A new neighbor is moving into St. Lucie West – The Exceptional Academy for Differently-Abled Learners. The new school designed specifically for children with autism and will take up to 25 students.
The school will have a ribbon cutting on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. The public is urged to attend the free event at 542 NW University Blvd., suite 101.
“The school is opening in January when the kids come back from (winter) break for the first semester of the new year,” said director Kristine Erice.
Tours with refreshments will follow the ribbon cutting. On Sunday, Dec. 15 the school will host its first holiday party, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Again, the public is invited – especially those with autistic children.
“Santa is coming,” Erice said.
The party will be structured for children with autism and related conditions to enjoy. Santa is well aware that some children have autism-related touch defensiveness and other conditions that lead them to want to, say, stand a few feet away from the jolly elf when rattling off their Christmas wish lists. Santa will have some trained helpers, too.
“We’ll have therapists there to help out,” Erice said.
The party – which will include decoration crafts and cookie decoration – is $5 a child. Those interested in attending should email ahead to kerice@exceptionalacademypsl.com.
Erice and her husband, Matthew Saxton, are co-founders of the upstart school. Their son has autism spectrum disorder and they’ve been unsatisfied with the educational opportunities for others and him in St. Lucie County.
“Martin County, Palm Beach County, they have things,” Erice said. “We’re hoping to be able to put Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County on the map for this.”
It’s difficult to summarize what autism is, which is why “spectrum” was added to the diagnostic terminology. The word autism is from the Greek “autos,” or “self.” It’s a developmental condition usually typified by weakened social drives, which often shows as social awkwardness. This is often accompanied by other manifestations such as delayed, underdeveloped or undeveloped verbal communication, sensory problems – often extreme aversion to sounds – and others.
Some recoil from calling autism a “disorder,” and prefer terms such as “neurodiversity.” In diagnostic terms, “disorder” simply means someone’s learning or mental processing is different from norms.
Some with autism can live and work autonomously with no or little support. Indeed, the respected animal scientist and college professor Temple Grandin and revered surfer Clay Marzo are both autistic. Others need varying levels of daily or near-daily care throughout their lives. What often makes the difference between an autistic adult being able to live and work independently or needing lifelong care is early interventions and education suited to her or him.
Erice and Saxton have worked to develop curriculum and procedures for the new school with regional organizations that deal with autism spectrum disorder, such as Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, the Hope Center for Autism, and professional golfer Ernie Els’ Center for Autism. Erice said Port St. Lucie enthusiastically embraced the Exceptional Academy for Differently-Abled Learners.
“We had a big fundraiser back in August,” she said. “That got us the startup costs to do this.”
That was the school’s inaugural Comedy Fundraiser at the PGA Village Verano Clubhouse. The event raised $17,000.
“I stood up on the stage and cried,” Erice said. “The support has been overwhelming.”
The school will take 15 full-time students. In addition to teaching the so-called three R’s, it will have programs tailored to the common needs of autists, those with autism.
In addition to the weak social drivers that create social awkwardness, many have executive function deficits. Executive function deficit is unusual difficulties with tasks that require planning, such as paying bills on time, or attending workplace special events. It can affect people of all intelligence levels.
“Our school, we’re also teaching life and social skills at school,” Erice said
In addition to 15 fulltime students, there will be spots for homeschooled children with autism.
“We’re going to take on 10 of the part-time homeschooled kids and 15 full-time students,” Erice said
There will be spots at Exceptional Academy available for kindergarten to sixth grade. At press time registration is open and spots available. Erice said there’s an interview process for registration.
Information about the school is at www.exceptionalacademypsl.com.