The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Alpharetta school helps students with special needs
Hands-on activities, including large garden, are chances to learn.
It started with six students and a mother’s determination. Sixteen years ago, Tamara Spafford turned the frustration with her special-needs daughter’s education into a new school where students learn many lessons through experiences and hands-on activities.
“There’s much more awareness now about autism and sensitivity,” said Spafford. “But this all started because the options for special-needs children were very limited.”
Since then, The Lionheart School in Alpharetta moved from its temporary space on the grounds of the Alpharetta Presbyterian Church to its own facility on Roswell Street. Today, 40 students ages 4 through 18 attend classes based on a model that evaluates where children are developmentally. About 65 percent of the students are on the autism spectrum, while others have difficulty socializing, communicating or thinking abstractly.
“We work on communicating and socializing, as well as critical thinking, problem solving and surviving in the community,” said Victoria McBride, the school’s director of therapeutic services. “We’ve found they work very well when provided with experience. But we still offer a lot of academics in a fully accredited program.”
One experience in particular has made a significant impact on most students. In 2008, the school received a grant to purchase about two acres nearby that have been turned into a vegetable garden. Students visit the location three to four times a week and participate in age-appropriate activities, including tending to plants and harvesting the produce.
“The garden lends itself to helping children with problem solving and critical thinking,” said McBride. “And it’s a beautiful, sensory environment that can help even our children who have problems processing noises and smells. It provides an environment for them to experience shared learning while helping them to stay calm and focused.”
The farm is overseen by a fulltime manager, but the students do much of the work, including delivering lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, radishes, beets and potatoes — to name a few — to chefs at Colletta, Table and Main and Farm to Ladle who relish serving organic, locally grown produce.
“That also gives students the chance to interact in a wider circle around something they can talk about,” said Head of School Elizabeth Dulin. “The students talk to chefs and owners, and to parents when we have our own farmers market at school every Thursday afternoon. The children work the stand, interact with the public, make change and tell people about the items they’re selling.”
Lionheart’s commitment to students doesn’t end when they graduate. A work program for 18to 26-year-olds connects them to areas in which they’ve expressed a deep interest.
“We try to see where their affinities lie early on,” said McBride. “Some of them started working in the garden and are now at different job sites that are farm related.” Other students have gone on to work with an IT firm, the city of Alpharetta, the Canine Assistants dog-training program, retirement centers and local churches. Spafford’s 23-year-old daughter has found a job she loves working on a horse farm.
“Some of our kids might not be able to fill out an application,” said Spafford. “But they want to work and have purpose. Lionheart can give them that.”
Construction starts on North Druid Hills Road
Sidewalk construction has begun on North Druid Hills Road from Arrington Place heading south to Lenox Park Boulevard, according to Brookhaven officials.
The equipment used for the project will be placed in the extra space of the turn lane just before Lenox Park Boulevard so as not to inconvenience the other two lanes and should not interfere with the traffic turning right onto Lenox Park Boulevard at the signal or with normal traffic flow. The equipment will only be located in that turn lane between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
Motorists may want to consider alternate routes.
Information: www.brookhavenga.gov.
UPCOMING
Ninjas at the Library. Continuing 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Saturday. Redan-Trotti Branch, 1569 Wellborn Road, Lithonia. Ages 5 to 17 can search for ninjas and be entered into a drawing for a surprise on Saturday. Appointments may be scheduled by using this code dunwoodylib at 1-800-RED-CROSS or RedCrossBlood.org. 770-482-3821, DeKalbLibrary.org/branches/ reda.
American Red Cross Blood Drive for ages 18 and above. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday. Parking lot, Dunwoody Branch, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 770-512-4640, DeKalbLibrary. org/branches/dunw.
Decatur Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Free parking in the parking garage. Under the trees next to the parking garage, First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairmont Ave., Decatur. cfmatl.org.