Access to resources

Having grown up with both parents working in public education, I understand why many are passionate about protecting public schools. However, I have learned from both personal and professional experience that education isn’t one-size-fits-all. Families need education options beyond traditional public schools.

My son Carter has ASD, dyslexia, PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. He attended public school until third grade; then he started falling behind in reading and having panic attacks at school. The large class sizes were too much for him, and he was being bullied.

We could not afford to send him to a private school, so we opened a microschool in August.

I have a master’s degree in clinical psychology and am a board-certified behavior analyst. Through my work, I have learned some school districts are simply not equipped to tend all students, especially those with significant behavioral issues.

We currently have two schools paying for children to come to Arrows Academy due to significant maladaptive behaviors that the school is unable to address safely. We also serve several other children whom the school had placed in homebound service, which meant a paraprofessional visited their homes for about an hour a week.

As for Carter, he is flourishing in the microschool. He is now reading on grade level and has made significant progress in math. His anxiety levels have calmed.

I support programs that give families access to alternative education options. I know there is no worse feeling for a special-needs parent, or really any parent, than knowing there are resources available to get your kids the best care, education and future possible, but not being able to access them. Families should be able to access the resources their children need, including private schooling, regardless of income.

MIRANDA CAVENESS

Paragould