Parents Open School for Kids on Autism Spectrum, Where Kids Can Be Who They Are

Autism spectrum disorder Maverick Learning Center School for Kids on Autism Spectrum Community for ASD Families

By Jo Anne Hubert , Parent Herald Oct 24, 05:08 am

Parents who could not find the right school for their son on the autism spectrum decided to build a school that would welcome students like their son. They made this happen in just seven months.

Josh and Maegan Cahoon started a school from the ground up at Virginia Beach after facing difficulties finding the right school for their son Maverick who is on the spectrum, The Virginian Pilot reported.

"Maverick is on the spectrum, and we couldn't find the right fit. We tried self-contained classes, but he didn't need that much help. When we tried inclusion classes, he was overstimulated. It was like putting a square peg into a round hole. He needed something in-between, and we knew there were other children just like him," the mother of three expressed.

Maverick Learning Center

The Cahoons named the school after their son Maverick, a word which especially means an individualistic who does not concur with the crowd. The term is also synonymous with free-spirited, original, or one-of-a-kind.

The Maverick Learning Center recently opened in September in the Hilltop area. They describe it as an "inclusive educational center," offering small group tutoring for Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) homeschooled children in Virginia Beach.

The school welcomes and serves students on the autism spectrum. For the time being, it is accepting children from kindergarten to fifth grade and is soon planning to cater to middle school and high school grades.

Its mission is to deliver a safe and effective learning environment for students, not only with ASD but also for those who have developmental delays. They are committed to protecting the self-esteem and confidence of these students while prioritizing a personalized educational experience. Their goal is for families challenged with ASD to find a community and a safe place, especially for their own "mavericks."

No need to 'fit in'

Maegan emphasized that the school allows children to be who they are while being safe, without needing to try to fit in a certain type of crowd.

She was determined to build a school after realizing that for families like theirs, the options are clear, either sit around for ten years or so while waiting for someone to sympathize with the struggles ASD kids and families are battling out or build what they need for their son and others themselves.

And so, in a phone call with her husband one day in February, she opened up the idea, and Josh was immediately on board.

They found a 4,200-square-foot former medical office on First Colonial Road, which needed a whole renovation to transform it into a safe and efficient learning environment. Josh, being a contractor, made it all easier for them. He was able to do the renovations during evenings and weekends. In just seven months, a school was built. It was said that the paint was not even that dry when the first students came in.

The school's educational curriculum was created with the help of special education teachers, therapists, school administrators, and other ASD parents. This resulted in a "sensory friendly space," where there is a "calm room," and other areas for therapy and outdoor activities.

Andrea Birch, a teacher in the school for kindergarten toddlers to second graders and a parent of a daughter with special needs associated with communication, expressed how grateful she was now that there is "more than one option" for kids like her daughter. She further stated that the school truly offers support for the "in-between kids," and a significant community for their daily lives.