Trust the Journey Academy: Honoring Medina County's Disabled Community
By Cayton Blake, BEAT reporter
BRUNSWICK, OH- Trust the Journey Academy, located at 1480 Pearl Road in Brunswick, is a nonprofit academy for kids who have disabilities. It gives the opportunity for kids and parents to get help in many areas.
The owners started the Trust the Journey nonprofit in 2023 to honor their eldest son. After his school closed at the end of the last school year, they did not know where he would attend, so Jennifer Layton and her husband decided to open an academy. Their mission is to “Support children with disabilities and their families, easing the financial burdens associated with complex medical, developmental, therapeutic, and educational needs both at home and in school.
Trust the Journey Academy aims to help fund assistive technology, medical supplies, medical equipment, therapy costs, and more. The academy uses small class sizes and an evidence based standard aligned curriculum to support children in the best way possible.
Some services they provide include “In-House Speech and Occupational Therapy, Intervention Specialist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), Trauma-Informed Teaching / Behavior Support Specialists, and Paraprofessionals.” They are also currently offering an Extended School Year summer camp in July.
Their doors opened quite recently in August 2025, and they currently have 12 students. Layton says her favorite part of the job is the students, families, and staff she gets to work with at Trust the Journey Academy. “We have created a learning environment designed to meet the diverse needs of each child,” she said. “And, we ensure that every student has access to the support and resources necessary to thrive. Witnessing each student's growth and success is the most rewarding feeling.”
Learn more at www.trust-the-journey.org .
Cayton Blake, Brunswick Middle School, is one of over fifty student “backpack journalists” (grades 6-12) in the award-winning BEAT Video Program. The program, celebrating its 25th year, is sponsored by Donut Land, Plum Creek Assisted Living Community, MODA Gifts, Scripps Howard Foundation and the Brunswick Rotary Club. Go to https://www.bcsoh.org/community/new-beat-site to learn more about the Program, or visit https://thebeat.viebit.com/?folder=ALL to view videos produced by the students.
PHOTOS: Trust the Journey Academy logo, interior/exterior images and staff.