Against All Odds
Jayson Heath has always been focused on education. “I wanted to go to college my whole
life.” He had many interests like aviation, computer science, and space. His mother,
Megan, encouraged him to investigate and learn, but she worried. Jayson was born with
development disabilities and diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at seven years
old. He struggled to read, and he couldn’t write.
“I wondered if it would even be possible for him to attend college,” his mother shared.
In the four years following high school, Jayson’s college dream seemed unlikely. He
and his family researched Utah State’s Aggies Elevated program, but two surgeries
were in the way.
The first surgery in 2017, was to correct Scheuermann's kyphosis, a severe spinal
curvature that would have otherwise left him confined to a wheelchair by the time
he was 30. Thanks to two titanium rods, 26 screws, and a year of recovery, his spine
was finally straight.
He relearned how to walk, and started a job at Walmart in 2019. But one day during
his shift, he called his mom to complain of a stabbing, blinding headache. It turned
out to be a golf ball-sized brain tumor. After an emergency craniotomy, the pain went
away, but something else magical happened. He was able to move his eyes for the first
time in his life, which allowed him to learn how to fluently read.
“I’ve read “Phantom Menace” and the Harry Potter series,” he says.
He recovered. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He picked up cycling and started riding his scooter long distances. And then, he heard
about the Utah Valley University’s Wolverines Elevated program.
“Due to my disabilities, school has been a challenge for me, but my parents and I
did research and found Wolverines Elevated, and it has been very good to me,” he says.
In his first semester, he is taking courses on stress management, majors and careers,
self-determination, career development, and English. In addition to his core classes,
he is experiencing college life and loves the UVU culture.
“My favorite thing at UVU are the fun events,” he says. “I went to go see the “Queen’s
Cartoonist” and I could not believe how talented the musicians were. Also, the Wendy’s
on campus is really good.”
For Megan, seeing her oldest child persevere and be able to attend college is a dream
come true.
“Everyone deserves the chance to learn if they want to, and no one puts more time
and effort into learning than Jayson,” she says. “For him to be enrolled in college
classes, learning skills – it is incredible to see as a parent. Just because he has
a difference in the way that he learns does not mean he can’t learn. Wolverines Elevated
has been the answer to our prayers. He is going to come away with so much because
of UVU.”
