Kayla loves to watch hockey. The last two weeks she has spent hours at the UVM rink watching the women’s team warm up and play their games. One of the many highlights of spending time at the UVM ice rink is riding the Zamboni. Kayla has become very social with all of the men that help keep the ice clean, especially Mike. He has gone out of his way to get her on and off the Zamboni, without having her miss the routine of giving high fives to the women as they go out on the ice.
As a parent, it has been incredible to watch the transformation of Kayla as she has participated in Team Impact (http://www.goteamimpact.org/) over the last three months. Her social skills, confidence level, and independence have flourished. The relationships that she has developed with the players, spectators, and staff at the rink bring out the best in her. Although the UVM women’s team is struggling to win games right now, in Kayla’s eyes they are still heroes. And the players may just be able to learn something from Kayla as well. As Kayla put it: “Don’t give up.” This is something that Kayla does every day; she never gives up.