Adam is finding new ways to connect
Adam is finding new ways to learn, connect and engage at Little City, building new interests and making meaningful progress beyond his screen. He’s building the skills and confidence to take on new challenges.
August 27, 2026
Screen addiction can be difficult for any young person to overcome, especially those with developmental disabilities. When Adam first arrived at Little City’s Center for Education, he had spent nearly six and a half hours each day on his tablet at his former school.
Breaking that dependency was a significant challenge. Adam would often run away, become aggressive, grab other students’ devices, or attempt to eat inedible objects.
“We tried having him work toward time on his device for the first month or two, but it did not work at all,” said Nicole Ruiz, Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the school. “We decided to remove it completely and we started to see a change.”
Without the tablet, Adam began discovering new activities and ways to engage with those around him. One of his favorite activities has been music therapy, where he enjoys participating with others and exploring instruments like strumming guitars.
“We’re excited for another school year with Adam,” Nicole said. “He has already improved so much and now it’s about building his attention span and figuring out his behavioral motivators. He has very fleeting motivators right now. What works one day might not work the next, so we want to build some consistency.”
Adam’s journey shows the power of your support and how you are helping him find new ways to connect.