Erica attended school five days a week for approximately 6½ hours each day at Ridge School in Baltimore County, Maryland. Ridge School serves children with very severe disabilities and provided Erica with a structured, caring, and joyful environment.

School was not just a place for therapy or routine—it was a place where Erica thrived.

Learning, Therapy, and Movement

Each day, Erica worked with a variety of adaptive equipment, typically spending about 20 minutes with each:

  • A wedge, to help with extension
  • A prone stander, for weight-bearing
  • A side-lyer, to encourage further extension
  • A gait trainer, to support weight-bearing and assisted walking
  • An advancement chair, to help her learn to support her upper body

These activities were carefully integrated into her day and tailored to her abilities. Through it all, Erica was happy almost all of the time.

Music, Movement, and Community

Music played an important role in Erica’s school experience. She especially loved the drums. Erica participated in a gym-style class and regularly attended community outings, including cultural events.

In April 1999, her class attended a performance by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Erica’s love of music extended beyond school—she even tried to sing along with her daddy’s barbershop chorus.

She also participated in events with Baltimore County Infants and Toddlers, including a memorable Christmas party.

A Remarkable Educational Team

We were incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated educational team. We never had to fight for Erica’s needs—her teachers and therapists were always proactive, thoughtful, and generous in what they provided.

One IEP meeting was so thoroughly prepared that Michelle didn’t have a single thing to add.

The teachers, aides, principal, nurses, and therapists felt like a natural extension of our family. We believe this, too, was part of Erica’s quiet magic.

First Days and New Beginnings

Erica was ready and waiting for the school bus on her first day of school in September 1998. During the 1999–2000 school year, that same sense of excitement followed her even after our move to Pennsylvania.

She especially loved the elevator that lifted her and her wheelchair on and off the bus—it never failed to make her smile.

Giving Back: Aluminum Can-Top Collection

Erica also participated in a school recycling effort, collecting aluminum can tops for her class. Over time, she donated more than 75 pounds of pull tabs—this represented only about half of what was eventually turned in.

After moving to Littlestown, Pennsylvania, Erica continued collecting thousands of pull tabs with help from her mom, brother, and sister. It became a shared family effort and a simple way for Erica to give back in her own way.