At the start of day 3 of our immersion, we were all eager to have a full day connecting with the staff and clients at HighPointe. Our task for the day was to interview the clients and build one on one relationships. This was an incredibly special experience for the group because we were able to experience at least one person who changed the way we saw how people can connect. Between nonverbal and verbal people, everyone was heard in a way that we didn't think was possible. The clients were able to communicate with each other and get rid of the barriers that we originally thought were there.

After our day at HighPointe, we were given the opportunity to take a tour and eat at a brewery that opened the doors for people with disabilities. We met a couple people that worked there that showed us the hardships that may come with having a disability. Tiffany, the owner, showed us all the way the restaurant accommodated to the needs of people with disabilities such as hearing impaired, vision impaired, and wheelchair users. We realized that the ones with disabilities are not the ones that need to change or adapt, the world around them needs to understanding and welcoming.

We ended the day with a conversation with Carmen, a Regis parent who has a daughter that attends HighPointe. She showed vulnerability opening up to us about her life raising a daughter with a disability. She shared that this was something that she wasn't prepared for, let alone wanted, before having her daughter. She now sees her as a blessing, knowing that her daughter was there to share something special with the world. She invited us to reflect on how much our parents truly do for us. And for that we realized how blessed we all were for the parents and life we were given.

We are excited for what the next days bring and are incredibly grateful for the lessons we are learning.