STEPS Pathways College student Elisha has faced her fears of creepy crawly animals and made friends with a bearded dragon at Moffat Beach.
For the Boarding College students’ latest Saturday outing, they decided to visit Seaview Artists Gallery, followed by a walk to Moffat Beach to soak up the sunshine.
It was there that the group encountered a bearded dragon, which STEPS Pathways Boarding College Team Leader Shane Hooper says was outside of Elisha’s comfort zone.
“Elisha thought the bearded dragon looked pretty scary, and she’s not really a fan of creepy-crawly type animals in general,” Shane said.
“We saw a learning opportunity here, so we talked about the lizard and how he’ll be comfortable so long as you give him his space. Elisha stood far away from him and slowly edged toward the lizard – with some encouragement from her fellow students.”
Elisha soon got close enough for Shane to snap a picture of the moment, and she’s still very proud of her personal achievement. Shane says that Elisha was so happy and excited about the experience, she had to give the lizard a name: Mr Dragon.
A STEPS Pathways College boarding student since September 2023, Elisha has made great strides in her personal journey over the last year.
Shane said the weekend outings don’t just build the students’ social skills, but they also build their confidence and open them up to unique experiences.
“On the weekends, our students have the opportunity to enjoy the many attractions and beautiful sights that the Sunshine Coast has to offer,” Shane said.
“They can engage with new people and new activities, and even small stories like the tale of Elisha and Mr Dragon prove that STEPS Pathways College is a unique holistic program for independence and empowerment. This is just one of the many small successes we get with our students in their time with us, and it’s little moments like this that build up their confidence for those major milestones.”
About STEPS Pathways College:
As the first and only boarding college for people with disabilities and autism in Australia, STEPS is leading the change to create a brighter future for our students and all young people with disabilities and autism throughout the country. At STEPS Pathways College, students learn independent living skills through a combination of classroom and community-based training, as well as everyday life skills learned on the College campus, accommodations, and facilities that reflect true independent living.
