Maclaen: Crossing Bridges
One By One
By Maggie Plummer
of the Polson Leader Newspaper

POLSON – During the past school year, 19-year-old Maclaen Burningham of Polson may have found his niche in the working world. That doesn’t sound like a big deal until one learns more about young Maclaen. He graduated from Polson High School in 2002 as a “special needs” student. Born with a rare genetic disability called Prader-Willi Syndrome, he has travelled a sometimes bumpy road looking for the type of work he can excel at and be happy doing.

Linderman Elementary School Principal Steve York believes Maclaen has found it at his school. “He’s a darned good tutor,” the principal says. This year Maclaen tutored 60 Linderman first graders, reading with them. “The kids love going to read with Maclaen,” remarks first grade teacher Chris Paulson. “We had to create a schedule just to bring some order to the demand.” She adds that the teachers love having him at the school. In fact, the young man was honored at the end of the school year, in front of a school assembly. York feels that tutoring at Linderman is “giving Maclaen a chance to be the best he can be.” He’s willing to do menial tasks to maintain his tutor position, and he loves the children. “If offered full time work with the kids at Linderman, I would take it in two seconds,” Maclaen says with a big smile. “I’m friends with all the kids, pretty much.” Sue Heppner, Title VII Aide at the school, describes the young tutor as very positive and very interested in the children. “He is very dependable,” she adds. “He’s amazingly tuned in. He also takes criticism very well.” York calls Maclaen “really patient, steady, and consistent.” Another word mentioned is “conscientious.” He missed only one day of the school year, and that was due to an unavoidable doctor appointment. Also, he is always concerned about what the teachers think of his work with their students. During the Christmas season he brought gifts for the children. “This has been an amazing thing to me,” York says. “This is the world to him. What we do is important. Maclaen is more productive when you give him a challenge.” Along the way, there have been plenty of challenges.

Retired PHS special education teacher Don Dubuque worked with Maclaen for many years. Maclaen’s mother, Valerie Burningham, calls Dubuque a “lifesaver.” In the spring of 2000, the teacher approached Maclaen and his parents about participating in the WISER Project, sponsored by the University of Montana’s Rural Institute. The program involved job coaches working with Maclaen and other special needs students to develop work experiences, with the idea of eventually finding them paid jobs that would utilize their abilities. Up to that point, the Burninghams hadn’t had any support or direction to help their son become a self-sufficient adult. For years, Val recalls, the family didn’t know if he would ever be able to work and live independently. With the WISER Project, it became immediately clear that he could do it. “Maclaen and I have had a great, great working relationship,” Dubuque says. “He developed his own job sites by taking initiative, maturing and taking responsibility.”

The former teacher, who now works half time for the Rural Institute as a Transition Coach and Project Coordinator, credits Polson with giving many special needs students a “tremendous amount of community support.” He describes Maclaen as “everyone’s friend.” He loves to please and he works hard, Dubuque says. “He does have support needs,” he notes. “He needs good relationships to be comfortable working.” Maclaen has already had a variety of work experiences, some of which he did before high school graduation. Among his jobs have been and are positions at the Polson City Library, St. Joseph Assisted Living, Mainsail Video, Top 40 Video, Odyssey Glass, various offices in the county courthouse, and now Linderman School. He loves working at the library. “They’re always friendly,” he comments. “They’re an awesome group to work with.” He checks books and helps with the library’s conversion to a new computer system. Not too surprisingly, when tiny Linderman students come to the library, it’s Maclaen they run to first.

Valerie Burningham worked for years as a reading tutor herself. “Maclaen has a huge strength in reading,” she says. She approached York and asked that her son be considered for a reading position at the school, and not necessarily limited to more menial jobs. “Mr. York was willing to try something new,” she says. “He was willing to put Maclaen in a position that would use his strengths.” Clearly, it takes a team effort to make a successful transition from special needs student to working adult. Maclaen has a very, very long list of people he wants to thank for helping him. He is grateful to all the people in the community who have helped by giving him a chance to work.

When not on the job, he’s a typical teenager in many ways. His favorite thing is listening to rock music on his headphones – especially “jamming on the porch” at home. His favorite group? Huey Lewis and The News. One of his central goals is to eventually move into his own house.

The oldest of four children, he describes his family as “supportive.” He has some heartfelt advice for other young people with disabilities. “If you want to do something, believe in yourself,” Maclaen says. “Keep trying and trying and never give up hope and never underestimate yourself.”

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