How Spencer is redefining support for families with special needs

[MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND THROUGHOUT THE VIDEO]

[A wheelchair being rolled off a van, transitioning to Adeline being brought into the house in a wheelchair]

[Adeline’s mother speaking to Adeline in the background]

FEMALE: You had a good day. You had a good day.

[Photograph of Spencer and his family]

[Spencer and his family spending time together in the house]

SPENCER: Our first daughter, Adeline, has special needs, and she inspires us each and every day.

[A Polaroid picture being taken and Spencer holding up the Polaroid]

[POLAROID SHUTTER CLICK]

My name is Spencer, and at UnitedHealthcare, I drive the strategy to make our member experience better each and every day.

[MUSIC VOLUME AND TEMPO INCREASES]

[Spencer in an office meeting, transitioning to Spencer walking through the office]

When I joined the Special Needs Initiative, it was a time where I was looking for a new professional challenge.

[Professional photographs of Adeline as a baby, with Spencer and his wife]

It wouldn't be till later that year that we had our daughter, Adeline. She was a happy, healthy, walking, talking, beautiful little child.

[Video of Adeline as a toddler, giggling, transitioning to Adeline playing on an outdoor slide]

[GIGGLING]

And at 18 months, Adeline got really sick.

[Black screen]

[Spencer lifting Adeline and cradling her]

She lost all the milestones she had gained, and we went into our own diagnostic journey.

[Spencer preparing medications]

Having worked for the Special Needs Initiative, I knew the types of things that we needed and how to engage.

[Spencer and his family at home, spending time together]

But it was really my Special Needs Initiative family advisor who connected all the dots for us, who helped us start a new journey of dealing with the aftermath of this terrible disease that attacked her brain, dealing with the newness of being a dad with a child with special needs.

[Spencer tickling and engaging with Adeline]

We do not let Adeline's disability slow us down. Adeline inspires us each and every day.

[Spencer walking Adeline outside in her wheelchair]

The special needs initiative has grown immensely since we started in 2017. It started with one family advisor connecting with 10 families.

[Spencer at the playground with his kids, with Spencer holding Adeline in a swing, all swinging together]

Now each year we bring in more than 30,000 new families and we connect them to one of over 400 family advisors working on a team. My message to other families out there like ours, who have an amazing child with special needs, is to continue to advocate and engage.

[Spencer and his family outside, posing for a picture]

FEMALE: Yay! Look right at the camera.

[Spencer’s wife kissing their youngest baby]

[POLAROID SHUTTER CLICK]

SPENCER: I'm Spencer and I'm committed to care.

[Photo album with Spencer’s photo being placed into it along with other people’s Polaroids, the photo album closing, showing “UnitedHealthcare, Committed to care.” on the cover. Polaroids of Spencer surround the album.]