Introducing Pittsburgh's 2027 Ambassador - Ryland Hartman

Ryland Gabriel Hartman is 4 years old.  One of his exceptional character traits is his ability to fill any room with such contagious joy!  He is a little warrior with a big personality!  He is observant, curious, adventurous, and playful, always eager to explore the world around him.  He thoroughly enjoys multisensory experiences that involve movement, sound, physical contact, and watching cause and effect.  Whether he is discovering something new, engaging with the people around him, or simply enjoying the moment, his curiosity and playful spirit shine through.  He approaches life with determination, wonder, and an infectious personality that makes him truly one of a kind.

He loves books, puzzles, music and singing, and listening to his Toniebox.  He has a special place in his heart for Toy Story and Franklin the Turtle, and of course, his beloved Woody doll.  He loves playing with blocks and dinosaurs and discovering how things work.

And then there is water, water, and more water!  He loves being in and around water and especially enjoys visits to the

 aquarium. He loves going to the lake with his family, being outdoors and enjoying the fresh air, taking walks, and spending time on the swings.  Whether he is exploring, listening to music, playing, splashing in the water, or enjoying time with his family, he brings curiosity, adventure, and plenty of personality to everything he does.

This year, Ryland absolutely crushed so many of his goals!  He has worked so hard and made incredible strides, from walking independently—and everywhere - to feeding himself with only a little support.  He has gained so much confidence, letting his curiosity and determination lead the way as he explores, even when visiting new places.  And as if all of that wasn’t amazing enough, he even learned how to ride a horse and a bike! Watching Ryland grow in confidence, independence, and courage this year has been nothing short of incredible.  He continues to show us that with determination, support, and a little warrior spirit, he can accomplish so much.  We couldn’t be more proud of him and all that he has achieved!

Ryland is surrounded by such amazing love.  He is lucky to have a big tribe of people who adore him, protect him, and celebrate him. At the center of that circle are his Mommy and Daddy with his precious Grammy, his real #1, two doors away—they are his safe place, his home, and the people who know him best.  They understand his personality, his expressions, his quirks, and all the little ways he communicates without words.  He is also blessed with the love of his Mimi and Pap Pap, who bring their own special kind of unconditional love and connection into his life.  They are familiar arms to run to, familiar voices, and people who have helped create a sense of security and belonging around him.  And then there are the many aunts, uncles, and cousins in Ryland's life—both the family he was born into and the friends who have become family along the way.  Ryland's world is bigger because of them.  He has people surrounding him who have chosen to love him, not because they have to, but because he has captured their hearts.

There is so much gratitude for Ryland’s circle- for the people who show up, who celebrate his milestones, who worry about him, laugh with him, and love him exactly as he is.  He is growing up knowing many different kinds of love—from parents, grandparents, extended family, and the chosen family his parents have built around him.

On August 16, 2021, I was 11 weeks pregnant. Bright and early, before putting on my 1st grade teacher hat, I was on my Peloton anxiously awaiting the results of my NIPT test. I just knew I was having a boy and this test was going to confirm it!  When the email finally arrived, I opened it with shaking hands. Instead of the answer I was expecting, I saw a large red warning triangle and the words “high risk for Trisomy 21.”  I have never felt more alone and terrified in my life.

At that precise moment, time stood still, but our tribe rallied around us.  What followed was an emotional rollercoaster filled with scary appointments and uncertain moments, but exactly 28 weeks later, I delivered our beautiful warrior, Ryland.  He was born with an ASD in his heart and pulmonary hypertension.  While my pregnancy had been physically smooth, emotionally it was anything but.  Yet the second I held my sweet baby boy, all of the fear melted away.

For the past four years, we have learned life together in the most beautiful, glorious, and rewarding way. From the NICU to cozy Saturday mornings snuggling, breastfeeding to eating independently, needing support to sit upright to walking independently, learning to communicate and make choices in his own way, following directions, becoming more independent at bath time, swimming, exploring new places and lake towns, using adaptive equipment, navigating medical needs, learning how to ride a bike and a horse, and even running a half marathon with Mommy each year—Ryland has continually shown us what determination, courage, and joy look like.  He is our greatest teacher.

But while I have spent these years advocating for Ryland and celebrating every milestone, he has given me endless grace and patience as I navigated motherhood, advocacy, a full teacher plate, and the beautiful life we were building together. He taught me to slow down, to celebrate the little things, to trust the journey, and to see possibilities where I once saw uncertainty.  And that our life doesn't have to look like anyone else's to be extraordinary.

Through every high and every low, this journey has changed our lives in ways we never could have imagined. There isn't a single part of our lives that Ryland hasn't touched and made better, brighter, and bursting with love and joy.  He is our little warrior with a big personality, and I am endlessly grateful that I get to be his mom—to learn, grow, advocate, explore, and experience this beautiful life alongside him.

When Ryland was almost three, we began noticing that he was having difficulty socializing at school and in the community. The normal chaos of a classroom and loud, unexpected noises were overwhelming and, at times, terrifying for him. Professionally, I am taught to recognize warning signs—and as his mom, I was beginning to see those signs right in front of me.  Ryland was showing me that he needed us to listen.

I made an appointment with a doctor, who referred us to another doctor, who then referred us to a third.  After more than eight hours of evaluations, we learned that Ryland was also autistic.

Once again, I found myself face-to-face with grief.  But this time, things were different.  We had an incredible team of professionals and therapists surrounding us—people who enveloped our family with love, understanding, and support.  Some of these incredible people had known Ryland since he was born.  I trusted them, leaned into their expertise, and allowed them to help guide us through this new chapter.

We made some tweaks to his already thorough therapy schedule and introduced new adaptive equipment to support him at home and in the community.  More importantly, his team helped me see the beauty in learning another layer of our sweet boy. They taught me the bravery that comes with a pivot, the importance of meeting him where he is, and the excitement that comes with starting something new.

At his school at the time, Ryland was loved, valued, cared for, and celebrated.  But as an educator, I also knew how precious this window of time was.  I knew we needed to make sure he was developing the skills and confidence he would need to transition into kindergarten successfully.

Choosing to move him to Easterseals was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.  But somewhere deep in my gut, I knew it was a pivotal moment that would change his life.

And just as they say, a mother’s intuition is never wrong.

Easterseals became the home we didn't even know we had been longing for—a place where Ryland was understood, celebrated for exactly who he was, and surrounded by people who saw not limitations, but possibilities. They didn't just teach Ryland; they taught us. They became another part of our village, and we will forever be grateful that they helped us find our way to the next chapter of his incredible journey.

I still remember touring Easterseals for the first time with my mom.  We walked through the doors feeling nervous and scared, unsure of what this next chapter would bring.  But somehow, we walked out feeling like we had just reconnected with extended family we hadn’t seen in years.  There was an immediate sense of warmth, belonging, and understanding that we hadn’t realized we had been searching for.

Ryland enrolled in the Export, PA preschool program in November 2025, and from the very beginning, we have been surrounded by the most incredible staff.  We have built the most wonderful relationships with every person there, and for the first time in Ryland’s life, I could walk into a meeting about his needs without leaving feeling defeated or discouraged.

Of course, we talked about his abilities and the areas where he was still growing, but the conversation was completely different.  There was never an emphasis on what Ryland couldn’t do.  Instead, there was an understanding and celebration of where he was, paired with an intentional, thoughtful plan for where he was going.  We talked about the tools, strategies, and support that would help him get there.  I didn't leave those meetings feeling overwhelmed by everything ahead of us.  I left feeling excited—excited for Ryland, excited for the journey ahead, and excited for our family because, for the first time, I knew we had found our home.

Over the past nine months, Laurie, Amy, Amanda, Stacy, Gina, Sami, Kaitlin, Annie, Marianna, and Chelsea have become so much more than educators and therapists. They have become our teachers, our support system, our comfort, our encouragement, and our source of wisdom and expertise. They have celebrated Ryland’s victories, helped us navigate his challenges, answered our countless questions, and reminded us to keep believing in what is possible.

Most importantly, they have become our chosen family. They have loved Ryland for exactly who he is while continually helping him discover who he can become. And they have loved and supported us along the way, too. For that, we will forever be grateful.

They go far beyond what is expected—not because they have to, but because they genuinely care. They see every student as an individual, celebrate their strengths, recognize their needs, and never stop looking for ways to help them grow. They build relationships with families, listen without judgment, teach and offer tips, suggest equipment and tools, and make them feel like they are never navigating challenges alone. They celebrate the victories, stand beside families during the difficult moments, and advocate fiercely for their students. Their school is more than a place to learn; it is a place where children feel safe, valued, understood, and believed in. 

Because of this nurturing environment they take great care in cultivating, Ryland’s growth has been outstanding!  In November of 2025, Ryland needed substantial support to eat, walk and even sit in a bath safely, he struggled with loud noises, navigated his environment passively, showed little interest in his AAC device, was met with great challenges transferring home skills to the community and school, and preferred the calm of his home over exploring new places.  Within a month of attending, Ryland was walking independently!  I gathered all of the data collected from birth to 4 years of age and the growth he acquired in the past 9 months is astonishing.  I’ve been a teacher for 20 years and I can say it is highly unusual to see so many skills emerge and mastery met in such a short period of time.  I mean this with every fiber of my being, joining the Easterseals family was a life changing experience and one that we are eternally grateful for! 

There are so many wonderful memories, in fact, every memory with these amazing professionals is one that I pray every family can experience!  It is amazing when you find an educational setting with compassionate specialists that have experience with children like Ryland, it’s even better when they have the tools and resources to make sure every kid thrives, but it is truly monumental and transformative when those amazing caregivers offer children the gift of experiences that every typical kid has.  It is a gift that takes my breath away every time I see Ryland having those adventures.  But, if I had to pick one memory, it would be his first day.  They sent this picture and I cried tears of joy right in front of my 1st grade students.  We found our home, our tribe, our “helpers”.  And now, I want to help other families get these same experiences