A Classroom for Kids with Therapeutic Needs

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Class is starting and Julian heads to the sensory table for “Center Time.” He is excited to make rainbows with cereal bits and tweezers with Ms. Sara. He is working on creating patterns with different manipulatives strengthening his grip and motor skills. Ms. Crystal, a speech therapist, is also emphasizing sounds and encouraging articulation within the fun activity. 

Julian will be developing skills suited for kindergarten while receiving the therapy he needs without having to leave the classroom. This classroom provides a unique school experience for Julian but he is not alone in needing a different approach.

There is a population of children that require a more therapeutic approach to education.  And there are families in our Kansas City community, specifically Eastern Jackson County, who don’t know where their child fits in the traditional education space.   

Julian’s classmates each have their own challenges. They range in ages 4 thru 7 and may fall on the autism spectrum, have delays developmentally, socially or cognitively or simply require more intentional strategies.  Whatever the case, they are at-risk of falling through the cracks in a conventional classroom.  

This is why we started a Multi-Sensory Academic Enrichment Classroom this school year. For some children who are entering an academic setting for the first time, the standards and rigor of a typical classroom may already be too overwhelming. They need:

  • Foundational skills like fine motor strength, grip and motor planning before they can be expected to write.  
  • Phonological awareness to be strengthened before they can begin to read. 
  • Articulation and language skill development to build speech and social confidence.
  • And they need to be seen for where they are and what their individual needs are. 

While we work to build the education foundation, a speech and occupational therapist are present to address the unique needs of each student. Because we have licensed therapists and educators simultaneously working together, children like Julian can get the immediate support they need throughout their school day.  

We have a 15-year history of responding to the needs of our community and we seek to continue that charge. This class draws from our comprehensive whole-child model. We meet each child where they are and adapt their education to ensure they do not slip through the cracks and can achieve their highest potential. 

When children like Julian succeed, all boats rise. Families feel empowered and our community is strengthened. And there’s a lot of hope in that!

If you have any questions about our Multi-Sensory Academic Enrichment or know someone who could benefit from this educational approach, feel free to contact Heather at 816-695-1255.

Community. For the betterment of us all!

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HOPE is a wonderful thing. And at Marian Hope, it’s what sustains us. But there is something else that makes us so successful.

The Marian Hope mission was started in the basement of founder Angie Knight’s home with just a handful of kids.

After providing years of speech therapy on a for-profit basis, she found there was a far greater need in our community.  Not only was there a significant increase in the number of children needing services and support, but in every instance where children were receiving intervention, they were pulled away from their peers, segregated from others and isolated for their services.

Something occurred to Angie.

The children, and the parents, lacked a fundamental piece necessary for increased success and family strength: COMMUNITY.

When “community” is integrated in to a child’s therapy and education, we see considerably more gains in their progress.  And here’s why:  Peer influence has incredible benefits for ALL children.  Children working through challenges thrive off of being with their friends and classmates.  Complementing the support from their therapist, a child will accelerate growth from observation, mirroring and imitation of their peers. The neuro-typical peers learn the value of individual differences and they learn to see the strengths of their peers who learn differently.

We also see positive benefits for parents / caretakers as well.

When a parent feels support and connection within the community, they feel better equipped to handle the nuances of caring for a child with special needs. They experience a sense of relief that they are not alone which gives them the energy to continue to champion for their child.

Community is so important for our mission too!  It is how we are able to serve the children who need us.  We would not be able to fulfill our mission without a strong Board of Directors, generous donor family, committed community partners and big-hearted volunteers.  Community is really the wind beneath our HOPE wings!

When we feel isolated, alone and without HOPE, it is COMMUNITY that moves us all forward.

We are so grateful to serve this community, to create community for children and families and to benefit from how our community lifts us up.

Thank you for walking alongside us in mission!

Snack Time. Make it a Game Changer.

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“Can I have more hummus?”

Most three year olds are not familiar with hummus.  But at Marian Hope we are trying to change that.

Snack time during our preschool classes includes several uncommon items:  cooked broccoli, cauliflower, guacamole, veggie straws and hummus just to name a few.  We believe in introducing children at a young age to whole food nutrition and helping them discover snack foods that don’t have to come out of an individual sized bag.  

We also believe what you eat helps determine how you feel.  And when we feel better, we are in a better place to listen, learn and grow.  

Every snack at Marian Hope contains vegetables.  It is on purpose. One because we found that many of the children coming to Marian Hope had never heard of, never tried or in so many cases just flat out refused vegetables.  Our strategy is to use snack time as a fun way to bring vegetables to the table with success built in. Here are just four ways we go about this:

  • Peer Influence: Eating is a social part of our culture and even kids are in tune with this.  When children see other children eating something they are unfamiliar with or previously thought they didn’t like, they are more likely to imitate and give it a try.   
  • If / Then Motivators:  By using other healthy food options, activities or privileges as motivators, we encourage kids to try something new.  For instance, telling a child “if you try the cauliflower, then you can have more grapes or be the line leader or jump on the trampoline.”
  • Chaining:  This involves taking something a child is already eating and introduce them to something they are not.  For example, taking a pretzel stick and dipping it hummus.
  • Stair Step Approach:  Some children need a slower process that moves in small progressive increments towards eventually eating a new food.  For instance, some children do not even want to see a strawberry. We start with simply having a strawberry present, then moving to having it on the child’s plate, to giving the strawberry a kiss to taking a bite and spitting out to finally eating the strawberry.  


All of this unfolds from the larger conversation that therapists are having with the children about food, nutrients, minerals and health.   

Because of our “whole-child” philosophy of treating children, we know fueling the body with whole food nutrition goes hand in hand.  You cannot expect a race car to win a race on an empty tank. Many foods that are part the standard American diet are empty and void of vitamins and minerals found only in whole foods.  Our body responds the same way a car does. The better quality you put in, the better the output in performance.

God created vegetables with nutrients that are vital for our bodies and we can’t get anywhere else.  We continue to incorporate nutritional education as an essential component to all our programs and services.  If you have any questions on nutrition for your family, please ask one of our therapists or check out the resources below:

 

For more information…  

Can Food Change Your Child’s Life? One Family’s Journey to Yes

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A really typical family.

That’s how Christi describes what their daily nutrition looked like a few years ago. “Food is a place you can cut costs,” Christi says, “so we were trying to see just how cheaply we could eat.” This meant a lot of bread, pasta, quesadillas and frozen pizza. But what Christi found is there was an expense for that cost cutting. An expense they didn’t even realize until they decided to make a change. But embracing that change took a little time.

Christi’s daughter Hanalei was receiving services from Marian Hope. She experienced development delays that CEO Angie Knight thought could be improved through diet. Angie suggested Hanalei go gluten-free but as Christi describes that felt “really alternative.” It did get Christi thinking and researching more about food. She was set down a path that led to a cookbook by Nigella Lawson. As she began reading the recipes, she realized all of them were from scratch, used fresh ingredients and called for eliminating high fructose corn syrup and canola oil. The more she read and the more she researched, the more she realized her family was not eating real nutrient dense food.

It occurred to her that Hanalei, who was struggling to gain weight, was not getting what her body needed from the food they were consuming. Christi was even giving her Pediasure every day but still wasn’t experiencing any gains. This new knowledge was encouragement enough for Christi to start attending a Marian Hope Nutritional Management Support Group. There she met others who were starting to incorporate nutritional changes. It felt less overwhelming because they were learning together. And overwhelmed was what Christi had been feeling with other approaches.

“We tried everything a doctor told us,” Christi shares, “and we were seeing so many specialists that kept telling us the same thing and nothing was changing.”

So with Angie continuing to encourage the diet changes, Christi started to open up to the idea. She decided any changes they made, they would make as a family. They began by taking out dairy. And something happened that Christi wasn’t expecting. Their other daughter had suffered from eczema and was taking prescription medications to help keep it under control.

When the family stopped eating dairy, the eczema started to clear up, so much so she discontinued the medications. Then they removed gluten and began eating more ‘real’ food and less processed foods. The benefits were widespread. Hanalei began processing language better and she had significant increases in speech. All this time. All these doctors. And finally they were seeing progress. There were other benefits too. “It made a huge difference for my whole family,” Christi says. Christi suffered from severe migraines and suffered from medication side effects.

After making the dietary changes, Christi stopped getting migraines and then stopped needing the medication altogether. Now their family is a 180 degree shift from their diet a few years ago. They eat only grass-fed meat, wild caught fish and organic fruit. Food has ignited a whole shift in approaching health. Christi shares this didn’t happen overnight. To get where they are now, it took a couple years of transitioning from the modern American diet and the idea that only medicine can fix an issue. Christi admits there have been some challenges but believes it is not as restrictive as people think. “People think taking out gluten or dairy limits your choices,” Christi shares, “but it really just takes a little creativity.”

She doesn’t try to replace gluten items with ‘gluten-free’ alternatives. She chooses whole foods rich with nutrients and the natural ‘medicine’ her family needs.

Some family favorites include Korean beef bowl, roasted vegetables, potato and leek soup and nut butter muffins. She believes the road to now was all worth it. “We were at the point where nothing was working and it felt so hopeless,” Christi remembers, “and then you turn to something you think is so on the fringe and that’s what ends up working.”

At Marian Hope, we support nutrition for our children and families in three main ways – education, application and intervention. The American diet has changed. We consume a higher amount of processed foods. There are increased toxins in our environment and our food sources are depleted of vital nutrients. All of these factors are affecting the health and well-being of our children. Not only does better nutrition help improve development and behavior but kids learn better when they feel better. Marian Hope is here to support every family find solutions and hope. If you would like more information, please reach out to one of our therapists or click on the below resources.

A Magical Vacation for ALL Children

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VACATION TIPS

Summer is just around the corner.  You may have started to think about a summer family vacation.  Guest blogger, Jo Varnum, shares her tips for a Disney vacation for ALL children – including those children with Autism.  

My husband and I love Walt Disney World, so when we found out that our son was on the autism spectrum, we worried that we’d never be able to enjoy our favorite place as a family. After all, what could be more overwhelming to a child who hates noise, crowds, and unfamiliarity than Disney World?

Thankfully, after several successful visits with our child with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), I can confidently say that not only can you survive Walt Disney World with a child on the spectrum, but your child may end up loving the vacation just as much as the rest of the family does!

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There’s a saying that goes, “If you’ve met one child with autism, you’ve met one child with autism.” Every child on the spectrum has different strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes. What worked for our family may not work perfectly for yours, but I want to share some of the tips I’ve put together for families with ASD planning a Walt Disney World vacation.

First of all, do all you can to prepare your child so that he or she knows what to experience on your trip. One of the best resources is the free planning DVD that Walt Disney World offers each year. It gives an overview of each park and features several attractions and/or shows in each. It also talks about the resorts on property, the water parks, and many activities that are off the beaten path. Similarly, YouTube is your friend. There are videos of rides, shows, parades, fireworks… pretty much anything you can think of. In fact, one of my son’s favorite videos that we found featured the line in Test Track. So while we waited in line for Test Track, he felt incredibly comfortable and excited (more on lines later).

There are so many resources out there to help get your children with (or without!) ASD prepped for Disney. Disney’s website has maps of everything on Disney property. Many children with ASD are visual and concrete learners, so this is a great tool to help them. Disney also has an in-depth resource for Guests with Cognitive Disabilities including ASD with some incredible information including detailed descriptions of each attraction, where to find quiet areas, and much more. (If you’d like to order a free planning DVD or receive the Cognitive Disabilities Guide, please email me, and I’ll be happy to set you up!)

Additionally, Disney World has services in the park available for special needs individuals. They offer a Disability Access Service card to Guests with special needs. You can get this card at Guest Services at each park, and it is not necessary to provide documentation if your disability is invisible, like ASD. This card allows you to schedule a return time for a ride without waiting in line. So, if the line is 30 minutes long, the Cast Member working the front of the ride will note your card, and you’ll return in 30 minutes without having to wait in line.

Even if you don’t get a card, don’t hesitate to ask a Cast Member for help if your child is having an issue in the parks. They are trained and experienced to help, and in my experience have always been very accommodating. In fact, some of the most magical moments of our trips have been when Cast Members and characters have gone the extra mile to put a smile on my son’s face.

Another tip before you leave for your trip actually has nothing to do with your child and everything to do with you. Keep your expectations in check. This is especially hard for me, because my expectations are very high when it comes to a Disney World vacation.

I was concerned before my son’s first visit that he was going to melt down and have a horrible experience. A friend of mine said to me, “he may not love it the way you do, but that doesn’t mean he won’t love it on his own terms.” Those were wise words that I kept reminding myself of as we rode Buzz Lightyear for the 20th time in three days. I’m not saying that your child with ASD has to dictate your whole trip, but in many circumstances it makes for a more enjoyable vacation if you are able to accommodate them.

When you’re at home, chances are you do many things all day long for your child with ASD. Take some time to consider how you can10176254_10105211114262093_5294438082989491879_n implement those routines on your vacation. My son benefits from occupational therapy, so we implement therapeutic exercises in the parks. He enjoys having his legs, arms, and back brushed with a sensory brush, so we do that several times a day. Loud noises upset him, so we brought noise canceling headphones in our bag.

You can create social stories for your child regarding the many activities that take place, for instance going through security or ordering food. If your child has been before, or if someone he or she knows has been, show them pictures of the trip. Maybe your child (like mine) loves calendars. If so, make them a customized calendar with pictures of your plans for each day of your trip. Or if your child loves lists or charts, present your itinerary in those ways and let them tote it with them during the trip. These are just some of the techniques that we use for our son, but consider what works on a daily basis for your child at home and think of how you can modify those practices to be used at Disney World.

In addition to being a mother of a son with ASD and a huge Disney fan, I’m also a Disney vacation planner. I can walk you through every step of the planning and booking process and help you save money, time, and stress. It’s the perfect way to enjoy all the magic of a Disney World vacation while handing over the stressors to an expert who can plan every detail for you, whether you’re thinking of visiting Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Aulani (in Hawaii!), or a Disney Cruise. My job is to know all there is to know about Disney vacations and use that knowledge to help others have the best experience possible. And it doesn’t cost you anything! Even better, during the month of April, which is Autism Awareness Month, I’ll be donating 15% of my profits for every trip booked to Marian Hope! I’ve seen firsthand the incredible work they are doing with children and families in our community and am excited to partner with them in this way. If you’re interested in more information or any of the resources listed above, please feel free to email me at jo@simplymagicalvacations.com or check me out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/simplymagicalvacationsbyjo.

“Inclusion” versus “Successful Inclusion”

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WHAT MAKES
For years I have been trying to figure out “successful inclusion” for children with special needs. Inclusion

is when a child is included into the same activities as other children despite their challenges.  This

does not necessarily equal successful inclusion. Successful inclusion varies depending on the child’s

needs. In my eyes, successful inclusion is when a student is learning to their God-Given potential;

thriving socially, emotionally, spiritually, and academically in a setting with “neuro-typical” peers.

Oftentimes, it is the typically-developing peers who can “make or break” successful integration.

 

Christ- Centered character development is the key to our success at Marian Hope Academy. At the

beginning of last year (our first year), many students separated themselves from fellow students who

seemed quite “different” from them. This year, these same students no longer see the “differences” with

fear but rather embrace the “differences” with love. Through focused prayer and helping students realize

that God created each person for a special purpose, we have seen transformation in the character of

many of our students.  It is priceless! Thought provoking questions such as, “How would God view

him/her?” has really helped shape the character of our students. For the first time in my life, I finally get

to experience the daily blessing of “true & successful integration” and it is beautiful.

 

– Angie Knight
Founder of Marian Hope

App Review: Shadow Puppet

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top ipadapps

As a speech-language pathologist, I individualize my treatment plan for each child.  For example, some children are more motivated by outdoor play whereas others might be more interested in books or structured games.  One tool that I have added to my bag of tricks over the last few years is an iPad.  With iPads and similar devices becoming more and more commonplace, many of the children I work with have access to a tablet and most of them show a lot of interest in them.

I have downloaded a wide variety of apps and have developed a list of favorites that I would like to share.  I plan to review one of my favorite apps each month to give parents and caregivers ideas for making their child’s screen time more beneficial.  This list consists of apps that are free or inexpensive and can be beneficial to different ages and skill levels.  My favorite apps are ones that all children could benefit from.  Please note, however, that an iPad or other tablet is NOT a necessary requirement for developing speech and language skills.  Please read my reviews as supplemental suggestions to the real-life experiences that your child is already learning from.

iPad Screenshot 1

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Shadow Puppet by Shadow Puppet Inc. is designed to create custom videos.  Many kids love looking at pictures of themselves.  This is a motivating activity that can help with sequencing, story telling, and interacting with others.

I have used this app with clients with impaired verbal skills who have recently taken a vacation.  Their parents provided 5-10 favorite photos from the trip prior to our session.  I then show the photos to the child and ask them to tell me about it.  I use their words to create complete sentences about each picture.  These sentences can be captions for the photos and can also be recorded on the video.  If possible, it is best to let the child imitate each sentence so that the video is in their own voice.

Vacations aren’t the only possible topics, however.  Use current events (school starting, seasons changing, etc.) or favorite activities (sports, movies, books, etc.) and help the child make a 5- to 10-page picture story about it.  For children working on specific types of sentences, this allows for repetition and practice.  For example, if a child is working on -ing verbs, take 10 pictures or even short videos (Yes, this app supports videos too!) of a child doing some of his or her favorite activities.  Include friends and family as well for more pronouns.  You can then create pages such as “I am reading” and “She is painting.”

Another idea is to use this app for sequencing steps for an activity such as “How to make a sandwich” or “How to brush my teeth.”  These are great for learning to use vocabulary such as “first,” “next,” and “last,” and for improving daily living skills and increasing independence.

Once your child’s story is complete, now what?  There are several options.

  1. Watch it over and over – The story can be saved and watched later.  For children learning how to tell stories, it is helpful for them to hear their story again and again.  Pretty soon, you might hear them reciting the story on their own!
  2. Communicate with family or friends – Maybe the family reunion is too loud and crowded for your child to feel comfortable telling a story, but you know that Uncle Jim would like to hear your son’s recount of his recent trip to Disney World.  Why not send it to him via email (The app is not required to view the videos.)  You could also use it for kids to share a presentation at school, tell a joke to Grandma, or send a thank you message to a friend who attended the birthday party.
  3. Use it as a social story – For example, if a child is having difficulties at the park, make a story with him or her about appropriate behaviors and activities for the park.  Allow your child to watch the video before play.
  4. Remind children of steps in an activity – Encourage your child to watch the video he or she made about tooth brushing at bedtime to help make it a more independent activity.

The possibilities are endless!  I hope these ideas help you to create fun communication opportunities for your child.  Enjoy!

 

Theresa Sonderman M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist at Marian Hope

Love & Charity

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Marian Hope Academy’s scripture focus this year has been Mark 12:30-31: Love the Lord your God with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.

Of all the commands God gives us in His word, the greatest is LOVE. The Bible does not say Love the Lord with a “little” or “some” or even the “majority” of your heart…we are commanded to LOVE Him with ALL of our heart, soul, mind and strength. And then we are to LOVE others (not judge nor gossip about others; we are to LOVE). That may be easy to say, but are we doing it and are we teaching our children to do it?

In Bible Study at MHA, the students have learned to think about and analyze “love” as a verb. We have gone to scripture to help us put “love” into action. The students have spent the past two months solidifying “charity” in their hearts…as Charity is definitely an act of LOVE. As a school, we chose to bless New Day Foster Home which is an amazing organization in China that takes care of children with significant special needs; some of which are life-threatening. Each classroom planned and executed their fundraising ideas. The students researched, created timelines, developed a cost/profit margin, delegated out responsibilities, worked together as a team, created beautiful posters, wrote quotes and scriptures about charity and so much more. The students in one class decided on the slogan, KIDS FOR CHANGE; BUILDING HOPE, as the name for the event. The event was a huge success and the students bought in close to $1,000 for New Day.

change drive

To kick off the event that week, the students had a change drive which totaled close to $700 just in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters…and it was an amazing math lesson filled with predicting, estimating, calculating, graphing and much more. Hands-on, functional learning…and all for a good cause and to Glorify God!

Over the past few months, we have tied in the scripture verse from Philippians 2:4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Wow, hard stuff to conquer especially in our era of competition and pride.

Through this event I truly saw LOVE and CHARITY move from the mind to the heart. Humble giving!

-Angie Knight, Founder of Marian Hope

Should I Consider Food Sensitivity Testing?

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Have you ever wondered if your child is perhaps not tolerating foods well? Could food sensitivities be contributing to the behavior or developmental issues your child is dealing with? Do you wish there was a more definitive way to determine foods your child isn’t digesting properly than an elimination diet? Well, you are not alone. A common issue in the nutrition world as well as the networks of families of children with special needs is food sensitivities and specifically, testing to determine food sensitivities.

 

Food sensitivity testing can tell you what foods your body is having an autoimmune reaction to at the time of testing. This means your body recognizes the proteins in the food as a foreign invader and mounts an immune response to try to “fight off” the predator. But in reality, it’s just a food molecule that didn’t get broken down all the way and your body doesn’t know the difference. One of the primary reasons that food sensitivities develop is from what is called “leaky gut.” Dr. Allison Siebecker lists possible causes here, and leaky gut is extremely common, if not the underlying issue of many pediatric neurological issues such as ADD/ADHD, Autism, general developmental delays, apraxia, etc.

 

In my experience, when I suspect foods may be contributing to a child’s problems, just removing gluten and dairy containing foods has resulted in huge breakthroughs for not just the child, but the whole family.

 

There are many different types of food sensitivity tests and the science/technology for these is consistently improving. There is a lot of skepticism about testing, because they often give results that change from meal to meal and are therefore unreliable. However, many people feel there are companies providing reliable enough testing to help when elimination diets are either not an option or there is no improvement with elimination diets.

 

One of the first questions I get from parents when I discuss the possibility of beginning a gluten free and casein free diet is, can we test for it. The answer is yes. Particularly for those two categories of food, testing is quite reliable and I have never come across a false positive. So, if there is a question regarding tolerance of gluten and/or dairy (casein) and removal of the foods completely for an elimination trial is not the first choice, we can test.


There are 3 tests I use depending on the situation. I will outline each test and the pros/cons below.

1. Cyrex Labs – Array 3 Gluten Test

TESTING METHOD: blood draw

PROS:

  • By far the most accurate, reliable and extensive for gluten sensitivity testing.
  • catches reactions other tests have missed.
  • Aggressive and committed to improving reliable technology
  • Can pay online with requisition number from a practitioner (Blakely Page, RDN at Marian Hope)

CONS:

  • requires a full -blood draw from either a lab or a mobile phlebotomist.
  • Draw fees not covered in cost of testing for pediatric clients.
  • Array 3 will not determine any sensitivity except gluten. Other available arrays can be used to test for other foods

PRICE:  $325 plus approximately $50 for in home lab draw in KC area

2. EnteroLab

TESTING METHOD:  stool sample

PROS:

  • parent/client can order test with or without practitioner
  • no blood draw or needles of any kind
  • Gluten only test is very inexpensive
  • reliable based on my experience both personally and professionally (was what I first used to confirm my own gluten sensitivity)
  • pay online
  • can add-on dairy/casein easily for only $99

CONS:

  • not as extensive as other gluten tests available.
  • could miss a reaction, but have not personally experienced this in my practice
  • requires parent/client to save stool sample large enough for test which may mean collecting multiple stools for children.

PRICE: $99

3. Pinnertest

TESTING METHOD: finger prick

PROS:

  • tests long-term reactions which can be more useful than all reactions.
  • tests over 200 foods (including cow’s milk/casein)
  • only requires a few large drops of blood (same amount as older blood sugar monitoring devices)
  • will tell all foods that should be removed to promote healing of the gut
  • can do test anywhere anytime without having to collect stool or do a blood draw
  • parent or dietitian (Blakely Page, RDN) can do fingerstick

CONS:

  • new company and doesn’t have as much research, reviews, or testimonials
  • does not test as many possible components of gluten as Cyrex test.
  • cannot pay online (pay Blakely Page, RDN directly)

PRICE: $350

I believe gluten sensitivity testing can be particularly helpful in navigating how to move forward when there is any question about the tolerance of gluten.

If you are interested in food sensitivity testing for anyone in your family, contact Blakely Page, RDN for details on how to move forward at bpage@marianhope.org.

Although it is not required or included in the cost of the testing, Marian Hope and Blakely Page, RDN strongly advise scheduling appointment ($80)  with Blakely to review results, answer questions, and help you develop a plan moving forward.


What is Marian Hope Academy?

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Last year, Marian Hope added a small Christian School to our programs in order to truly fulfill our mission of inclusion. The Marian Hope Academy Christian School for Creative Learning (MHA) is unique and is different from the traditional model of education. The schodownload (34)ol is for children of all abilities and skills. MHA desires to immerse students in their strengths and build their confidence in the person God created them to be.

We want students to be intrinsically motivated to learn as this produces a LOVE for learning and sparks curiosity beyond imagination.

Curiosity leads to deep thinking.

We use multi-sensory teaching strategies to foster each student’s learning style.

Our standards and expectations are high and we do not set limits on a child’s potential.

Our focus is on the whole child….social, emotional, spiritual, health and academic development in a Christ-Centered environment.

–download (3) Angie Knight, MA, CCC-SLP
Founder of Marian Hope

You can follow the events and progress at MHA by liking the Facebook page and continuing to read our blog.