Making Space for All Students
Dusten and Shalene Hendrickson are firm believers that the right learning environment can make all the difference in education. As experts in optimizing space for neurodivergent learners and parents of a son on the autism spectrum, the couple has run the gamut on comprehensive learning.
They have a passion for education, built on the hard-learned wisdom of their son, Beckham’s, journey with autism. Over the past decade since his diagnosis at the age of two, Dusten and Shalene have tirelessly explored tools and applications that can improve Beckham’s experience in the classroom and in the world. Now, they’ve committed to giving Jackrabbit students access to that same knowledge by helping fund the special education and elementary education degree programs at SDSU.
Beckham is the youngest child in the Hendrickson family, little brother to Aralynn and Aubryn. After he was diagnosed with autism, Dusten and Shalene were determined to acclimate to an entirely new style of parenting, immersing themselves in resources and research. The couple are fervent advocates of integrating programming for autistic students at a young age and customizing support as students grow through different stages of learning.
“Those younger years are so impactful, if you have the right therapies and the right classes to help,” says Shalene. “When I was younger, there was a stigma around different learners with different brains. We can change that by educating the educators for all types of learners.”
Shalene believes that many of Beckham’s learning strategies can help students on and off the spectrum. Like many neurodivergent kids, Beckham feels compelled to keep his body in motion, even when studying; as a result, the Hendricksons installed both a rock-climbing wall and trampoline in their house. In the classroom, they gifted the middle school he attends a vibration plate, which meets many students’ needs from standing on it.
“The biggest thing is making these kids feel more comfortable in their environment so they’re able to learn,” explains Shalene.
While the Hendricksons were busy reinforcing support and awareness for all learners at Beckham’s school, they were surprised to discover that South Dakota State did not offer degrees in special education or elementary education. Determined to get the university up to speed, they provided pivotal funding to make those degrees a reality.
Dusten and Shalene have carried over that passion for education into the workplace, as well. They’ve spent 20 years in real estate, where Dusten specializes in design. With their business, he’s incorporated all that he’s learned from Beckham’s journey into spaces tailored to neurodivergent learners. These properties lean heavily on natural light, soft materials, and tight, cozy spaces where individuals can feel safe, centered, and comfortable.
Though the learning environment is deeply impactful for students, the education system needs competent and compassionate teachers to lead within it. The special education and elementary education majors available at SDSU will ensure that future teachers are prepared to meet the needs of learners of all kinds.
“Educators have the heart, and you cannot teach that,” says Shalene. “But with these programs, we can help our teachers know how to help our students – all of them.”
Looking back on their decision, the Hendricksons point to their belief that God will give to those who give, along with the notion of receiving blessings in return for generosity. Despite their reservations in considering the magnitude of their generosity, the couple felt certain that funding the elementary and special education degrees was what they were meant to do. “We’ve been able to build and scale and get to a point where we’re in a position to give back,” says Dusten, “and we’ve gotten so much in return.”
South Dakota State has also gotten much in return because of the Hendricksons’ generosity. Future teachers within the special education and elementary education programs receive invaluable training, understanding, and resources to help tomorrow’s learners thrive. Beckham is living proof of the impact that a learning environment can have on an education, and, with his parents’ investment, the university is preparing just the right teachers for just the right space, starting at SDSU.
