly, we’re still catching our breath.

Living with Rett Syndrome hasn’t been easy. Claire’s journey… hasn’t been easy. As you may know, Rett Syndrome is a condition that impacts nearly every part of her daily life. Claire is nonverbal, in a wheelchair, has no purposeful hand use, is very medically complex and is dependent on others for everything. But if you think that slows her down—you don’t know Claire.

She is one of the strongest, most resilient, and determined people I know. She’s full of spice and spunk, delivers the best side-eyes, and has a sharp sense of humor. There’s a quiet fire in her that won’t be silenced. She’s always had so much to say—and now, she finally can.

One of our biggest hopes for Claire was to help her learn to read and write—because we believed that if she could communicate her thoughts, she’d feel more free, more empowered, and less stuck in a body that doesn’t cooperate the way she wants it to.

It’s taken years of hard work, trial and error, and finding the right tools. But Claire is doing it. She did it! She’s reading. She’s writing. And today, I get to share something incredibly special: a newsletter she helped create through some of her past work.

This is Claire’s voice, her heart, and her way of reminding the world that just because someone is nonverbal doesn’t mean they have nothing to say. This is also a reminder of how important it is to always presume competence!

Claire, we are so incredibly proud of you! 🌟 You’ve reached such a huge milestone, and while the transition to high school feels a little scary and overwhelming (for all of us!), we know you’ll keep shining your light and sharing your voice in your own beautiful way.

We’re your biggest cheerleaders, your biggest fans, and we cannot wait to see where this next chapter takes you.

Congratulations, sweet girl—you did it! 💜🎓🎓💜