About Jardine Spears

Jardine Nathaniel Spears was born on January 23, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia to the parents of Hilary Oliphant and Tyrone Spears. Jardine’s infectious smile brought joy and warmth to his family on a daily basis and his personality was contiguous and so lovable. By the age of 18 months, there began a different type of shift in his personality and behavior. His lack of eye contact started to become more noticeable. It became apparent that his speech communication and his social skills began to diminish. His parents were concerned, but like most first time parents; they thought it was only a slow delay in growth like some toddlers. Subsequently, Jardine at the age of two was diagnosed with Autism. Jardine’s parents immediately got him involved in some of the most renowned programs available for Autism. Jardine began horseback riding, water therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy, which started a new journey for him and his amazing development, thus far.

Now a budding teenager, Jardine is in middle school and he loves it. The transition has been wonderful for him. He really likes his teacher, classmates and new found independence. He’s taken up the guitar and hopes to make the swim team next year. He enjoys karate, traveling the world, church, using his phone, ipad and much more………  His favorite food to eat is pizza and spinach pie or spanakopita.  He loves hanging out on the golf courses; driving the golf carts with his dad! 

Jardine really struggled academically during the pandemic. Home schooling was not his cup of tea. His elementary school underwent some administration changes that led to us discovering his Individual Development Plan (IDP) wasn’t being followed as it should and realizing Jardine wasn’t getting the support he needed at school on learning how to read. After a series of interventions, from both the school and at home we’re happy to report Jardine learned to read as a 6th grader. His parents had to buckle down and help teach him on their own as well as working with the school system so that Jardine was given a reading tutor and a separate time block dedicated to him practicing to read during the school day. His development has been absolutely amazing, however not without some challenges we’ve had to overcome.  The support that he has from his parents, family, friends and the school system has brought him to a level that we are so blessed to see today.