Chris, 18 years old, NM | NEEDED BY 05/15

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Chris deals with everyday challenges because he has autism. He finds it hard to interact with people and adjust to new places. To manage these difficulties, he uses different strategies; sometimes, he walks around in rooms for a long time to help calm himself down. His support team is helping him get the right placement and support he needs. Recently, Chris moved to a specialized group home and is adjusting to living in a new town with surroundings he's not used to.

Chris has reached an important milestone that deserves celebration. He has faced challenges being around others and has never enjoyed school. When Chris first came into custody, he chose to spend his school days alone in a small room. His school struggled to motivate him to complete his life skills work. While in foster care, Chris learned the importance of structure and routine. He attended three different schools: his original school, then moved almost eight hours away to a group home for more support, and finally decided to return to his hometown for another school. Now, Chris really enjoys his current school. The special education class is small, and he loves the state-of-the-art sensory room they have. As Chris approaches graduation, he wants to commemorate this special time with some keepsakes. He is looking to get a class necklace, a cap and gown, announcements, and a few other items to remember his senior year.