By: Me, age 6 Everyone keeps saying it’s almost time to see Santa. They say it like it’s fun. Like it’s sparkly and magical and full of jingle bells. And maybe it is—for other kids. But for me? Well… it’s kind of a lot. When I think about seeing Santa, my tummy does a weird …
Okay, real talk — adulting sounds kinda scary, right? Bills, jobs, laundry that never ends?! But at the iCan Dream Center, we’re in a flurry of activity here today getting everything ready to flip the script! At tomorrow’s Adulting Conference, “adulting” means learning how to live your best life — with confidence, purpose, and maybe a few dance …
An iCan Dream Center High School Alumni Reflects Life Six Months After Graduation My name is Martina. I graduated from my public high school in May after spending three semesters completing my high school credits at iCan Dream Center. Everyone keeps asking me what I’m doing — college, job, program — but honestly, I still …
Project-based learning gives students a reason to learn. For youth who have struggled in traditional classrooms — often because of learning differences, trauma, or negative past experiences — PBL offers something different: relevance, ownership, and success they can see and feel. Here’s why it’s so effective: Project-based learning doesn’t just teach academics. It restores hope, relevance, and self-belief.It tells …
When news broke that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) was being impacted by federal shutdowns and layoffs, many of us who serve students with disabilities felt our hearts sink. For therapeutic schools like iCan Dream Center, this office isn’t just a bureaucratic body — it’s a lifeline. Why This Office …
Hey friends, Katie here. Every October, our nation observes National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). It’s a time to recognize progress, reflect on barriers, and most importantly—to act. At iCan Dream Center, this month means more than awareness. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the businesses in our community that believe in our students, those who …
When I walk into school during Mexican American History Month, I feel something different in the air—it feels like me. The colors displayed, the music, and the way our teachers highlight leaders who look like my family—it all reminds me that I belong here. This week, in Transition and Credit Recovery, our theme is Inspiration and Legacy. Each …
When I wake up in the morning, my eyes open wide but my body feels heavy. The sunlight through the window is so bright it makes me squint. Mommy helps me get dressed, but the shirt feels scratchy on my skin and I don’t like the tag. I pull at it and cry until she …
Walk through a high school today and you’ll notice a shift: boys spritzing cologne in the locker room, styling their hair before first period, and paying more attention to grooming than previous generations may have at the same age. At first glance, it might look like vanity, but beneath the surface are two powerful developmental …
Music has always been more than background noise—it’s a mirror of identity, emotion, and belonging. For teenagers, the songs they play on repeat are often a language all their own, expressing things they may not yet know how to say out loud. As parents and teachers, choosing to lean into the music teens love is …
