Carson first started receiving inclusion services from The Learning Spectrum while enrolled at Cypress Christian School during his seventh grade year. Now 15, he is enrolled in Hilliard City Schools, doing well and running on the school’s cross country team. He also swims for The Ohio State swim club.
“I cannot say enough good things about The Learning Spectrum and how they put us on the road to success,” said Elizabeth, Carson’s mom
When Carson was four, he was diagnosed with a nonverbal learning disability. He attended a preschool for students with special needs, but his IEP did not carry over when he entered kindergarten. The school system told her they wouldn’t do anything until he failed.
She spent the next four years trying to secure services, even hiring a neuro psychologist to evaluate him. She enrolled him in Marburn Academy, who told her they dealt with students like Carson, but he only seemed to be getting worse.
Finally he was evaluated by Children’s Hospital, and they changed his diagnosis to autism spectrum disorder.
“They told me Carson was exactly what a kid with autism with no support looks like,” Elizabeth said.
During his seventh grade year at Cypress Christian School, Carson received help from a TLS aide, and transferred to TLS Central for the fourth quarter of eighth grade. The teachers planned course work just for him. His aide from Cypress came in the afternoon to make sure he could complete physical science and Algebra, so he could take geometry and biology his freshman year. He received speech and occupational therapy, and aide to help him with socialization. He was always strong academically.
“They made sure he had the right behaviors to be able to succeed in school,” Elizabeth said. ‘”For him, that’s things like not calling out in class, and not saying inappropriate things in class just to make his friends laugh. I felt like we had finally come home.”
Elizabeth always thought Carson would attend a private high school and continue to use TLS’s services. But Carson liked the idea of a public school because they offered advanced classes he thought would be challenging for him. He thought with more kids, he would fit in better and not get in trouble.
So Liz Greve, TLS’s Director of Inclusion Services, toured high schools with Elizabeth to figure out what school would be a good fit for Carson. When they settled on Hilliard City Schools, Liz got his IEP set up and transcripts sent over so he could attend the school and run cross country. Elizabeth said Liz made it very easy for the school and the family to make the transition.
Carson is doing well at school, and Elizabeth is grateful for the support of The Learning Spectrum along the way.
“What I loved is once I got to The Learning Spectrum, I never felt like I was alone at all,” she said. “I knew I didn’t have to fight, because the Learning Spectrum was here and they know what Carson needs.”
For more information about The Learning Spectrum and the programs available contact us at 614-844-5433.
