Ty's Dream

Meet Ty

Ty’s sweet smile and the way he looks into your eyes says it all, even if he cannot verbally express himself. This loving 16-year-old from Charlotte, NC lives with regressive autism and is non-verbal however he has found an instant connection with horses in equine therapy. Being around horses has calmed and helped ease Ty’s anxiety. It has also allowed him to use physical communication to connect with the horse, which has been an encouraging experience. He loves the riding and the horses so much that he often lays on the horse during the sessions because he feels so peaceful!

Youth living with non-verbal regressive autism often struggle in social situations and this disorder has affected his quality of life in many ways (Ty’s mother explained). He has adapted by refining his receptive communication skills and he has developed a way to communicate with his family and team of therapists, affectionately known as his “squad”. Nothing gets past him – as he certainly knows when you are talking about him because a sweet smile lights up his face!

In addition to his love for horses, Ty also loves to surf and has participated in a specialized surfing camp. He loves to chow down on burgers, jam to the tunes of Bruno Mars, and he loves going fast on roller coasters! Ty’s Dream is to attend the Kentucky Derby to see all of the beautiful horses, and possibly pet one! We are certain that making these memories will help him and be a treasure for many years to come!

Ty's Dream

Sixteen-year-old Ty who “loves to be around horses and would love to see them run fast!” lives with regressive autism, meaning that he is non-verbal. Even though Ty is non-verbal, he found an instant connection to horses through equine therapy. Being around horses has helped to calm Ty and ease his anxiety. It has also given him the opportunity to use physical communication to connect with animals, which has been an incredibly positive experience for Ty.

Last week, Ty flew on a private jet to Louisville, Kentucky where his Dream came true at the Kentucky Derby! Ty and his family enjoyed a VIP experience at the track on Friday and Saturday with an all-inclusive ticket package. They also enjoyed a private tour of the Churchill Downs paddock, which is a BIG deal for horse enthusiasts. Ty absolutely loved his custom Dream On 3 jacket and bowtie along with all the people who helped to make his day special. One of those special people was a retired horse racing enthusiast, who gifted Ty a race program from the derby that was signed by all 20 jockeys…including Rich Strike’s jockey, Sonny Leon!

Not only did Ty’s Dream come true, Ty’s family found out that travel is in fact possible with Ty, who hadn’t felt comfortable flying in a number of years. We are so excited to see where Ty will travel next!

Special thank you to our friends at QuintEvents for making Ty’s Dream come true.

Dream Snapshots
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