Academy to assist students with autism, other learning disabilities

Nonprofit will offer classes in first through eighth grades

jim miller/viewBarbie Lauver works with her son John Matthew, 12, on his geography skills at their home. Lauver is the founder of the Achievement Academy, a school that will cater to children with Asperger’s Syndrome, high-functioning autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and related learning disabilities. Advertisement

Within a year or so, children in the Las Vegas Valley with certain learning disabilities may have a special place to learn.

The Achievement Academy, a private, nonprofit school for students in grades first through eighth with Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and related learning disabilities, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. After the first year, the board of directors plans on adding one grade level each year until the school reaches up to 12th grade.

The school itself is the dream of Barbie Lauver, a mother whose love for her son John Matthew knows no bounds. At 12 years old, John Matthew is homeschooled by Lauver, although she said she really wants him in a traditional school setting. For the past five years, Lauver has brainstormed a school that caters strictly to kids with high-functioning autism and ADHD so she could help John Matthew get the help he desperately needs to become a producing member of society.

"He was failing miserably (while enrolled in public school)," Lauver said. "I want him in a school environment so he can have friends, and he can learn life skills and social skills that I can't teach him at home."

Since Lauver has seen firsthand how hard it can be for students with certain learning disorders to survive in the Clark County School District, she wanted to create a school environment that was safe for kids like John Matthew, where they can learn and thrive with teachers who understand their unique needs. As such, all teachers hired at the Achievement Academy will have special education backgrounds.

"We have nothing in the entire state of Nevada that meets the needs of parents with children that have Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning autism," Deborah Bult-Lapid, president of the school's board of directors, said.

Lapid, who originally was the school's educational consultant, said children with high-functioning autism usually are placed in resource rooms or in regular classrooms because the school district doesn't know where they should go. This, however, isn't a solution, she said, because the children tend to get lost in the larger class sizes or aren't challenged enough by a resource room. Also, the children begin to feel as if they are the "odd man out" in traditional class settings, and aren't comfortable enough to learn. Class sizes at the Achievement Academy will remain small, with each grade accepting only 10 students per teacher, teacher's aide and an adult volunteer.

"Part of our core curriculum is going to be social skills and life skills classes," Lauver said. "For the first time in their lives, they're going to fit in."

The school will offer research-based curriculum that meets the school district's and Nevada state standards, and recently was granted tax-exempt status.

"This curriculum will be monitored and be picked specifically for this type of child with these special needs," Lapid said. "It's just groundbreaking in our state and in our valley."

The Achievement Academy is working on obtaining its credentials through the Nevada Department of Education and is actively looking for a building site.

"These children have such potential if they're in the right environment," Lauver said. "The school district is so huge, just to meet the needs of children in general, is tough. It's not anybody's fault, but we have a long way to go for these kids to be successful in public schools."

Tuition for the private school is estimated to be between $13,000 and $15,000 per year, but Lauver hopes to lower that figure through fundraising efforts. Her first effort will take place at a fundraising dinner on Oct. 4, but the time and location aren't set yet.

"The funds that we raise at this event will directly impact the school programs and the tuition," Lauver said.

Also, she does anticipate scholarships and financial aid programs being available to students.

For more information on the academy, visit achievementacademy-nv.com or call 436-7996.