Our dream (and Austin's)...The Auburn School

After lots of contemplating, thinking, praying, and researching we have decided to send Austin to a private autism school. It's hard to believe that Austin will be 5 this September which makes him eligible for K here in Virginia (the cut off is Sept 30). This has been a topic of utter stress and dismay for myself and Casey. If Austin was a typical kid, given that his birthday is Sept 16 and he is so young, we would send him for an extra year of preschool through whatever private organization we had chosen for him and then enroll him in K a year later which would make him one of the oldest in his class. But since that is not our situation this is where our dilemma begins. Austin is currently attending a Fairfax County Public School Special Ed Program called PAC (Preschool Autism Class). It is for ages 2-5 years old and he has been enrolled since he was 2.5 years old. So "technically" this is his last eligible school year he can attend the PAC and then he would be moved to the Enhanced Autism Class which is the elementary level class designed for children K-5. We have been happy with PAC thus far but now that Austin is getting older we have to look long term at his education and what is going to be the best for Austin to set him up for success. Ultimately we decided that going with a private autism school that is completely 100% privately-funded was the way to go. That not only allows the school to cater to each child's special needs but also help develop and foster their special talents and strengths. Absolutely what Austin deserves!

We decided to apply to The Auburn School in Herndon, VA which is about 30-45 minutes away (without traffic). Casey and I visited the school and just fell in love. It is perfect! We can see Austin fitting right in. Currently the school is K-8 but they are opening up 9 grade next year with plans to open up to 12th grade. Everything about this school is tailored to children on the spectrum right down to the "stimulation room" where students can go and jump on trampolines, bounce on exercise balls, crawl through tunnels and tents, or run laps to fulfill their stimulation needs throughout the day. Students are given permission and free to use this room anytime throughout the day when they need to. The lights throughout the entire school are also dimmed to help with sensory issues and overload due to light sensitivity. And there are also many extra-curricular activities like Karate, Yoga, Art, etc for the students to experience. I'm not even really doing the school justice b/c there is so much more that their students can take part in. If you are interested in learning more about this school you can go HERE to check it out.

Casey and I have already completed and returned our application for Austin and most recently finished an application for the Auburn Leaf Scholarship. This provides a full scholarship for students to attend The Auburn School for their full time at Auburn (up to nine years). The Scholarship will be awarded to the successful applicant who best displays the qualities of an Auburn student including high potential for social and academic growth.

We thought we would share our portion of the application b/c it really shows our hopes and dreams for Austin has he grows older and starts really developing interests in things. So I have downloaded our parent statement and Austin's rendering which is a video clip since he is too young to really produce anything on his own. Hope you enjoy! :)

The Long Path

The moment we received Austin’s first diagnostic evaluation we realized two things: that Austin’s path in life would be different than other kids, and that the choices we made would set his course. We committed then to learn and do as much as we could--as any parent would--to help him along that path.

Our journey has taken us to new fields of medicine, and now, hopefully, new methods of education. On the medical front, we are determined restore Austin’s nutritional health, eliminate the inflammation that the causes him discomfort, and rebalance his neurological function. Even though Austin has made great strides in response to these treatments, we know that biomedical attention alone does not push him toward his full potential. These treatments clear the path for learning, but they don’t move Austin along that path.

What will move Austin is education. Austin has been in a pre-school autism class (PAC) since he was two-and-a-half years old. We are grateful for his PAC teachers and the growth he has shown there. However, we feel strongly that his long-term development in the public school system will not compare to what he can achieve in a specialized program.

In a sense, we are at an intersection. Down the public school path lies a future of independence and life skills, essentially the hope of a competent adulthood. Down the other path--the one Auburn offers him--lies fulfillment. We hope for more than competence for Austin; we hope for him to find his passions, enjoy the rewards of meaningful relationships, and to see him accomplish his own goals.

When we visited The Auburn School, we saw an environment that accepted kids like Austin for who they were, and tailored learning around their strengths and with their challenges in mind. We know that Austin isn’t ready for a public school classroom, and, even if we thought he would get by in that environment, we know he wouldn’t excel in it the way he could at The Auburn School.

Austin has shown great potential already. He has developed some language in the past year, and we feel he is approaching a new milestone here. His social skills were very limited at the time of his diagnosis, and today he is an affectionate boy. He loves puzzles--he can do a 63 piece puzzle with no help--legos, and other age-typical toys. He is content and well-behaved, and thrives in a structured environment.

The intersection we face now--that he faces--is whether to invest in his potential, or in a competent life. We have already decided which path to take, and we hope The Auburn School will help him realize that potential. That we are making this commitment at such a young age for Austin gives us great hope that we are giving him the best chance for success. The Auburn Leaf Scholarship is a generous award, but it’s true value isn’t the tuition it covers, but the chance to take the long path toward Austin’s full potential, starting at the beginning.