Bryce's Law

Bryce was autistic. He died of epilepsy at the age of six. Though he was never able to speak, he communicated to his ‘pa-pa,’ Missouri Representative Dwight Scharnhorst, with his eyes. “Bryce was my rainbow. He added color and joy to my life.”

Bryce’s condition forced Scharnhorst to experience first-hand the hopeless lack of options that millions of parents face in regards to the education of their special needs child. Though in a high-preforming school district, Bryce was not making any progress. It was only after transferring to a very costly specialized learning center that inspiring growth was finally achieved. “When you see communication in an autistic child–taking instruction and paying attention–you know you found education.”

For this reason, Scharnhorst continues to re-fill Bryce’s Law. “With autism there is no tomorrow, there is only now. Bryce’s Law is my focus. No piece of legislation is more important or deserved than Bryce’s Law.” The creation of the Missouri Special Needs Tax Credit Program will brighten the future of approximately 130,000 children currently enrolled in public school special education that were previously left in the dark.

“You have to look inside your heart. These children need us.”