Autistic day school offering children fun education set to open

Friday, June 18, 2004 3:59 AM EDT
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By Sarah E. Alexander

Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer

A new day school soon will offer an opportunity for autistic children to have fun while learning.

Cherokee Pediatric Therapy in Canton, which is a new private practice that offers occupational, speech and physical therapy for children, is opening a new day school for autistic children at the end of July.

Occupational therapist Alex Minevich, founder of Cherokee Pediatric Therapy, said he wanted to create the school because there are not a lot of local places where autistic children can get one-on-one instruction outside of the Atlanta area.

"We're hoping to teach them the skills they need and build on their strengths and send them on their way and then hopefully their parents can take over," he said.

The day school's hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday with a half-day program from 8 a.m. to noon. The cost of the day school, which offers an Applied Behavior Analysis program, ranges from $2,000 to $2,800. The day school is for children ages 2 years old and older, and enrollment is limited.

"We want it affordable for parents but provide services that are needed," Minevich said of the cost.

Minevich said depending on their needs, the school day would include occupational, speech and physical therapy activities for autistic children.

"We will have a big room where we are going to encourage as many of these kids to work together," he said of a way to teach autistic children to interact with other children and added that parental involvement is going to be important in the children's learning.

Alexander Minevich, director of the day school, said each child would have individualized curriculum to address their special needs.

"They're not motivated to please you. They're motivated to entertain themselves, and they do whatever causes the least resistance," she said of autistic children and added the school would try to make the learning process fun for each child. "Our whole framework is to find ways to help motive the child to participate in their education."

Stephanie Smith of Canton, whose 11-year-old son Nathan is autistic, said she thinks the day school is a good idea since most autistic children need one-on-one instruction.

"The younger they are, the more a lot of them could be mainstreamed by the time they were older if they had enough individual one-on-one type therapy," she said.

Mrs. Smith said there is a need for a day school like the one Cherokee Pediatric Therapy is opening. She said even though children with special needs can get their own individualized educational plans in county pubic schools, autistic children can feel intimidated by crowds and not all children with special needs can get one-on-one instruction in a regular school setting.

"The schools are sorely understaffed," she said. "The parapros don't make much, and there is a lot that is expected of them."

Vicki Tierney of Smyrna, who said Minevich has been her autistic son's therapist for about two years, said she does not know of many places that offer one-on-one instruction.

"I think parents need to have people who understand their children's special needs," she said.

For more information about the day school, call Cherokee Pediatric Therapy at 770-720-0807 or visit Cherokee Pediatric Therapy's Web site at www.childrehab.com.

salexander @cherokeetribune.com