Photo by Amber M. McCloskey
Click to enlarge photos.
By Kristal Dixon
Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer
For the past two years, Jory Cannon of Canton has worked tirelessly to open a Montessori school for special- needs children.
When her son Del, now 5, was diagnosed with autism at age 2, Cannon threw all her energy into finding a school that would fit his needs, which proved to be a difficult task.
"The main issue with autism is that it encompasses so many behaviors and spectrums," she said of the disease's complicated nature.
Mrs. Cannon, along with three Cobb County moms, soon will have the chance to provide preschool-aged children with special needs with the education they need.
She and Rhea Brashear, June Pacheco and Cynthia Ray, are opening Morning Star Montessori in east Cobb.
The school, which will be housed at Holt Road Baptist Church in Marietta, combines the principles of a Montessori education with the teachings of The HANDLE (Holistic Approach to Neuro-Development and Learning Efficiency) Institute's therapeutic approach.
The HANDLE Institute provides "effective, non-drug alternative for identifying and treating most neurodevelopment disorders across the lifespan including Autism, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia and Tourette's Syndrome," according to the organization.
The Montessori method was developed by Italian doctor Maria Montessori and stresses that education is based around a child's developmental stages. The method is based on the idea that children teach themselves.
The goal of the school would be to individualize approaches to each child's experience in education, said Mrs. Brashear, who will serve as the school's director.
Too often, children with special needs are forced to conform to the public school system, which cannot meet their needs, according to the moms.
"We are fulfilling a huge, huge void out there," said Mrs. Cannon, who will serve as the school's office manager. Ms. Pacheco and Ms. Ray will be teachers at the school.
A void, both women say, with which they are all too familiar.
Mrs. Brashear, whose is now 11, said when he was diagnosed with severe oral apraxia, a sensory integration dysfunction, she spent numerous hours on the telephone, "trying to connect the dots" and finding the medical and psychological resources for her son.
"The educational needs are not brought to the forefront," she said of parents' priorities.
After her son Del was diagnosed, Mrs. Cannon said she struggled with the idea he was autistic.
"It was so hard to see that word on paper," she said. "It was hard to see that box checked on a diagnostic sheet."
Autism is the most common condition of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke's Web site.
It is characterized by "impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests."
Before his diagnosis, Mrs. Cannon said her son did not make much eye contact or language skills. Prior to the diagnosis, people would tell her boys' language develops slower than girls.
"I kept telling myself that because he was a boy, the language thing was slower," she said. "I was honestly surprised at the check up."
After the diagnosis, Mrs. Cannon said she was overwhelmed and felt she had to read every book and watch every program on autism.
In the end, Mrs. Cannon said she discovered she had to be the expert on her child.
"My theory was to keep trying things with him and see what sticks," she said.
The things she works on with Del include the HANDLE method and attending hippotherapy session at Falcon Ridge Stables in Woodstock.
While finding doctors and resources can be hard, Mrs. Cannon said more people are becoming more aware and educated about autism.
"It's getting better because autism is in the news now," she said. "I'm glad I'm not going through this 15 years ago."
But the education system continues to lag behind, Mrs. Cannon said.
Del has been enrolled at preschool programs at Canton First United Methodist and Holly Springs Elementary School.
He started kindergarten this year in Hasty Elementary's special needs program.
While the teachers were "kind to work with him," Mrs. Cannon said they are asked to be "everything to everyone" and not trained specifically to teach children with special needs.
But, with the opening of Morning Star, Mrs. Cannon said she finally would be able to give her son the education that will best suit her son.
Morning Star will use an adaptive Montessori method that teaches a small group of students to develop their social engagement and teach material by allowing students to use their hands.
"We want to draw the social [aspect] out first," Mrs. Brashear said.
Tuition is set at $14,000 per year and potential students will be evaluated by certified HANDLE method screener, which requires hours of assessments. Parents must pay $385 to have a child screened; tuition is $14,000 a year.
After the evaluation, the screener will come up with an individualized program for each child.
Both Mrs. Brashear and Mrs. Cannon said they are positive the school will provide special needs children with the tools they need to function in society.
"It's a chance for parents to have such a personalized, specialized program directed purely at their child," Mrs. Cannon said. "It's an amazing opportunity for parents."
kdixon@cherokeetribune.com
Comment on this Story
Posted Comments