Waiting for the school bus every morning used to be a hassle for 5-year-old Ryder Kilam, but now it’s a highlight of his day.
Every morning, his parents push his wheelchair to the end of the driveway where they wait together for the bus to arrive. Some mornings are okay, but it all depends on the weather.
For a while, they’d use an old patio umbrella to shield Ryder from inclement weather but keeping him dry was impossible when the wind would blow. This led to his parents reaching out for help on Facebook by asking if anyone had a patio umbrella or something similar that they were no longer using.
The offer they got, however, was even better: Westerly High School’s Construction Technology class was more than happy to build Ryder the kind of shelter he needs.

For weeks, three different classes worked hard to create the best shelter possible for Ryder. His parents helped pay for the materials needed to build it, but they also received $300 worth of wood from Home Depot.
Each student worked tirelessly to get the project done in time, so Ryder had a proper shelter for winter, but one senior, Mason Heald, was so passionate about what they were doing that he decided to make this his senior project.
The class also included Ryder’s older brothers who helped make sure the shelter was Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible so that Ryder and his parents, or anyone else who may accompany him, could all comfortably fit inside.