When Sean first came to MacIntyre School, he was 16 years old and had been out of education for over four years. The pandemic had made everything harder, and Sean spent most of his time in his room, feeling anxious and overwhelmed.
Keeping it comfortable
Before Sean moved in Leah, one of MacIntyre School’s Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Leads, took time to build a relationship with both Sean and his family, by visiting Sean at home and understanding what made him feel safe.
When he finally moved in it was important to keep things simple and steady. Sean had a small, consistent team of people to support him so he could get used to the same faces around him.
Working with the PBS team, Sean’s routine was comforting, familiar and, most importantly, flexible. By celebrating his interests and playing games when he wanted, Sean could connect with others, and use his own sensory plan when things felt overwhelming.
His family played a crucial role throughout the entire process. With regular check-ins and updates, they worked alongside his Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists to make sure everything came together in the right way.
Soon after, Sean began to explore the world beyond his bedroom.
A completely new outlook
The changes in Sean have been amazing to see.
He now goes to school full-time and, more importantly, wants to be there.
He loves chatting with others, laughing with his friends, and has really started to connect with his classmates by joining in with after-school clubs and sharing meals together.
A particularly memorable moment came when Sean took part in a Duke of Edinburgh residential trip and stayed away from home overnight.
Recently, Sean helped cut the ribbon to officially open our brand-new immersive reality room at the school. He greeted everyone with a smile, helping to make the event feel welcoming and full of warmth. (https://www.macintyrecharity.org/news-blogs/immersive-reality-at-macintyre-school/)
But maybe the most remarkable moment came when Sean went to a hospital appointment in which he needed to go under general anaesthetic. This was something that, not long ago, would have been unthinkable for him. With careful planning and the use of visual stories to prepare him, he managed the whole experience with ease.
Looking Ahead
Sean and his team are already thinking about what comes next. It’s clear he has a natural warmth and a way with people that would make him great in customer service or any role where he’s helping others which is something Sean wants to explore more. He’s also diving into summer programmes, work experience, and new adventures with real enthusiasm.
Sean’s family describes the changes as “life-changing,” and they’re absolutely right. But the truth is, it’s Sean who has done the hard work. We’ve simply been there to ensure that he had the right support at the right time, with the right people by his side.
Reflecting on Sean’s journey, Leah said:
“I remember we called his parents, the first time he and some of his friends went to the local park, and his mum was just so thankful, she was in tears, saying that all they’ve wanted to do is take him to the park for the last four years. She said this is the most amazing thing you've done, you've changed his life completely! And that really makes you think ‘Do you know what? We do things right here. And if we do things right, we can do it and we can get it really, really right for a young person.’
We've done what we do best, and it's worked for him.”
